Are you one of the 60% of people in NSW without a legal Will?

Did you know over half of NSW residents do not have a valid and legal Will?   

Research conducted by NSW Trustee and Guardian in 2023* showed that 60% of NSW residents do not have a legal Will document in place. NSW Trustee and Guardian is looking to solve this problem with a new targeted campaign seeking to raise awareness about the importance of having a Will and the potential consequences of not having one.   

The campaign will reach a range of age groups and include newlyweds, first home buyers and new parents who may not have a current Will or who might not be aware that their Will may no longer be valid after significant life events.   

NSW Trustee and Guardian CEO Brian Woods says, ‘We’ve been writing Wills for over 100 years, and every day we see the impact of those who have died without a Will and Power of Attorney or Enduring Guardian documents in place. There is no time like the present to get organised.’  

Senior Solicitor for NSW Trustee and Guardian Natalie Darcy said, ‘The laws of intestacy state the order in which relatives become beneficiaries which might not be what you would wish. Dying intestate can create significant delays and increase the chance of disputes for your loved ones, often at a time of grieving’. 

NSW Trustee and Guardian’s campaign will launch today in metro and regional areas across NSW. It aims to educate and empower NSW residents to take control of their future and 'Make your Will One less thing' to do. The campaign will highlight NSW Trustee and Guardian as industry experts with over 100 years’ experience and over 13,000 documents created annually. 

Community education events and online resources will run alongside the campaign, highlighting the importance of a Will and other estate planning documents, emphasising the need to keep these documents updated. It will also address the realities of intestacy for families in the event there is no Will in place.    

NSW Trustee and Guardian research* also indicated that the campaign message ‘Make your Will One Less Thing’ resonates with people under the age of 60 who have not made a Will because of time restraints and competing priorities.   

The campaign will reach over 2 million NSW residents through a mix of radio and digital ads, social media and print advertising, including ads tailored for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. NSW Trustee and Guardian’s website offers valuable resources and tools for NSW citizens with additional content that supports their 9 offices and 'pop-up Will writing events' taking place at over 100 locations a year.     

The campaign will run for six months throughout NSW and is the first major campaign for NSW Trustee and Guardian in over three years. For more information, please visit nsw.gov.au/makeyourwill   

*Research conducted on behalf of NSW Trustee and Guardian by FiftyFive5 (Part of Accenture Song), July-August 2023, approximately 2000 NSW residents aged 18 and over.  

For media inquiries, please contact our Media Team: media@tag.nsw.gov.au