Estate planning is the overarching term used for making decisions in relation to:

• preparing a will – which allows you to nominate how your assets are to be distributed, who will act as guardians for your children and who will act as the executors and trustees of your estate
• preparing an enduring power of attorney – which allows you to nominate how you would like to have your personal, financial and health care matters managed, should you lose capacity to make those decisions.

What is a will?

A will is a legal document which, as far as possible, ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes, after you die. Your will can cover all of your assets in your own name — your house, land, car, shares and bank accounts. It does not cover life insurance or superannuation.

A will allows you to appoint an executor to distribute your assets to beneficiaries (the people or other recipients who you choose to receive your assets). Your choice of an executor should be carefully considered as the role can be very demanding and often complex. It can require legal and financial knowledge or guidance.

Any person of sound mind from the age of 18 years or, in certain circumstances, under 18 years, can make a will.

What happens if I don’t make a will?

Dying without a will (called intestacy) means your assets will be distributed according to rigid formulae set down by the laws of intestacy. Those laws may:

• force the sale of the family home or family car so that the debts can be satisfied and allow other beneficiaries to claim their share of your assets
• not provide future financial protection for your children and grandchildren
• give your assets to the government, if you have no relatives or any other persons who are entitled to benefit.

Furthermore, you lose your autonomy as to who will administer your estate.

Preparing your will

A will is a complex legal document that should be prepared by your solicitor. Before visiting your solicitor, you should consider:

• who to appoint executor and their powers
• who to appoint guardian of your children and how you would like to provide for your children’s future
• what your current assets and liabilities are
• who should receive your assets
• what life insurance you hold
• what funeral arrangements you prefer
• what superannuation you have accumulated.

Can I prepare my own will?

You can prepare your own will but you do so at the risk of causing costly and emotional legal battles among relatives if a dispute arises after you die. When preparing a will, a number of legal requirements must be followed or it may be ineffective. If this occurs, and you have no valid earlier will, you may be presumed to have died intestate with the laws of intestacy to apply, unless the invalidity is rectified by court process, which can be expensive.

Alternatively, if your self-made will fails to clearly express your wishes, the court may need to interpret your will, which may add further costs and emotional burden to your loved ones.

Changes to your will

You are free to alter your will at any time and as often as you wish, if you have testamentary capacity to do so.

Your circumstances may significantly change over time, so it is advisable to regularly review your will in the event of:

• the birth of children or grandchildren
• death of a beneficiary or executor
• changes to financials
• changes to home or property.

On marriage, your current will is automatically revoked unless it states it is made in contemplation of your marriage. Any will you have in favour of a divorced spouse is immediately revoked when the divorce becomes finalised.

Amendments to the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act 1961 in 2017 may have the effect of revoking a will made by a same sex couple prior to the commencement of these changes. It is strongly recommended that persons who have married another person of the same sex seek legal advice on the validity of any will signed prior to the changes to the Marriage Act.

Is there such a thing as a ‘free’ will?

The Public Trustee and trustee companies prepare wills at no cost to the will-maker. You should check, however, what charges may be involved if they administer your estate, and any other issues such as the appointment of your executor.

Can I appoint someone else to act on my behalf?

You can legally appoint a trusted friend or a relative, to act on your behalf to handle your affairs by signing an enduring power of attorney. The nominated person is known as your attorney. The person may handle your affairs or have the power to act on your behalf. An enduring power of attorney is just as important as a will. While a will operates on your death, an enduring power of attorney operates during your lifetime.