Although men and women share common goals in elder law estate planning, women have specific issues, often because they tend to live longer than men do.With a heterosexual married couple, the husband usually dies first and the woman inherits the estate. The wife may remarry. Without proper planning, financial problems may ensue, especially in the areas of nursing home costs and remarriage.If the husband becomes ill later in life and needs care, the wife is often the caregiver.