The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: stashgrower on September 26, 2016, 12:38:46 AM
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Has anyone used the Public Trustee for drawing up their will? Does anyone have experience with the pros and cons of the Public Trustee as executor? Thanks in advance.
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In the 1990's, I used "Willmaker" by NoloPress to generate a will. Recently, I wanted to update it, and found Quicken Willmaker 2016 available for checkout at my local library. It includes a software CD that allowed me to install the program, and generate a valid will for my area in less than an hour. One of the first things you do is give it your address, and the software generates the wording valid in your region.
The blurb on Willmaker 2016 says wills are valid in various countries including: "Australia · Brazil · Canada · China · France · Germany · India · Italy · Japan · Mexico · Netherlands · Spain · United Kingdom".
If the library (free) isn't an option, there's always Amazon
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This is anecdata, but I've had a few relatives tell horror stories about the public trustee as executor. Is there no on e you could trust to execute your will?
No idea about their will drafting services, but will kits are fairly cheap and easy.
If your situation is complicated, might be worth getting your will drafted by a lawyer.
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Snap. I was thinking about posting a similar question. The information about making a will in the ACT is hopeless! The site just directs to the public trustee page, which is all about why you should pay the public trustee to write your will. I spent quite a while looking and couldn't find any information about what is required for a valid will in Australia.
I checked the UK advice (I was thinking about just making a will in the UK, as that is where I currently reside):
'You can write your will yourself, but you should get advice if your will isn’t straightforward.
You need to get your will formally witnessed and signed to make it legally valid.
If you want to update your will, you need to make an official alteration (called a ‘codicil’) or make a new will.'
Could I find anything that straightforward on any Australian Government site? No.
Sorry for not having an answer to your question, and having a vent instead. But if their website is anything to go by, I would avoid the Public Trustee because they don't seem to have any idea what they are doing or what people might want to know when they come to their website!
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I had a look into it but from memory their fees as executor were quite high.