Storing and updating your will
Find out how to keep your will in a safe place, and when you should review and update it.
Why it's important
Storing your will in a safe place, as well as letting your executor, beneficiaries and family know where it’s located, is vital.
A will serves no purpose if its existence is unknown.
Keeping it at home risks your will being lost, damaged or stolen. If a will cannot be located, the risks can include:
- your assets not being distributed as you intended
- there being additional legal costs incurred after your death.
Many people choose to store their will with their solicitor. There are also safe-storage services, including that offered by NSW Trustee & Guardian.
Reviewing your will
It's recommended to review your will every 5 years or whenever there's a significant event or change in your life. This could be:
- getting married
- having children
- changes to your financial situation
- separating or divorcing
- moving overseas
- the death of a proposed beneficiary or executor.
In these situations, the terms of your will may be impacted so it's important to ensure it reflects your current circumstances.
End of Life Planner
An interactive guide to help you prepare for end of life tasks and documents before you meet with a professional advisor. This includes will preparation, Enduring Power of Attorney, Enduring Guardianship, funeral wishes and more.
You will need to log in to your MyServiceNSW Account to use the planner.
We're now directing you to log in to the Life Administrator – End of Life Planner. You'll need a MyServiceNSW Account to continue.
Why should I log in?
By logging in you're able to:
- start the planning process
- update and save your information whenever circumstances change
- find ways to get professional advice if you need it.