Can an unmarried woman give her wealth to a charitable trust?

I'm a 55-year-old unmarried woman in Pune with a bungalow worth ₹8 crore and investments of ₹7 crore. I want to leave part of my wealth to my two nephews and the rest to a charity for girls’ education. How can I create a will or trust to ensure this and avoid legal disputes with my brother?

- Neha Pathak, head of trust and estate planning, and executive group vice president, Motilal Oswal Private Wealth.

Based on details provided, we assume you are Hindu and your assets are entirely self-acquired. As you are unmarried with no direct legal heirs such as children or parents, your brother would be your closest Class II heir under the Hindu Succession Act. Without a will ortrust, he would inherit your estate by default. To ensure your wealth supports your nephews and the chosen charity, you should have a clear, legally sound estate plan. The simplest way is to make a will specifying how your bungalow and investments will be divided between them. You may also authorize the executor to liquidate the assets and distribute proceeds accordingly. To avoid disputes, the will should be professionally drafted, unambiguous and include beneficiary details, property and bank information and a brief explanation of your decisions, ensuring clarity and demonstr