Online wills are a relatively new addition to the estate-planning world, so some people still have reservations about their validity. However, as online wills make their way through the probate process in increasing numbers, they are proving to be a trusted and reliable tool.
Rica Ehlers, senior probate solicitor at Gathered Here Legal, says around 20% of the probate cases she handles are for wills prepared online.
“We’re seeing a lot more cases of families seeking probate for wills that have been prepared online – and they’re standing up to the probate process extremely well,” says Ehlers. “We haven’t had one occasion of an online will being declined probate.”
What makes online wills different?
Where solicitor-drafted wills can be highly-customised and complex, online wills follow a stripped-back template. With an online will, you can still leave gifts to your loved ones, appoint guardians for pets or children, and even include bequests for charities close to your heart – but there are some things you can’t do.
For example, if you want to leave instructions for the division of business assets, create a family trust, or exclude a child from your will, it’s more appropriate to speak with a solicitor.
Of course, this simplified approach has a big impact on price. While a solicitor-drafted will can easily cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, online wills are far more affordable. Gathered Here’s online will platform is 100% free, with unlimited free updates for life.
Importantly, there’s no obligation for your family to engage Gathered Here legal for probate services. They’re able to provide the online will-writing service for free, thanks to support from hundreds of charity partners who advertise on the site.
Supporting worthy causes
More than half of Australians say they’re interested in supporting a charity in their will – yet only around 7% actually go through with it. Part of the problem is the difficulty in including a charity when creating a traditional will in a solicitor’s office. Will-writers need the legal business name, as well as its ABN, plus a specially-drafted clause which can end up costing extra. There are lots of extra obstacles that put people off.
However, online will platforms like Gathered Here allow charities to be pre-listed. Will-writers can choose to include a charity or not – the will is still free either way – but if they decide to include a charitable gift, it can be done with one click of a button.
“It’s been transformative for the non-profit space,” says founder Colin Wong. “It’s estimated that over $1 billion has been pledged in wills written via the Gathered Here platform – and it doesn’t cost those generous will-writers anything during their lifetime.”
Over 100,000 people have created their wills on the Gathered Here platform since it launched four years ago. If you’re interested in writing your will, for free, head to GatheredHere.com.au.
