2019 Queensland Wills Week
31 August 2019
The Public Trustee is hosting Queensland Wills Week again this year to raise awareness about the importance of having a valid and up-to-date will.
This year’s event will be held from Saturday 31 August to Sunday 8 September with a host of events around the State.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said Wills Week was an important event, and succession law practitioners across Queensland were being encouraged to host an event or community education session in their local community.
“At the end of the day, we just want Queenslanders to make a will, and we want to spread the word that wills are important,” Mrs D’Ath said.
“If you die without a will, your estate may not be distributed to your beneficiaries in the way you would wish.
“Dying without a will can also place a burden on your family and loved ones”.
Many people were not aware that a will could become invalid and that it should be updated with events such as getting married, entering a de facto relationship, divorce, birth of a child or grandchild, and changes to your assets.
By preparing a will and ensuring it is up to date, people could save their family time and money during what can often be a period of grief and loss.
The Public Trustee is holding events in 15 regions across the state to make people aware of this important issue.
Mrs D’Ath said that as a provider of estate and financial administration services to the Queensland community, the Public Trustee gave back more than $35 million annually in community service obligations.
This included rebated fees for those not in a financial position to pay the Public Trustee’s fees, and public education around future planning and support for elder abuse prevention.
“The Public Trustee makes thousands of wills for Queenslanders each year as part of their free will-making service,” Mrs D’Ath said.
“They have a network of offices across the state, and you are not required to appoint them as your executor.
“So there’s really no excuse not to have a valid will,” she said.