Own Your Legacy: A Single Woman’s Guide to Wills & Estate Planning in India

A. The Wake-up Call: Supreme Court Speaks

When I first heard the recent direction from the Supreme Court of India, I felt a deep resonance. The Court, in an order dated November 2025, appealed to all women — especially Hindu women, irrespective of age, who may leave behind property, to make a will or testament in order to avoid future litigation between their parents and in-laws.

Why is this significant for you as a single woman? Because if you have assets under your name (via your career, business, inheritance, savings) and you do not draft a will, the law will determine who inherits after you. For many women — unmarried, divorced, widowed or childless — the default outcomes may not align with their intentions.

Consider one case: A widowed woman, with a flat in her name, no children, and elderly parents living with her. She assumed “everything will pass to my father’s side because I adopted him as dependent”. But what actually happens if there’s no will? Under the statutory succession rules (for Hindus) her husband’s heirs may get priority, or claims may come from both in-law and parental sides. The litigation risk is real.

In my coaching sessions at The Richness Academy, I’ve seen this repeatedly: smart, high-earning single women with significant assets who delay will-creation because “I’ll do it later”. The Supreme Court’s message is urgent: don’t wait. Your will is your voice for when you’re gone; making one today protects your voice tomorrow.

The Court highlighted that the law, when it was framed (for example via the Hindu Succession Act, 1956), may have assumed women would not hold large self-acquired properties or live independent lives. But things have changed — women today own flats, invest in markets, build businesses. The law hasn’t always caught up, so the Court urges proactive planning.

For you: This is the moment. Not because you must die to plan, but because you want to live fully while knowing your legacy is secured.

B. Why This Matters for Single Women

From a coaching standpoint, here are three reasons why you – a single woman in India – must treat wills & estate planning as core to your financial resilience (not optional).

1. Control & Intention.

If you are unmarried, divorced or widowed (and especially without children) you may have strong preferences about who inherits your assets. You may want your flat to go to a niece, or a friend, or a charity — instead of the in-laws default. A will gives you that control.

2. Financial Resilience & Peace of Mind.

Your career, investments, savings are part of your 2nd innings or reinvention. A will is part of your financial planning ecosystem: retirement, investments, tax, risk management — it fits into that. By preparing now, you reduce uncertainty and stress for later.

3. A Legacy Beyond Assets.

You may not just be thinking of yourself — you might support elderly parents, younger siblings, nieces or nephews, or charitable causes. A will helps you craft your legacy (and your values) in how you transfer what you built.

In my sessions, I often see a client – mid-career professional aged 42, divorced, no children, recently bought a business stake – say: “I’ve never thought about what happens to this if I die tomorrow.” My first question: “Would your distribution under the default law reflect your intention?” Usually the answer is “No”. And that’s the gap. We fix it together.

C. Key Succession Laws You Should Understand (Briefly)

Because you may come from any faith/community (Hindu, Christian, Muslim or other), let’s cover the core legal frameworks — in summary — to anchor your understanding. Then you’ll see why drafting your own will is so critical.

C.1 Hindu Succession Act (HSA) 1956 (Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs)

• Under section 14 of HSA, any property possessed by a Hindu female, whether acquired before or after commencement of the Act, is deemed her absolute property.

• Under section 15(1)(b), if a Hindu woman dies intestate (without a will), her property first goes to her sons and daughters and husband; then, if none, to the husband’s heirs; then to her parents, then father’s heirs etc.

• The 2005 amendment (Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005) gave daughters equal coparcenary rights as sons.

• The Supreme Court recently pointed out that the law may not have anticipated women with large self-acquired property dying without children/husbands, hence the recommendation to make a will.

Implication for you: If you are a Hindu single woman, without a spouse or children, and you die without a will, your assets may devolve to your husband’s heirs (if husband existed) or to somewhat distant relations rather than person(s) you prefer. The Court’s direction warns of this.

C.2 Indian Succession Act 1925 (ISA) (Christians, Parsis, persons married under Special Marriage Act etc.)

• The ISA governs testamentary (with will) and intestate (without will) succession for Christians, Parsis and others.

• For example: Section 2(h) defines a “will”. Section 30 deals with intestate succession when there’s no will.

• One case: For Christians, if a person dies intestate, the widower/widow gets one-third if there are children; if none, other rules apply.

Implication: If you belong to these communities, you likewise cannot rely solely on default law — a will gives you clarity, choice and control.

C.3 Muslim Personal Law / Shariat law

• For Muslims, succession is governed by personal law (not the HSA or ISA). Though complex, the essential takeaway is: default shares apply; unless you make a will (which for Muslims is allowed up to one-third of estate for non-heirs) you may not get the distribution you prefer.

• While I’m not a legal scholar of Shariat law, the coaching takeaway remains: drafting a will ensures your self-acquired property is dealt with as you wish.

D. Who Should Make a Will & When?

From my experience coaching single women at The Richness Academy, the answer is: You should make a will if you have assets and you want your wishes respected — now. There is no “too early”.

D.1 Who?

You—if you are:

• Unmarried, divorced, widowed or without children

• Owning self-acquired property (flat, land, business stake)

• Supporting dependents (parents, siblings)

• Wanting to direct part of your estate to charity/friends rather than default heirs

D.2 When?

• Immediately, if you’ve accumulated assets or anticipate a change (buying property, business expansion)

• After major life events (marriage/divorce, inheritance, relocation abroad)

• At least every 3–5 years review

In one coaching session, a woman aged 38 told me: “I don’t have children, why should I worry now?” I asked: “If something unexpected happens, who gets your investment account and flat in Delhi?” She didn’t know. After we created her will, she felt lighter and more empowered.

E. Mistakes to Avoid (Especially for Single Women)

Drawing from dozens of client cases and teaching my “Six Pillars of Financial Planning”, here are mistakes you must avoid:

1. Thinking “I’m single so no one will challenge” – Wrong. Without a will, intestacy laws decide.

2. Using vague language in the will – e.g. “I leave to my friend” without naming the friend clearly.

3. Not including digital assets/business interests – These often cause the biggest confusion later.

4. Not appointing an executor/trustee – Someone must carry out your will.

5. Relying purely on nominee forms – Nominees may hold asset but will implementation still follow your will.

6. Ignoring registration or telling no one – Store the will safely, let executor know.

7. Not updating after major change – If you remarry, adopt, relocate, get business stake, you must revisit.

8. Ignoring tax/retirement/investment integration – The will must fit into your broader financial plan.

9. Assuming children/spouse will settle things – As a single woman you may have non-traditional heirs (niece, friend, charity).

10. Delayed action because you “still working” – The Court said irrespective of age.

F. My Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s the structured guide I walk my clients through—with templates, checklists and case stories.

Step 1: Gather your information

Make a comprehensive list of your:

• Immovable property (flat, land)

• Investments (mutual funds, shares, PPF/NPS)

• Insurance policies, business interests

• Digital assets (crypto, online trading apps)

I once met a 45-year-old entrepreneur who had forgotten a dormant online business account; she added it only when we asked “what would you want done with that?”

Step 2: Decide your beneficiaries

Who do you want to benefit? Maybe:

• Parents or siblings

• Close friends or nieces/nephews

• Charity / NGO

Be clear in naming and specifying percentage or asset. One widow client split her self-acquired property 50-50 between her sister’s family and a trust; without a will the default law would have had husband’s family claim.

Step 3: Choose your executor/trustee

Pick someone you trust, and an alternate. Explain their role. The executor ensures your will’s instructions are carried out.

Step 4: Address dependents & special cases

If you support elderly parents or have a business stake—mention how that support/transfer happens. Example: A divorced single woman with a business stake told me: “I want my niece to inherit the business share if I die before she finishes second year of law.” We put that clause.

Step 5: Draft the will

Essential components:

• Your full details, statement of sound mind

• Revocation of earlier wills

• Asset listing and distribution instructions

• Executor appointment

• Special instructions (digital, business, charity)

Then have it reviewed by a lawyer.

Step 6: Signing, witnessing & registration

• You sign at the end (and on each page ideally)

• Two independent adult witnesses (not beneficiaries) sign acknowledging your signature

• Registration at sub-registrar is optional but helpful (adds formal strength)

• Store originals safely; share with executor.

Step 7: Store & communicate

Ensure your executor knows the will’s location; keep digital copy; inform trusted person. One of my clients kept her will in a locker but executor didn’t know location—led to delay. Avoid that.

Step 8: Review periodically

Every 3-5 years or after major life/asset change. As your career evolves (as mine did coaching senior professionals), your asset base grows—your will should reflect that.

Step 9: Integrate with your financial plan

Remember: wills are part of the bigger picture of:

• Personal financial management

• Investment planning

• Risk/insurance planning

• Retirement planning

• Tax optimisation

• Estate/wealth transfer (my “Six Pillars”)

If your will is isolated, you lose synergy.

Step 10: Avoid procrastination

In the same way you upgrade your skills, pivot your career, build financial resilience after redundancy/career shock, view your will as part of your “second innings” strategy—especially because as a single woman you may face different risks.

G. My Anecdotes & Insights from The Richness Academy

Over the last decade, I’ve coached hundreds of mid-career professionals, entrepreneurs and single women in India. Here are a few stories and insights:

• Pre-career pivot realisation. I recall a senior executive aged 47 — unmarried — who suddenly faced redundancy. While rebuilding her career, we created her will simultaneously. She said: “I’ve never thought: if I… go tomorrow, who gets this flat and investments?” She told me later: “Getting the will done felt like lessening one big stress about my second innings.”

• Entrepreneur reset. A divorced woman entrepreneur in Gurugram had a business stakeholder and two properties. She set aside a clause in her will: “If niece completes MBA and joins the firm within 2 years of my passing, she inherits 60% of my business share; else it goes to charity.” She found it empowering.

• Widowed and childless. A widowed teacher (no children) in Delhi bought an apartment after husband’s death. She assumed her parents would inherit naturally. When I showed her HSA’s chain of succession she was surprised at the potential claim of in-laws. She completed her will within two weeks.

• Young single professional. I remember a 34-year-old single woman (IT professional) emailed: “I’ll wait until I buy a house.” I convinced her: the earlier you do this, the lower the cost, the smoother it gets. She wrote her will and emailed me the PDF. She said: “Now I sleep better.”

These stories reinforce: it’s not about wealth size—it’s about your intention and clarity. For single women especially, there’s a unique opportunity: you are shaping your legacy on your terms. Don’t let default laws shape it for you.

H. Final Checklist for You (Single Woman)

Before I close, here’s a consolidated checklist for you. Print it, check it, act on it.

• List all your assets (property, investments, digital)

• Decide beneficiaries clearly (names, relationships, assets/percentages)

• Choose executor + alternate

• Support & legacy plan for dependents or special cases

• Draft will with: your statement, revocation clause, distribution clause, residuary clause, executor, special instructions

• Sign will + get two witnesses

• Register (optional but recommended)

• Store safely, inform executor

• Review after major life/asset change (marriage/divorce, business, inheritance)

• Integrate with your financial plan (investments, tax, retirement, risk)

• Avoid procrastination— Start now

I. Why You, As a Single Woman, Should Act Today

Because your life and wealth are evolving. As a coach of senior professionals, entrepreneurs and mid-life career reinventions, I see this pattern: single women often delay “legacy” thinking until later. But delaying means you risk “default law” deciding something you may not want. The Supreme Court’s message is clear: make a will irrespective of age.

By acting now, you renew your sense of control, protect what you’ve built, and craft a legacy that reflects you. Whether you want your assets to go to a niece, a friend, a charity, or mix of these—it’s your choice. Drafting a will gives voice to your choice.

And when you integrate this into your broader wealth plan—investments, retirement, tax optimisation, risk management—you transform the “will” from an after-thought document into a pillar of your financial freedom.

J. Closing Thoughts

I encourage you: don’t see a will as “morbid” or “only for the very wealthy.” For you—single, independent, forward-looking—it is part of your empowerment toolkit. It declares: “I lived on my terms, I want to bequeath on my terms.”

As CFP® Taresh Bhatia | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® | Founder – The Richness Academy | Guiding Indian families, I invite you to bring this article into your coaching practise or personal path. Use the worksheet I provided earlier, schedule time in your calendar this week to start the conversation with your legal advisor or financial planner, and mark “will draft” as an action item in your financial calendar.

Because legacy isn’t just for those with huge fortunes—it’s for those who live intentionally. And for you, right now, that means owning your legacy.

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CFP® Taresh Bhatia | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® | Founder – The Richness Academy | Guiding Indian families

Disclaimer: The views expressed are for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making decisions. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks.

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