Australian parents consider leaving inheritance to charity instead of their children

New research reveals attitudes towards inheritance were becoming more values-driven.

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One in three Aussie parents are considering leaving part or all of their estate to charity instead of their children, new research reveals.

National research commissioned by online will platform Safewill showed parents feel their kids act like it’s a given they will receive an inheritance, and said the money would be wasted by the younger generation, while others say young people should build their own wealth.

With an estimated $5.4 trillion set to be transferred from Baby Boomers over the next two decades, the research showed a growing tension between expectation and reality.

Modern family spending time together and smiling while sitting on the sofa at home

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Safewill Founder and CEO, Adam Lubofsky, said attitudes towards inheritance were becoming more values-driven.

“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,” Mr Lubofsky said.

“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.”

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A Qld estate sold under the hammer for $705,000, with the entire amount going to the Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ).

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Safewill’s principal solicitor Isabelle Marcarian said the rise in charitable giving reflected a broader shift in how Australians were thinking about legacy, but careful planning remained essential.

“What we’re increasingly seeing is Australians wanting their will to reflect both their family and the causes they care about,” Ms Marcarian said.

“Charitable gifts can be a powerful way to create lasting impact, and they tend to work best when families understand and support those decisions.”

this year a low-set cottage in Brisbane’s Zillmere was auctioned with all proceeds split equally between the RSPCA and Cancer Council Queensland.

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There has been a string of Queensland estates bequeathed to animal charities in recent years with most homes going under the hammer.

Earlier this year a low-set cottage in Brisbane’s Zillmere was auctioned with all proceeds split equally between the RSPCA and Cancer Council Queensland.

The property sold under the hammer for $1.12 million to a South Australian man with plans to knock down the cottage and rebuild.

Last year, a Carindale home sold for $1.6907m with proceeds going to animal charities.

In 2024, a Strathpine estate sold under the hammer for $705,000, with the entire amount going to the Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ).

And Guide Dogs Australia was one of the beneficiaries of a charity auction at Robina in 2023, where a three-bedroom home on a 773 sqm lot sold for $951,000.