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Write your Will online

Our Online Wills site lets you create a simple Will online in your own time and in your own place.

Making a Will online won't suit everyone's situation, but you can get started online and if you decide you need help, you can contact us so that we can provide expert advice specific to your situation - charges may apply.

How does our service work?

Before you start you first need to register - this gives you a user account so that you can save your progress at any time and return to the site later, if needed, to complete your Will.  Once you have logged in you will be asked a series of questions and guided through the whole process.

Want to know more before registering?  FAQs

Who can make a Will?

A Will is one of the most important legal documents you can have. If you don't have one, what happens after you die may not be what you want and it can be very expensive and upsetting for those you leave behind.

Anyone 18 or over and mentally competent can make a Will.  A person under that age can make a Will with the consent of a Family Court judge.

What sort of Will can I make online?

With online Wills you can...

  • appoint an executor and trustee (they carry out your wishes)

  • tell them how you'd like things managed

  • choose guardians for children under 18

  • make special gifts of money or property

  • leave the rest to close relatives in various combinations

  • say what sort of funeral you want

  • say what you want done with your body or ashes.

Your online Will is legal in New Zealand. But, like any Will, it can be contested if it is found that you were being pressured or weren't capable (of sound mind) at the time you made it.

How long does it take?

In simple cases you can make a new Will online in less than an hour.  You may however take longer if you wish to consult with family or look up documents.  Remember you can save it and return to the site at any time.

When can't I make a Will online?

There are times when you can't finish online and we'll need to meet with you to provide the expert advice you need. But you can still do quite a lot online first and it makes things easier when we meet.

You won't be able to make a Will online if you...

  • have overseas assets
  • New Zealand is not your permanent home
  • want to leave things in uneven shares to different people
  • want to divide things between more than eight people
  • want to gift over $25,000 to someone
  • have children outside your current relationship
  • have a child with special needs who can't manage their own affairs
  • have a child that died leaving a grandchild behind
  • want to provide for a stepchild or child who is not legally yours
  • have promised someone a reward for their services
  • have made a personal loan to someone
  • want to deal with your Family Trust (eg. Forgive debt owed to you or appoint replacement trustees).

What does it cost?

There will be no charge if you complete, print and sign your Will using our online site.

Our service also includes the following options:

  • We can keep your Will in safe storage, at no charge, so that it is always safe and can be easily found.
  • If we are your executor, your estate will pay a fee for us to administer your estate when you die. Our fees are based on the work we do and the time it takes, not on the value of the estate.  You can find out more about estate services at our estate administration page.

If you would like the extra reassurance of one of our specialists reviewing your Will and assisting with signing and witnessing, you can make an appointment to finalise your Will.  Please note charges may apply, please check when you call to make an appointment.

How do I make my Will online?

  • You'll fill in a series of questions and be guided through the whole process. This will take about 30-60 minutes (less when you update it). You then check your answers and make any changes you want.
  • You then print your Will out from your own PC.
  • To make everything legal you need to sign your Will in front of two witnesses. Then you need to fill in a few details online so we can record that your Will has been signed and is legally complete.
  • You can take as long as you want to do all this and you don't have to do everything at once. You can save and log off and login again whenever you want.
  • If you get stuck or would like expert advice on something you can email or call us - or make an appointment to see us. Then you can finish off online or at one of our customer centres.  Making an appointment to see an experienced adviser may incur a charge.
  • Should you wish to update your signed Will, you will need to make a new Will.  You can make a new Will any time things change or need updating.

The Will you make online is completely legal - but like any Will it could be contested in some situations. That's why we give you the option to have your Will legally checked by Public Trust.  We recommend this option - it also means we can certify that you made the Will yourself and were willing and capable at the time.        

Charges may apply, please check when you call to make an appointment.

Can I alter my Will?

It is important to update your Will before signing if your situation changes.  If your situation changes after your Will has been signed and witnessed then you will need to create a new Will. You can make a new Will anytime you want, but you can't write a change onto an existing Will - this can cause legal problems.  Alternatively you can make an appointment to see a specialist adviser, this may incur a charge.

Need Help?

You can make an appointment.

Ready to log on?

First visit? To get started you need to register first - this will take you about five minutes.

Already registered? You can login straight away.