Women Who Changed the Law: Legal Pioneers in Estate Planning

The Trailblazers Who Fought for Women’s Financial Rights

Imagine a time when women couldn’t own property, open bank accounts, or even inherit assets without a male guardian. For centuries, estate laws were written under the assumption that a woman’s wealth and rights belonged to her father, husband, or closest male relative.

But history is filled with women who refused to accept that fate. These legal pioneers didn’t just change their own lives—they reshaped the law, giving future generations of women the right to own, inherit, and control their financial legacy.

Their courage is why today, women can write their own wills, establish trusts, and make financial decisions independently. Let’s honor their impact.

1. Myra Bradwell: Paving the Way for Women in Law

📜 Who She Was: Myra Bradwell was one of the first female lawyers in the United States. In 1869, she applied for admission to the Illinois Bar and was rejected—not because of her qualifications, but because she was a woman.

⚖️ Why She Matters to Estate Law: Myra fought tirelessly for women’s legal rights, including property ownership, inheritance, and financial independence. She helped pass laws that gave married women the right to control their own earnings and assets—a major shift from the tradition where husbands controlled all household wealth.

💡 What We Learn From Her: Because of pioneers like Myra, women today can establish wills and trusts in their own names without male oversight.

2. Belva Lockwood: First Woman to Argue Before the U.S. Supreme Court

📜 Who She Was: Belva Lockwood became the first female attorney to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1880. At a time when women were legally barred from practicing law, she fought for women’s rights, property laws, and inheritance rights.

⚖️ Why She Matters to Estate Planning: She successfully lobbied for laws that allowed widows and daughters to inherit property instead of being bypassed for male relatives.

💡 What We Learn From Her: Because of advocates like Belva, today women can own assets, inherit property freely, and create financial plans for future generations.

3. Maggie Lena Walker: The First Woman to Charter a Bank

📜 Who She Was: In 1903, Maggie Lena Walker became the first African American woman to own and operate a bank in the U.S. She established The St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, empowering Black families—especially women—to save, invest, and pass down generational wealth.

🏦 Why She Matters to Estate Planning: Before Walker’s efforts, many women (especially Black women) were denied banking services and couldn’t store wealth outside of their homes. She taught women the importance of financial literacy, savings, and estate planning.

💡 What We Learn From Her: Estate planning isn’t just about wealth—it’s about ensuring that future generations have financial stability and security.

4. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Legal Architect of Gender Equality

📜 Who She Was: Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) became the second female U.S. Supreme Court Justice and a fierce advocate for women’s rights, inheritance laws, and financial equality.

⚖️ Why She Matters to Estate Law: She argued and won several landmark cases that removed gender discrimination from inheritance laws, social security benefits, and survivor benefits for widows.

💡 What We Learn From Her: Thanks to RBG’s work, women today are legally entitled to inherit assets, receive financial benefits, and plan their estates without gender bias.

5. Charlotte E. Ray: The First Black Woman Lawyer in the U.S.

📜 Who She Was: Charlotte E. Ray became the first Black woman attorney in the U.S. in 1872. She used her platform to fight for property and estate rights for women of color, who often had fewer legal protections than white women.

⚖️ Why She Matters to Estate Planning: She fought for laws ensuring that all women—regardless of race—could inherit property, make wills, and protect their financial assets.

💡 What We Learn From Her: The estate planning process should be accessible and fair for all women, ensuring that every family has the opportunity to build and protect generational wealth.

Why This Matters Today: Protecting Your Own Legacy

These women fought for the rights we now have—but it’s up to us to use them. Estate planning is one of the most powerful ways to secure your financial future and pass down wealth to future generations.

Here’s how you can take action today:

✅ Write or update your will – Decide who inherits your assets, instead of leaving it up to the courts.

✅ Name a financial & healthcare power of attorney – Protect yourself if you become unable to make decisions.

✅ Review your beneficiaries – Make sure your life insurance and retirement accounts go to the right people.

✅ Consider a trust – Avoid probate and control how your assets are distributed.

Final Thoughts: Your Legacy, Your Power

Estate planning isn’t just about finances—it’s about control, protection, and leaving a legacy that reflects your values.

Thanks to the women who changed the law, today you can make sure:

💜 Your loved ones are protected.

💜 Your financial decisions are yours to make.

💜 Your legacy carries on, the way YOU intended.

👉 What’s one estate planning step you’ve taken (or need to take)?