(www.goodwillweek.com.au)Good Will Week 10 - 16 October 2005
The message of this year's Good Will Week is, "Don't leave it to chance ... you should make a Will". The week and its special events are, the community education program of the NSW Public Trustee, to encourage, educate and inspire people to make a Will. The Public Trustee is responsible for the making of Wills and other related activities.
The Trustee Peter Whitehead has recently warned that the assets of those who died without making a Will might end up in the coffers of the NSW Government. " If you die without a Will, your family and friends may not end with the things you would have wanted to give them". "Even worse, if you have no family closer than cousins, your money and assets may end up in the hands of the NSW Government", he added.
In fact, Sydney residents are less likely to make a Will than people living in the rest of NSW, a new survey shows. The recent Newspoll survey found 48.8 percent of adults haven't made a Will (The Daily Telegraph, 2 October 2005).
Making a Will is not compulsory but is relatively easy/cheap, and I understand Will (self) kits are currently available to assist individuals in making Wills. Existing wills can be updated and there should be no misinterpretation. A colleague told me that his father died without making a Will and "it proved to be a complex and very stressful situation" for the family. 'Although it is something many of us don't like to think about, but if you are over 18, having an up-to-date Will is essential'. I encourage you to consider and have one made if you do not have one.
Probate Division of the NSW Supreme Court (tel. 02 9228 7377) maintains a register of Wills, and deals with deceased estates, and gives access to records about how a deceased person's assets have been dealt with.
Other help/information is available from NSW Public Trustee (tel. 9252 0523, or toll free 1800 814 208). You may browse
www.pt.nsw.gov.au for answers on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding making a Will, and/or www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au for assistance if you have a dispute over a Will or estate.
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