Are Online Wills, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) or Home-Made Will Kits Legal? More people are turning to low-cost estate planning tools, such as DIY kits, home-made Wills or online Will services, but there’s a catch. Although these options are legally recognised in Australia, they can introduce a host of complications that shouldn’t be underestimated. Poor drafting, procedural […]
Are Online Wills, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) or Home-Made Will Kits Legal?
More people are turning to low-cost estate planning tools, such as DIY kits, home-made Wills or online Will services, but there’s a catch. Although these options are legally recognised in Australia, they can introduce a host of complications that shouldn’t be underestimated. Poor drafting, procedural mistakes, or overlooked details may render some, or all of the Will invalid. Without tailored legal advice, important details are often missed, increasing the risk of disputes among beneficiaries or challenges to the validity of the Will itself.
Here are 6 common problems we see with online, DIY, or home-made wills:-
1. Failing to comply with basic legal formalities
To be legally recognised in South Australia, a Will must meet specific criteria outlined in section 8 of the Succession Act 2023 (SA). These requirements include:
A common pitfall we see is when executing a DIY or home-made Will is that the witnessing process isn’t carried out properly, some are signed at different times or with different pens. Whilst the same coloured pen is not a legal requirement, it is best practice so as to verify compliance with the legal formalities. If the abovementioned formalities aren’t followed exactly, the Will may be considered invalid, potentially causing major complications during estate administration.
2. Failing to appoint an executor or specify beneficiaries
Failing to name an executor or clearly identify beneficiaries particularly in DIY or home-made wills, can lead to serious complications. Without an appointed executor, there may be delays in managing the estate, as someone must apply to the court for authority to administer it. Similarly, vague or missing beneficiary details can create confusion, spark disputes, and even result in assets passing to unintended individuals under intestacy laws if the will is considered invalid. These gaps can undermine the testator’s intentions and increase costs and emotional stress for the surviving family members.
3. Inconsistent wording in the Will
When drafting a Will, it’s essential to use clear, consistent language that accurately reflects the wishes of the person creating it. If the wording is vague, contradictory, or poorly chosen, it can create confusion about who should receive what from the estate. This kind of uncertainty might prevent assets from being distributed as you intended and could lead to delays, disputes, or unintended outcomes.
4. Gifting assets you don’t legally own
A Will only governs what you personally own at the time of your passing. A frequent oversight made by individuals in home-made Wills is attempting to gift assets they don’t legally own in their sole name. For instance, someone may try to bequeath real property that isn’t registered in their name, often due to a misunderstanding of how ownership is structured.
Jointly held assets present another area of confusion. When a property or bank account is owned by more than one person, it doesn’t typically form part of the deceased’s estate. Instead, the surviving owners automatically inherit the share through the principle of survivorship, bypassing the Will entirely.
Superannuation is a further consideration. Although many assume it’s part of their estate, the funds are controlled by the trustee of the super fund. To ensure these funds are distributed according to your wishes, it’s essential to complete a Binding Death Benefit Nomination. Merely referencing superannuation in a Will may not be enough to direct where the money goes.
Failing to clearly define and properly allocate assets can leave intended beneficiaries with little or no inheritance. They may be forced to challenge the Will or file a Family Provision claim to pursue what they believe they’re entitled to, often leading to costly and lengthy legal disputes.
5. Failing to address overseas assets
Another important detail often missed in DIY and online Wills is that they typically apply only to property and affairs located within Australia. Many templates include standard clauses limiting the Will’s scope to Australian assets, with no consideration for interests held overseas. For instance, some may state that “this Will does not affect property in any other country” or “I revoke previous Wills made by me in Australia only.”
In South Australia, when applying for a grant of probate, the Probate Registry must be satisfied that the testator did not own foreign assets or have another Will relating to property overseas. These template clauses can unintentionally raise questions about the existence of such assets or alternate Wills, which in turn may cause delays in probate, complicate administration, or result in overseas assets being excluded from distribution.
6. Failure to Address Risks of Family Provision Claims
An important aspect of estate planning guidance provided by solicitors involves identifying potential risks or claims that could arise from a person’s instructions. While it’s not possible to guarantee protection against a future Family Provision Claim, there are practical steps that can help reduce its likelihood. This includes evaluating who might reasonably seek a share of the estate down the track. When someone outlines their wishes in a home-made will without factoring in these possibilities, it can significantly increase the chances of legal challenges after their death, often resulting in costly proceedings funded by the estate.
These are just some of the many challenges that can arise with DIY, online, or home-made will kits. So, before you consider preparing a DIY, online or home-made Will, ask yourself, will this make things easier or harder for my family when the time comes? Is it worth the risk? Estate planning is too important to leave to chance. The potential costs saved by doing a home-made will are often far less than the additional costs incurred after the person’s passing in fixing up the issues created by the home-made will so they are really a false economy.
At Adelta Legal, our experienced team provides personalised advice and professional Will drafting that ensures your intentions are documented properly and legally. Avoid costly mistakes, protect your loved ones, and gain peace of mind by speaking with one of our Wills and Estates lawyers today.
Son legales los testamentos en línea o los kits caseros de testamento?
Cada vez más personas usan herramientas económicas para la planificación de sucesión, como kits caseros o servicios de testamento en línea. Aunque son reconocidos legalmente en Australia, pueden causar muchos problemas que no deben subestimarse. Errores en la redacción, fallos en el proceso o detalles omitidos pueden hacer que el testamento sea inválido, total o parcialmente. Sin asesoramiento legal personalizado, se suelen pasar por alto puntos importantes, lo que aumenta el riesgo de disputas entre beneficiarios o cuestionamientos sobre la validez del testamento.
6 Problemas Comunes con Testamentos en Línea o Caseros
1. No cumplir con los requisitos legales básicos
Un testamento debe seguir lo que indica la sección 8 de la Succession Act 2023 (SA). Esto incluye:
Un error común es que el proceso de firma no se hace correctamente: firmas en distintos momentos o con diferentes bolígrafos. Aunque no es obligatorio usar el mismo color de tinta, es recomendable para mostrar que se siguieron los pasos legales. Si no se cumplen estos requisitos, el testamento puede ser inválido y causar grandes complicaciones al administrar la sucesión.
2. No nombrar un albacea ni especificar beneficiarios
Si no se nombra un albacea o no se identifican claramente los beneficiarios, puede haber retrasos y confusión. Sin albacea, alguien debe pedir permiso al tribunal para administrar la sucesión. Si los beneficiarios no están bien definidos, puede haber disputas o que los bienes terminen en manos no deseadas según las leyes de sucesión intestada.
3. Lenguaje confuso o contradictorio
El testamento debe tener un lenguaje claro y coherente. Si hay contradicciones o frases poco precisas, puede haber dudas sobre quién recibe qué. Esto puede causar retrasos, conflictos o resultados no deseados.
4. Regalar bienes que no se poseen legalmente
Un testamento solo puede incluir lo que la persona posee legalmente al momento de fallecer. A veces se intenta dejar propiedades que no están a nombre del testador. También hay confusión con bienes compartidos, como cuentas o propiedades en conjunto, que no forman parte de la sucesión y pasan directamente al otro dueño.
La superannuation (fondo de jubilación) es otro ejemplo. Aunque muchos creen que forma parte de la sucesión, en realidad está controlada por el fondo. Para que se distribuya según tus deseos, se debe completar una Binding Death Benefit Nomination. Mencionarlo en el testamento no es suficiente.
Si no se definen bien los bienes, los beneficiarios pueden quedarse sin nada y verse obligados a impugnar el testamento o presentar un reclamo por provisión familiar, lo que genera procesos largos y costosos.
5. No incluir bienes en el extranjero
Muchos testamentos caseros solo aplican a bienes en Australia. Algunas formatos de testamento incluyen cláusulas estándar, dicen cosas como “este testamento no afecta bienes en otros países”. Esto puede causar dudas al solicitar la sucesión, retrasos o que los bienes en el extranjero no se distribuyan correctamente.
6. No considerar posibles reclamos familiares
Los abogados especializados en planificación de sucesión ayudan a identificar riesgos de reclamos futuros. Aunque no se puede evitar completamente una demanda por provisión familiar, sí se pueden tomar medidas para reducir el riesgo. Los testamentos caseros suelen ignorar esto, lo que puede llevar a disputas legales financiadas por la sucesión.
Antes de hacer un testamento casero o en línea, pregúntate: ¿esto facilitará o complicará las cosas para mi familia? ¿Vale la pena el riesgo? La planificación de sucesión es demasiado importante para dejarla al azar. Lo que se ahorra ahora puede costar mucho más después.
En Adelta Legal, nuestro equipo ofrece asesoramiento personalizado y redacta testamentos profesionales que reflejan tus deseos de forma legal y clara. Evita errores costosos, protege a tus seres queridos y gana tranquilidad hablando con uno de nuestros abogados especializados en sucesiones.
For more information on Wills and Estate Planning read our fact sheet: Wills & Estate Planning FAQ
Katherine Da Cunha is fluent in Spanish and can provide legal advice to Spanish speaking clients in their own language.
This article is written and translated by Katherine Da Cunha who is a solicitor in our Estate Planning and Estate Administration teams.
Solicitor
e: kdacunha@adelta.com.au
p: 8415 5001
Solicitor
BA., LL.B., GDLP
Katherine is originally from Sydney where she completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice in 2008. Katherine was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2009 and was subsequently admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia in 2020 and the High Court of South Australia in 2022.
Katherine has a keen interest in wills and estates and can assist clients with the preparation of Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Advance Care Directives. Katherine is dedicated to providing her clients with peace of mind knowing that their families and assets are protected. Katherine can also assist executors and family members who have lost a loved one in managing and distributing an estate in an empathetic and efficient manner.
Coming from an Argentinian/Italian background, Katherine speaks fluent Spanish.
Outside of Adelta Legal, Katherine enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Contact Katherine Da Cunha
