Drafting a will in China is no longer viewed strictly as an end-of-life arrangement for the elderly, as a growing number of younger testators and single adults are using wills to manage wealth, protect family members and pass on digital assets, according to a new report.

The 2025 white paper from the China Will Registration Center, released by the China Ageing Development Foundation, highlights how aging and shifting family structures are driving new demand for will registration nationwide.

Over the past 13 years, the center has provided consultations to more than 675,000 people and safely stored more than 404,000 wills, the report said.

While wills are evolving into comprehensive wealth management tools across varying age groups, younger generations are diversifying their assets to include digital property alongside traditional bank savings and real estate.

High-value gaming accounts, livestreaming revenue and even social media memorial content are now frequently included in wills, with clearly designated heirs and distribution methods.

According to a case cited in the white paper, a 22-year-old testator surnamed Feng registered a will leaving his salary savings and a seven-year-old gaming account to his elder sister, who had cared for him since childhood. Feng said the will was a gesture of gratitude and reflected the growing importance of wills as legal instruments.

As virtual assets carrying both personal and financial value, gaming accounts can be legally inherited through a will.

"No longer exclusive to the elderly, wills have become an essential means for young people to express their emotions and manage their wealth," the center said, adding that it has established registration standards for virtual property to ensure seamless transfer.

In 2025, people aged 60 to 70 remained the largest group drafting wills, accounting for 53 percent and bringing down the average age of testators, the white paper said.

Meanwhile, the proportion of testators under 60 continued to rise, with those aged 30 to 39 showing the fastest growth.

Their primary motivations include preventing property from becoming unaccounted for and protecting assets from potential losses linked to adult children's marriage breakdowns.

Younger testators are concentrated in China's top economic hubs.

Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province accounted for a combined 80 percent of middle-aged and young testators, according to the report.

WeChat wills also maintained strong growth last year.

Dominated by the 20 to 29 age group, these digital documents are often used as emotional outlets to convey feelings and final messages to loved ones.

The report also noted a sharp increase in will registration among individuals living alone. By the end of last year, a total of 3,234 unmarried individuals had registered wills with the center.

Annual registrations from this group rose more than fivefold from 101 in 2017 to 616 in 2025.

Those under 60 accounted for 87 percent of this group in 2025. Women made up nearly 70 percent, with "taking care of parents" cited as the primary motivation for drafting a will.

Long Yifei, a professor of Renmin University Law School and an expert on marriage and family law, said the shifting profile of testators reflects the diversification of family structures during a period of social transition.

"Wills are no longer purely property distribution documents, but have become important tools for people to organize family relationships and avoid emotional and property risks," Long said.

The high proportion of women among remarried, divorced and single groups reflects a rising awareness of female independence and rights protection, he added.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn