“He always handled the finances.”
“I didn’t know where the documents were.”
“I didn’t even know we had insurance.” 

For many women, these are not just statements, they are the start of a crisis. 

In India, where men are still overwhelmingly the financial decision-makers in households, the sudden loss of a spouse can leave women unprepared, unsupported, and emotionally devastated. The trauma of bereavement is compounded by the confusion of not knowing how to access financial accounts, legal documents, insurance policies, or even their rightful assets. 

And the data makes this gap painfully clear. 

A 2016 survey by Intermedia’s Financial Inclusion Insights (FII) revealed that just 15% of Indian women had planned financially for unexpected events, a gap likely still unresolved. That means 85% of women are navigating uncertainty without a roadmap, and when something goes wrong, the impact can be devastating for them and their families. Adding to this, a 2024 DBS‑CRISIL study found that while 98% of women contribute to long-term financial decisions in their families, only 47% do so autonomously. 

Double Marginalisation: The Emotional and Economic Toll 

The burden women face in these situations isn’t just anecdotal, it’s systemic. In traditional Indian families, men have long been viewed as the breadwinners, and financial literacy among women has historically been low. Even today: 

• Only 23% of women (globally) lead long-term financial planning despite managing 85% of household expenses (2019 UBS Global Investor Watch report) 

• 80% of working Indian women take career breaks, many to support family needs, compromising long-term wealth accumulation (2022 LONGHOUSE Consulting report) 

This puts women in a uniquely vulnerable position. A wife who has never had access to the family’s financial details is left to navigate bank accounts, insurance claims, tax paperwork, property ownership, and legal formalities, at the worst possible moment. 

A Widow’s Story: Loss, Loneliness, and Paper Trails 

Take the case of Neha, a 36-year-old homemaker from Pune. When her husband passed away suddenly from a heart attack, Neha didn’t know where he kept his bank records, passwords, or investment papers. It took her months to piece together fragmented accounts from old emails and files. She missed a health insurance claim deadline, lost access to a mutual fund portfolio, and was nearly scammed while trying to update property documents. 

Stories like Neha’s are more common than we think. And they’re preventable. 

End-of-life planning isn’t just about death, it’s about preparedness. 

End-of-life planning is about ensuring that women aren’t left behind, piecing together a life’s worth of documents and decisions in the midst of grief. Because when life takes an unexpected turn, it’s not just the papers that matter, it’s knowing where they are, what they mean, and who can access them. 

To truly empower women in these moments, what’s needed is more than good intentions, it’s a thoughtful, structured system that simplifies access, and safeguards their voice. A system that enables them to: 

• Organize and store essential documents, from property papers and wills to insurance policies and IDs 

• Add clear instructions, define access levels, and designate trusted contacts 

• Maintain medical history, passwords, emergency information, and final wishes 

• Prepare their own financial roadmaps, for caregiving, retirement, children, or life’s many transitions 

• Feel in control of their future, no matter what life brings 

That’s where WALLT comes in, a secure, end-to-end encrypted digital vault built to protect your loved ones, and your legacy.