Yes. Australian law does not ask where your will came from. It asks whether the document meets three formal requirements. A will made online and signed properly is exactly as valid as one drafted in a law office — and a will drafted by a solicitor but signed incorrectly is exactly as invalid as any other.
Every state and territory sets essentially the same core test.
Meet those three and you have a valid will. Miss the third and you may have nothing.
There is no single Australian wills act — each state and territory has its own legislation. The core requirements are consistent; the detail is not.
| State / territory | Governing legislation | Minimum age | Witnesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Succession Act 2006 (NSW) | 18 | 2 |
| Victoria | Wills Act 1997 (Vic) | 18 | 2 |
| Queensland | Succession Act 1981 (Qld) | 18 | 2 |
| Western Australia | Wills Act 1970 (WA) | 18 | 2 |
| South Australia | Succession Act 2023 (SA) | 18 | 2 |
| Tasmania | Wills Act 2008 (Tas) | 18 | 2 |
| the Australian Capital Territory | Wills Act 1968 (ACT) | 18 | 2 |
| the Northern Territory | Wills Act 2000 (NT) | 18 | 2 |
As a general rule, no — and this is the single most important practical point on this page.
Wills are typically carved out of the electronic transactions legislation that lets you sign most other documents digitally. A typed name, a drawn signature on a screen or a DocuSign-style signature is not a safe way to execute a will. Some states introduced temporary or limited remote witnessing arrangements in recent years, but the method accepted everywhere, without argument, is the traditional one: print it, and sign it in wet ink in front of two witnesses who are physically present at the same time.
This is why no legitimate Australian online will service finishes the job for you. We produce the document and tell you precisely how to execute it. The signing is yours to do.
Your witnesses must be two adults who are not beneficiaries under the will and not your spouse or partner. Neighbours, colleagues, a pharmacist or a friend who inherits nothing are all fine.
The consequence of getting this wrong varies by state, and it is one of the few places where the law genuinely differs. In New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, a gift to a person who witnessed the will can be void — the will stands, but that person may lose their inheritance. In Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory the gift is generally not affected.
The practical rule is simple: never let a beneficiary witness your will, anywhere in Australia. See the witness requirements for your state for the exact provisions.
In our experience the failures are rarely exotic. They are almost always mechanical.
Courts do have limited power to recognise a document that fails the formalities — the "informal will" provisions. Do not rely on it. It requires a court application, costs far more than any will, and the outcome is uncertain.
No. No Australian state or territory requires a will to be notarised, stamped, sealed or lodged anywhere for it to be valid. Will registry services exist, and they can help an executor find the document later, but they are a convenience — not a legal requirement.
What genuinely matters is that your executor can find the signed original. Tell them where it is.
An online will suits a straightforward estate. It is the wrong tool if any of these apply, and we would rather say so than take your money.
Yes. Australian law does not care whether your will was drafted by a solicitor, typed by you, or produced by an online service. What matters is that it is in writing, that you signed it, and that two witnesses were present at the same time when you did. A will made online and then printed and signed correctly is as valid as one drafted in a law office.
As a general rule, no. Wills are usually excluded from electronic transaction laws, so you should print your will and sign it in wet ink. Some states introduced limited remote witnessing measures, but the safe and universally accepted method is a printed document signed in front of two physically present witnesses.
Two adults who are not beneficiaries under the will and are not your spouse or partner. They must both be present at the same time when you sign, and each must sign in your presence. In New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory a gift to a witness can be void, so never use a beneficiary as a witness anywhere in Australia.
No. There is no requirement in any Australian state or territory to have a will notarised, stamped or registered for it to be valid. Registration services exist and can help your executor locate the document, but they are optional and do not affect validity.
The most common failures are execution mistakes: only one witness, witnesses who were not present at the same time, a beneficiary or spouse acting as witness, or the will never being signed at all. Other grounds include lack of capacity, undue influence, or a later will revoking the earlier one.
A handwritten will can be valid if it meets the same formal requirements. In practice handwritten wills fail far more often, because of unclear wording, missing witnesses, or gifts that cannot be identified. Courts have limited powers to rescue an informal document, but that process is expensive and uncertain.
This page is general information only, not advice about your personal circumstances. Wills legislation differs between states and changes over time. Content checked August 2026.