Will Kits Compared: Kit, Online Will or Public Trustee

If you're searching for a will kit, you probably want a cheap, quick way to make a will without paying a lawyer. A printed kit is one way to do that, but it's no longer the only low-cost option. Online will services, charity-funded free wills and state Public Trustees now compete for the same job. This page sets the four routes side by side using prices and descriptions from official and provider pages we read on 30 October 2026, so you can pick the one that suits your estate.

This is general information, not legal advice. Will and power of attorney rules differ by state and territory. For advice on your situation, speak to a lawyer or your state's Public Trustee. AustralianWillKit.com.au is an independent guide operated by Dominet BV. We aren't a law firm, we don't sell wills or kits, and we don't draft wills. No link on this site is an affiliate link right now. We may earn a commission from will providers in future when a reader buys through a link on this site. If that happens we'll label those links and explain it in our affiliate disclosure, and it won't change the facts we publish. Rules, fees and prices were checked on official and provider websites on 30 October 2026 and can change. Read our general information notice.

The four ways to make a will

The NT Government's make a will page lists three: ask a solicitor to prepare one, buy a do-it-yourself kit from an Australia Post office or some newsagencies, or make one with the Public Trustee if you're eligible. Online will services are a fourth, and NSW Trustee and Guardian's wills page lists them among the ways to make a will, noting that some may offer review by a solicitor.

All four produce a valid will only if you sign it in front of two witnesses present at the same time, following your state's rules. See who can witness a will.

Paper and downloadable will kits

A kit gives you blank forms and written guidance. You fill it in, sign it and have it witnessed. It's legal in every state if the result meets the formal requirements, as our guide to whether a will kit is legal explains.

Price. We tried to check Australia Post's will kit prices on 30 October 2026, but its shop pages didn't load for us. We haven't quoted a figure. Queensland Public Trustee's FAQs note there's generally a cost for a self-made will kit, though you may be able to pick one up free.

Free example wills. Victoria Legal Aid's making a will page points readers to the Law Handbook for an example will and says it's a guide only.

The risks. Queensland Public Trustee says writing a will yourself or with a kit can be risky because it may not be properly signed and witnessed, or the wording may not achieve what you want. Legal Aid WA's wills page says it's best to get legal advice and have a will drafted by a lawyer, and that a badly written will often leads to delays and disputes. Tasmania Legal Aid's wills page says the formal requirements must be strictly followed.

What to look for in a kit:

• written for your state, or with clear state-by-state instructions
• current law, for example South Australia's Succession Act 2023 rather than the repealed Wills Act 1936
• a residue clause, so everything not specifically given away has somewhere to go
• space to name a substitute executor
• clear signing instructions that match your state, including the ACT rule that witnesses sign in each other's presence

Online will services

Online services ask you questions and build the will from your answers, which reduces wording errors. Some add a lawyer check. Prices on 30 October 2026, from each provider's own page:

Read more in online wills in Australia, and our Safewill and Willed fact sheets.

Public Trustee wills

Every state and territory has a Public Trustee or equivalent, and several make wills cheaply or for free, often on condition that you name them as executor:

• Queensland: free will-making service and free updates
• NSW: from $462 for a standard will, free for people eligible for a full Age Pension
• Victoria: $75 online will, or $385 single and $700 couple by appointment
• Tasmania: $140 single and $210 couple, including an enduring power of attorney
• NT: $154.00 for a simple will naming the Public Trustee as executor, for the people it serves
• South Australia: free for eligible customers who name the Public Trustee as executor
• WA: wills that name the Public Trustee as executor or substitute executor. We didn't confirm the fee
• ACT: doesn't prepare wills in house, and points to online providers and a capped fee scheme with law firms

If you name a Public Trustee as executor, it may charge the estate for administering it later. Ask about those fees before you decide. Details and sources are on how much a will costs and each state page.

Private lawyers

A lawyer drafts the will and can advise on your circumstances, such as trusts, companies, overseas assets or family situations. NSW Trustee and Guardian says assets held by companies or in trusts generally need specific advice. Fees are set by each lawyer. The ACT's capped scheme for eligible people starts at $702 for one will, according to the ACT Public Trustee and Guardian's making a will page.

Which route suits which situation

This is a starting point, not advice. Two people with similar estates may reasonably choose differently.

Power of attorney in a kit

Many kits and online services also sell an enduring power of attorney. This is a separate document with its own state form and stricter witness rules. Several states offer the forms free: the WA Government says the Office of the Public Advocate's kit is free to download, and South Australia offers free editable Word versions. See our power of attorney guide.

A checklist before you sign any will

Whichever route you take, run through these points on the day you sign:

1. The will names you correctly and is dated.
2. Every person and charity is named in full, so there's no doubt who you mean.
3. There's an executor and, ideally, a substitute executor.
4. There's a residue clause covering everything not specifically given away.
5. If you have children under 18, you've thought about naming a guardian.
6. Your two witnesses are adults who receive nothing under the will, and both can stay until all signatures are done.
7. You know where the signed original will be kept, and your executor will know too.

If anything on the list is uncertain, fix it before signing. Changing a signed will later means a new will or a codicil, signed and witnessed again.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best will kit in Australia?

We don't rank kits. The right choice depends on your state, your estate and how much checking you want. Compare the four routes above.

How much is a will kit at Australia Post?

We couldn't verify a current price on 30 October 2026, because Australia Post's shop pages didn't load for us. Check in store or on its website.

Is an online will better than a will kit?

An online will builds the wording from your answers and some services add a lawyer check. A kit leaves the wording to you. Both need to be signed and witnessed the same way.

Can I get a free will kit?

Queensland Public Trustee's FAQs say you may be able to pick up a kit free, and EveryWill and Gathered Here say their online wills are free.

Do I need a lawyer to make a will?

No Australian state requires one. Official sources recommend advice for complicated estates.