Estate Planning: Couples Want to Protect Their Partners, but Are Poor at Planning for Death
An Elabe study commissioned by OCIRP describes couples who are more independent and less codependent, capable of discussing money and death, but who do little to prepare for the financial consequences of a spouse’s death, due to a widespread lack of knowledge about financial planning.
The French couple has changed, but its blind spots remain the same. According to an unpublished study conducted by Elabe for OCIRP, today’s couples are more independent, more balanced, and less codependent, based on a spirit of mutual support between two independent individuals. Nearly two out of three French people in relationships believe that each partner should maintain their personal autonomy; less than one-third subscribe to a codependent view; and 65% of people in relationships still have separate bank accounts. It is a relationship based on equality, where financial independence goes hand in hand with mutual support.
Contrary to popular belief, death is no longer a taboo subject for couples. Two-thirds of French people—67%—say they can talk about death with their partner without any particular difficulty, and 89% find it easy to discuss financial matters. However, this openness does not translate into concrete planning. Many of the strategies put in place to cope with the loss of a spouse—such as savings or a joint account—actually offer little protection against the financial shock caused by a death.
A feared but underestimated loss
Yet the fears are very real. When asked about the consequences of a partner’s death, the French first fear severe emotional distress—cited by 67% of them—followed by a decline in their standard of living (35%), difficulty keeping their home (25%), and even losing their job after such a shock (16%). These concerns point to a risk that is both emotional and material, the scale of which contrasts with the limited measures actually in place to address it. The issue is acknowledged, but rarely addressed proactively.
This gap between risk awareness and preparedness stems largely from a lack of information. The study reveals a widespread lack of understanding of life insurance: six out of ten French people do not know exactly what it covers. The lack of clarity is even more pronounced when it comes to coverage they already have. Nearly seven out of ten employees do not know whether they have death benefits through their employer, and half of those who are actually covered by life insurance are not even aware of it. This blind spot is all the more problematic because it concerns existing coverage.
The Spousal Annuity: A Little-Known Solution
This paradox says something about our times. As couples have come to build their relationships on individual independence, protection in the event of death has, paradoxically, become more precarious: two independent incomes, two separate accounts, but few mechanisms designed to cushion the loss of one partner. Yet widowhood remains one of the most financially destabilizing life events, particularly when the household’s standard of living depended on two incomes. The sudden loss of one of them can be enough to jeopardize the survivor’s housing, financial stability, or even career path, forcing them to reorganize everything at a time of great vulnerability.
Given this situation, there is a strong demand for information. Six out of ten French people want to be better informed about the coverage available to them, and 77% believe that insurance providers have an important role to play in supporting a spouse after a bereavement. Above all, when explained, the spousal annuity—the income paid to the surviving partner—appears to be a useful and appropriate solution that meets the needs of today’s couples, who are eager to protect one another without giving up their independence.
This is precisely the point made by OCIRP. “Protection for a spouse is no longer limited to compensating for a loss of income. It must enable each person to maintain their independence, their life balance, and their ability to rebuild their life after bereavement,” summarizes Marie-Anne Montchamp, executive director of the union of pension institutions. Conducted among a sample of 1,500 people representative of the general population and supplemented by a qualitative phase, the survey calls for a rethinking of retirement planning—not as a safety net of last resort, but as a tool that supports each individual’s independence.
Source: Elabe study for OCIRP, “Couples in 2026,” based on a sample of 1,500 people (November 28–December 3, 2025) and 20 qualitative interviews; statement by Marie-Anne Montchamp (press release dated June 30, 2026).
