Other Commonly Asked QuestionsAppointing an Executor
To ensure your wishes are carried out in accordance with your Will, you should appoint an executor, Can I make a Will myself?
A Will does not have to be a very complicated document, and as long as you follow certain formalities, you can write a simple Will yourself. What is a 'Legal' Will?
A "valid" or "legal" Will is one that will be accepted by a court as authentic and can be put into effect by a grant of probate. Should I make a Will?
Everyone over the age of 18 should have a current legal Will. Where should I keep my Will?
Once a Will has been written there is no formal requirement for its safekeeping. Who can dispute my Will?
You often hear or read about a Will being contested in court by a close family member who feels they are either entitled to more. How do I revoke a Will?
You can do this by including a simple statement at the beginning of the new Will Sample Will
We have included a sample will for you to have a look at | Can I Make a Will Myself?A Will does not have to be a very complicated document, and as long as you follow certain formalities, you can write a simple Will yourself. Here are some of the options in which you can make your Will. Firstly, you can use a Private Lawyer whose fees may depend on the complexity of the document. If your affairs are simple, the fees will be around $100 - $200. If your estate and financial affairs are complex, the cost could be several thousand dollars. Secondly, you can contact the Public Trustee or a Private Trustee Company who will usually prepare a simple Will at a lesser cost, on condition that they are named as the executor of the estate. They may then charge a percentage of your estate's value to cover administration fees. Finally, you can write your own Will, using the legal forms provided in a publication or web page like e-wills-online.com. In fact, when a lawyer drafts a Will, he or she usually starts with a standard form that contains the same types of clauses as found on the Will form of this web page. As long as you follow certain formalities (see "What is a valid Will?") and your financial situation is not overly complex, there is no reason why you can't write your own Will. |
