Chinese Citizens Are Writing Wills at a Younger Age, Report Shows

1. The average age of Chinese individuals drafting wills has decreased by nearly ten years since 2013, dropping from 77.43 years old to 67.64 in 2025. Factors influencing this shift include changing family structures, an increasing number of unmarried adults, and a heightened concern for safeguarding personal assets, indicating a notable change from traditional inheritance practices in China. [para. 1][para. 3]

2. A white paper published by the China Will Registration Center, which has registered over 405,000 wills in 13 years, highlights this demographic change. Data shows a sustained yearly decrease in the average age of will-makers for thirteen consecutive years. [para. 2][para. 3]

3. In 2025, individuals aged 60 to 70 made up more than 50% of all will-makers, positioning “new elderly” in their 60s as the primary demographic for estate planning. This trend demonstrates an increasing embrace of formal estate planning among the “post-60s” generation entering old age, as observed by officials from the will registration center. [para. 4]

4. There is a growing proportion of younger and middle-aged people writing wills, with cities like Shanghai seeing those under 60 account for 23.68% of will-makers. Notably, the 30-to-39 age group is exhibiting the most significant growth, reflecting the spread of a legal culture that encourages individuals to exercise autonomy over their estates throughout their lives. [para. 5][para. 6]

5. The primary motivations for young and middle-aged will-makers are varied but evenly spread: preventing assets from becoming unaccounted for (18.38%), and shielding children from marriage-related asset risks (15.29%) are the top two reasons. [para. 7]

6. Women continue to be the majority among will-makers, accounting for 59% in 2025, an increase from the previous year. Among unmarried or non-marrying women, 46.38% cite “taking care of parents” as their main motivation, while 30.17% of remarried women focus on preventing their assets from going to unintended parties. [para. 8]

7. The transition of women from traditional family caregivers to active wealth managers is becoming apparent, with diversified family forms leading to expanded decision-making roles in estate planning. Wills are increasingly vital for women as a tool for protecting and reallocating their rights and interests within the family structure. [para. 9]

8. Special attention is given to empty-nest and solitary seniors in the 2025 white paper: out of 41,168 wills drafted by older adults, empty-nest seniors accounted for 61.42% (25,287 wills). Their main motivations were avoiding disputes (32.38%) and simplifying inheritance procedures (33.15%), with some also wanting to prevent assets from becoming entangled in their children’s marital issues (15.66%). [para. 11]

9. Childless, solitary seniors, who make up only 5.09% of will-makers, often leave their estates to non-statutory heirs such as caretakers, friends, or neighbors. 70% of these solitary seniors choose beneficiaries outside their family, reflecting their social circles and personal support networks rather than traditional family ties. [para. 12]

10. The growing number of empty-nest and solitary seniors writing wills is linked to the increasingly fragmented family structure and the migration of younger generations. Wills have become essential for these seniors to both guide the flow of their wealth and ensure their wishes and emotional interests are respected after their passing. [para. 13]

11. Estate planning trends among unmarried and non-marrying individuals show they are primarily concentrated in major cities—almost 80% in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong. Among this group, women outnumber men, making up 68.52% between 2017 and 2025. [para. 14]

12. The chief reasons for unmarried and non-marrying people to make wills are taking care of parents (44.82%), preventing unclaimed assets (28.39%), and simplifying procedures (11.35%). A small percentage (1.75%) write wills for the care of children born outside of marriage, and 8.32% designate charities or public organizations as beneficiaries. [para. 15]