No Central Will Registry in Australia: 4 Ways to Keep Yours Findable

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Where you can register or deposit a will in Australia

No single government database holds every Australian will. Instead, several states and territories offer their own voluntary storage or deposit options, and many families rely on private arrangements.

Several public trustee offices accept original wills for safekeeping. In Victoria, State Trustees runs The Victorian Will and Powers of Attorney Registry, which stores wills free for Victorian residents, including wills made elsewhere. The ACT Public Trustee and Guardian runs a Will Register, and a fee may apply to lodge a will. In New South Wales, the NSW Trustee and Guardian offers WillSafe storage, and in some cases storage is free if the office is also named as executor. Western Australia runs the WA Public Trustee Will Bank, and its published fees can include a charge to lodge a will.

Outside the public trustees, there are other practical routes:

• A solicitor who drafted or holds your will can store the original in their firm's secure files.
• The Law Society of South Australia runs a voluntary wills register that records where a will is held, mainly for use by other lawyers.
• Banks offer private safe deposit boxes for a fee, though not every branch provides this service.
• Some willmakers simply keep the original in a home safe, provided someone else knows where it is.

None of these options change whether your will is legally valid. A will is valid once it is properly signed and witnessed under your state's succession laws, not once it is lodged somewhere. Deposit services exist purely to reduce the risk that a valid will goes missing or unnoticed after death.

How to store your will so it can be found

Choosing where to keep your signed will matters more than where you draft it. Each storage option carries its own trade-offs:

1. Lawyer storage keeps the will in professional hands, though it may involve ongoing fees or require contacting the firm years later.
2. Public trustee deposit gives a formal record, either free or for a fee depending on the state, useful if you have no solicitor and want a government-linked option.
3. Bank safe deposit offers physical security but can delay access if the bank requires probate before releasing the box.
4. Home safe is free and immediate, but only works if your executor actually knows it exists.

Whichever option you choose, tell your executor exactly where the original will is kept. If you used a deposit service, give your executor the depositor's name and contact details as well.

Treat the signed document with care. Don't staple, pin or unbind the pages, since marks from removed attachments can raise questions when the will is lodged for probate. Keep a photocopy for your own reference, but never rely on the copy as a substitute for the original.

A public trustee deposit tends to make the most sense when you don't have a regular solicitor, or when you want an independent, formal record outside family or private hands.

Pro Tip: Store a short note with your important papers naming your executor and where the original will is kept, separate from the will itself.

How a will is located after death and what probate means for access

When someone dies, the search for their will usually starts close to home. Executors typically check the deceased's house, their solicitor's files, their bank, their accountant and any public trustee the person may have used.

• Start with the home: filing cabinets, safes and personal papers.
• Contact the deceased's solicitor or accountant, who may hold the original or a copy.
• Ask the relevant state public trustee. Expect to show proof of identity and your connection to the estate before any information is released.
• Check with banks, since some hold wills in safe deposit boxes.

Once a will has gone through probate, it generally stops being a private document. In Victoria, the Supreme Court's online probate index lets you search for probate applications, and copies can be ordered for a fee, according to the Supreme Court of Victoria. Every other state and territory also has a probate registry at its Supreme Court, though how you search it differs.

Good records speed everything up. An executor who already knows where the original will is kept, and who holds clear contact details for any solicitor or public trustee involved, can begin the estate administration process without the delays that come from searching blind.

State snapshot: deposit options and key differences

Deposit conditions, fees and search tools vary by state, so it helps to see them side by side.

Execution rules also differ slightly between states. In New South Wales, for example, the Succession Act 2006 sets out the signature and two-witness requirement, with limited court discretion for non-compliant documents. Our guide to will requirements across Australia covers these state-by-state differences in more detail.

How WillBuddy helps you prepare your will and keep it findable

We built WillBuddy around two things that matter for a will: clear wording for your state or territory, and making sure it can be found. Our platform asks plain questions about your state, your family and your wishes, one at a time, and drafts a will for your state or territory as you go. Signing and witnessing it correctly is what makes it valid.

• You can read every word of your will free before you pay anything.
• Once you're happy with it, you print and sign it with two witnesses, following your state's correct witnessing process, then choose a secure storage option such as a public trustee deposit, your lawyer or a safe at home.
• Annual Access is $39 a year and includes 50 AI edits a year (top-ups available), so your will can keep pace with changes like a new child, a new address or a new executor.
• We keep your will in secure, encrypted storage in Australia while your plan is active. That is a digital copy: the signed paper original still needs a safe home.

For blended families, a business or trust, assets overseas, or a situation likely to be contested, we recommend speaking with a lawyer before finalising your will.

Start your will with WillBuddy

Sorting out a will shouldn't mean weeks of back and forth with a solicitor or a stack of legal jargon to decode. We let you draft your complete will by answering plain questions about your family, your assets and your wishes, in your own time.

You can read every word of your will free at willbuddy.com.au before you decide to pay for it. If you're ready to keep your will current year to year, our Annual Access plan is $39 a year and covers 50 AI edits a year and encrypted storage of your will's digital copy while your plan is active.

• Draft your will for your state by answering plain questions, one at a time.
• Read the complete document free before paying anything.
• Print it, sign it with two witnesses, and choose a secure storage option that suits you.

Start your will free at willbuddy.com.au and read it before you pay.

This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer. Consult a qualified legal professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.

FAQ

What is an executor?

An executor is the person you name in your will to carry out your wishes after you die, including managing your assets and distributing your estate. It's worth naming an alternate executor too, in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act when the time comes.

What is a holographic will?

A holographic will is one that's handwritten and signed by the willmaker, often without witnesses. Courts can sometimes accept these as valid under limited circumstances, but the rules vary by state, so a properly witnessed will is the more reliable option.

Can I check if there is a will?

You can start by searching the deceased's home, contacting their solicitor, bank or accountant, and asking the relevant state public trustee. If the will has already been admitted to probate, you can search the Supreme Court's probate index in states like Victoria and order a copy for a fee.

How to make a valid will in Australia?

A valid will generally needs to be in writing, signed by the willmaker, and witnessed by two people, though exact rules vary by state. Using a platform like WillBuddy lets you draft a will matched to your state's requirements and read it free before you pay.

Do I need to register my will to make it valid?

No. Registering or depositing a will with a public trustee or lawyer is optional and only affects how easily it can be found, not whether it's legally valid. Validity depends on proper signing and witnessing under your state's succession laws.

Sources

Show the sources

• The Victorian Will and Powers of Attorney Registry | State Trustees

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