Are DIY will kits from the newsagent legally valid in Australia?
DIY Will kits from the newsagent are technically legal, but they fail more often than people expect. The problem is rarely the kit itself, it is how it gets filled in. Common mistakes include describing beneficiaries incorrectly, not describing gifts clearly, and leaving the residuary estate undisposed of. A guided online Will reduces these errors, for example by making sure your residuary estate is fully dealt with. Either way, you must print it and sign it in pen in front of two independent witnesses.
For related guidance, see can a family member witness a will in Australia — and what happens if they are also a beneficiary?.
Read the video transcript
Look, they are technically legal, but they can fail far more than people realise. The issue isn't so much the kit itself, it's how it's completed. Incorrectly describing beneficiaries, not adequately describing gifts, not properly disposing of the residuary estate are common errors that are seen with will kits. With a well-designed online platform such as Willed, a lot of these errors are mitigated as the platform will ensure that your residuary estate is fully disposed of. The important thing is that you print it out and sign it in pen in the presence of two independent witnesses.
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