New Safewill research reveals more than 1 in 3 Aussie parents have considered leaving part or all of their estate to charity instead of their children, new research shows
With an estimated $5.4 trillion set to be transferred from Baby Boomers over the next two decades, new national research commissioned by leading online Will platform Safewill for Charity Wills Week reveals that more than 1 in 3 Australian parents have considered leaving part or all of their estate to charity instead of their children.
Interestingly, most shared they feel their kids act like it’s a given that they will receive an inheritance, many cited concerns that the money would be wasted by the younger generations, and others highlighted their belief that they should build their own wealth.
The shift echoes comments from Simon Cowell who has declared his legacy won’t go to his son, and will go towards charities giving others opportunities they might never have had, as well as high-profile Hollywood couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, who have publicly stated they don’t plan to leave their kids large trusts, and instead plan to donate the majority of their wealth to charity, so it’s increasingly clear the sentiment toward the transfer of wealth is changing.
The research highlights a growing tension between expectation and reality, as younger Australians increasingly rely on inheritance to achieve financial security, while many Australians are reconsidering traditional legacy norms.
While only 8% of Australians have already included a charity in their current will, many more are contemplating it. Among Australians under 55, 40% say they plan to leave a charitable gift but haven’t yet updated their will to reflect that decision.
The generational divide is notable. More than half of Gen Z (51%) and Millennials (52%) either have or plan to include a charity in their will, alongside 40% of Gen X respondents, which drops off further for Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.
Safewill’s own data shows the trend is accelerating, with the proportion of wills created through the platform that include a charitable gift growing from 5% in 2020 to 11% in 2025, more than doubling in just five years.
Despite this, more than half of Australians don’t have a current Will[1], so although they have strong feelings around how they would divide their assets, the reality of how their estate would be managed if they were to pass away would be entirely up to the state laws, regardless of private conversations or personal intentions.
Safewill Founder and CEO, Adam Lubofsky, says attitudes towards inheritance are becoming more values-driven, “for decades, it’s been assumed that children inherit automatically. What we’re now seeing is parents thinking more carefully about the kind of impact they want their estate to have, whether that’s supporting their children, backing a cause they care about, or a combination of the two.”
We expect to see an even sharper rise in charitable bequests in the wealth transfer over the next two decades, with our research indicating that emotion still plays a huge part in Australian legacy planning.”
Safewill’s Principal Solicitor, Isabelle Marcarian, says the rise in charitable giving reflects a broader shift in how Australians are thinking about legacy, but careful planning remains essential.
“What we’re increasingly seeing is Australians wanting their Will to reflect both their family and the causes they care about. Charitable gifts can be a powerful way to create lasting impact, and they tend to work best when families understand and support those decisions.
In Australia, spouses and children do have rights under family provision law, so if someone is considering reducing or excluding a family inheritance in favour of charity, it’s important to approach that carefully. Having open conversations and seeking appropriate advice helps ensure those wishes are ultimately honoured.”
In response to this, Safewill is offering all Australians the chance to write their Will for free until March 29, 2026, as part of the 5-year anniversary campaign, ‘Charity Wills Week’. This includes adding a charitable bequest, if this is something you would like to include in your Will. Visit www.safewill.com.au for more information.
[1] Safewill, “Free Wills Week” (unpublished raw data, 2025)