Making a Will

Do I need to make a will?

The short answer is no, you don’t need to make a will. However, making a will has a number of benefits:

• Having a will makes the estate distribution process faster (meaning your beneficiaries get their inheritance more quickly).
• Having a will makes your passing less stressful for your family.
• Having a will lets you have a say in how your assets get distributed.
• Having a will ensures you can provide for your family as you want.

How do I know my will is valid?

A will needs to meet certain criteria to be deemed legally valid.Unless special circumstances exist, to make a valid will you must be over 18 years of age, and of sound mind, memory and understanding. A valid will is generally:

1. Written
2. Signed by you in front of 2 witnesses. These witnesses should not be beneficiaries of your will, and they must also be over 18 and must not be visually impaired.

To ensure your will is legally valid, it’s a good idea to make your will with a specialist to advise you. This might be someone from the QEL team or a person from the Public Trustee of Queensland.

Other estate planning services

We don’t just make wills – we can also help you with other services like Enduring Power of Attorney, Grants of Probate, and Letters of Administration.

For more information on making a will in Queensland, or for advice on estate administration, our friendly team is ready to help. Contact us online or by calling 1300 580 413.