Is There Really An Australian Government Free Will Kit? Here’s What Actually Exists

If you’ve searched for an Australian Government free will kit, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common searches bringing people to this website, and we want to save you some time. There is no single, official, government-branded product with that name. What shows up under that search is usually a private business offering a template, sometimes with an upsell attached, sometimes linked to funeral or insurance marketing.

That doesn’t mean free help doesn’t exist. It just means the real options look a little different to what the search term suggests, and knowing the difference matters before you sign anything or hand over personal details.

What’s Actually Free (And Who Qualifies)

In South Australia, the closest thing to a government will service is the Public Trustee. They can prepare your will at no cost, but only if you meet their eligibility criteria, generally concession card holders or people under an administration or guardianship order, and only if you appoint the Public Trustee as your executor. If you’re not eligible, or you’d rather choose your own executor, this option isn’t available to you.

There are other low-cost paths too, like community wills days run through organisations such as the Salvation Army, and reviewed DIY will kits from sources like CHOICE. Even Moneysmart, the federal government’s own financial guidance site, recommends having any DIY will checked by a solicitor or the Public Trustee before you rely on it.

We understand the appeal of “free” when you’re trying to tick something important off your list without adding cost or complication. But we’ve sat across the table from too many Yorke Peninsula and Mid North families dealing with the aftermath of a will that wasn’t checked properly, and we want you to know what’s really at stake before you reach for a template.

The Problem With Filling In The Blanks Yourself

Whether it’s a free kit from a private company or a template you’ve found online, the same risks apply once you’re the one filling it in.

Our senior estate clerk, Tanya Phillips, has handled more of these cases than she can count, and she sees the same problems come up again and again.

Getting the paperwork right is harder than it looks. A valid will needs two adult witnesses present together at the signing, not added later or missing altogether. We’ve seen wills with staple marks, mismatched inks, and pages removed from their original booklet with no way to prove what the document originally said. We’ve seen blank sections where a date or a clause should be, and gift or residuary details written in the wrong spot entirely, sometimes left blank when they mattered most.

Your assets might not behave the way you expect. Superannuation often sits outside a will altogether. Family trusts and company property usually can’t be handed over through a basic template. A home held as joint tenants doesn’t pass the way many people assume. We’ve seen cases where a house, usually someone’s biggest asset, ended up in dispute because the wording around what should happen to it and its proceeds wasn’t clear. Sorting out the true intentions of the deceased then meant bringing in legal experts, including barristers, at a cost that ate directly into what beneficiaries were left to receive.

Vague wording invites expensive disputes. We’ve seen a residuary estate simply left to “charity”, with no charity named, no split specified, and no amount attached. Someone then has to work out what that meant, and that someone is usually a court. Blended families face their own extra layer of risk, with new partners, children from earlier relationships, and inheritance laws that a template was never built to navigate.

The Real Cost Isn’t Just Financial

A poorly worded will kit doesn’t just cost money to fix, though it often costs considerably more than a properly prepared will would have in the first place. It costs time, with probate delayed while lawyers work out what you actually meant. It costs certainty, with rigid forms sometimes preventing beneficiaries from receiving what you intended for them. And it costs families their peace, with disputes over unclear wishes straining relationships at the exact moment everyone needs to be pulling together.

And a will kit never updates itself. Marriage, divorce, a new grandchild, the purchase of a farm, none of it is reflected in a document sitting in a drawer since the day you signed it.

Before You Sign Anything

If what you’ve found online carries the words “Australian Government” in its name or branding but doesn’t link to a genuine .gov.au site or name the relevant state Public Trustee, treat it with caution. Check your eligibility for the Public Trustee’s free service directly through their South Australian channels, and if your situation involves a business, a family trust, blended family considerations, property, or anything beyond the simplest estate, a solicitor is the safer path regardless of what the kit costs upfront.

How Mildwaters Byrth Guides You Through It

We’ve been part of this community for a long time, with team members born and raised right here on the Yorke Peninsula. We know that a will isn’t just paperwork. It’s how you protect the people and the property you’ve spent a lifetime building.

With over 40 years of combined legal experience, we understand regional property, farming succession, and the particular pressures facing local families. We take the time to listen to your situation properly, so nothing important gets missed.

Our Simple Three-Step Plan

1. Connect & Understand. We sit down with you to understand your unique circumstances, your assets, and your family situation.
2. Create & Explain. We draft a will that reflects exactly what you want, explaining every clause in plain language so there’s no confusion later.
3. Support & Deliver. We guide you through signing and storage properly, so your will holds up when it matters most.

Protect What You’ve Built

Your legacy deserves more than a template. Contact Mildwaters Byrth today to schedule a consultation and get a will that says exactly what you mean, prepared by people who understand your local context.