Two Low-Cost Options — Very Different Outcomes
If you have decided to create a Will without using a solicitor (a perfectly valid choice for most Australians), you have two main options: a DIY Will kit from a newsagent or post office, or an online Will platform like ezyWill.
Both are affordable. Both produce a document you print, sign, and have witnessed. But the similarities end there. The difference in quality, reliability, and risk of errors between these two options is significant — and the consequences of getting it wrong can be devastating.
This guide compares both options honestly, so you can make an informed decision.
What Is a DIY Will Kit?
A DIY Will kit is a paper template — typically purchased from a newsagent, post office, or online retailer for $30 to $50. The kit includes:
- A blank Will template with sections to fill in
- Basic instructions for completing and signing the Will
- Sometimes a brief guide to estate planning concepts
- Occasionally, a template for a codicil (a minor amendment to an existing Will)
You fill in the blanks by hand, sign the document in front of two witnesses, and store it yourself. That is the entire process.
What Is an Online Will?
An online Will platform is a web-based service that guides you through a series of questions about your circumstances, wishes, and assets. Based on your answers, the platform generates a state-specific, legally structured Will document. You print the document, sign it in front of two witnesses, and it becomes your legally valid Will.
Online platforms vary in quality and features. ezyWill, for example, includes:
- A guided question-by-question process in plain English
- State-specific legal language and execution requirements
- A digital vault for secure document storage
- Executor notifications and role-based access
- Lawyer review (Premium)
- Unlimited updates as part of the annual subscription
The Core Difference: Guidance
The fundamental difference between a DIY kit and an online platform is guidance.
A DIY kit hands you a blank template and says, “Fill this in.” If you do not know what a residual estate is, what happens if a beneficiary predeceases you, or how to properly structure a gift to a minor, the kit cannot help you. You are on your own.
An online platform walks you through each decision, explains the implications, and ensures nothing is missed. If you indicate you have minor children, the platform prompts you to nominate a guardian. If you want to leave a gift to a charity, the platform ensures the charity is correctly identified. If you live in a state with specific witnessing requirements, the platform provides the correct execution instructions.
This difference in guidance is not a minor convenience — it is the difference between a Will that works and a Will that fails.
Common Errors in DIY Wills
Estate lawyers and courts see the same errors in DIY Wills time and again. These are not theoretical risks — they are documented failures that result in invalid Wills, family disputes, and unintended distributions.
1. Improper Witnessing
Every Australian state requires a Will to be witnessed by two independent adults who are present at the same time. Common witnessing errors include:
- Only one witness signing
- Witnesses not being present at the same time
- A beneficiary (or the spouse of a beneficiary) acting as a witness — which can invalidate the gift to that person
- Witnesses not signing each page (required in some states)
Online Will advantage: Platforms provide clear, state-specific signing and witnessing instructions. ezyWill generates a dedicated signing page with step-by-step instructions for you and your witnesses.
2. Ambiguous Language
DIY kits use generic language that you adapt yourself. This often leads to ambiguity. For example:
- “I leave my house to my children” — What if you sell the house and buy a different one? Does the gift fail?
- “I leave everything to my wife” — What if you are not legally married but have a de facto partner?
- “I leave my superannuation to my son” — Superannuation is generally not controlled by your Will; it requires a separate beneficiary nomination
Online Will advantage: Platforms use legally precise language that has been reviewed by estate lawyers. The questions ensure your intentions are captured accurately and expressed in terms the law recognises.
3. Missing Residual Estate Clause
The “residual estate” is everything you own that is not specifically gifted to someone. If you forget to include a residual estate clause (which is easy to do in a DIY kit), any ungifted assets are distributed according to intestacy laws — even though you have a Will.
Online Will advantage: Every reputable online platform includes a residual estate clause automatically.
4. No Revocation Clause
A new Will should include a clause revoking all previous Wills and codicils. Without it, there is a risk of confusion about which Will applies — especially if old Wills are found among the deceased’s papers.
Online Will advantage: Revocation clauses are included automatically.
5. Failure to Account for State-Specific Rules
Australian states have different rules about:
- Witnessing requirements
- What happens to a Will on marriage or divorce
- How assets are distributed under intestacy
- The treatment of specific types of property
A generic DIY kit from a newsagent does not account for these differences. You may be using a template designed for a different state’s requirements.
Online Will advantage: Platforms like ezyWill ask which state you live in and generate a Will that complies with that state’s specific legislation.
6. Handwriting Issues
DIY kits require you to write by hand. Illegible handwriting, crossings-out, and corrections can create ambiguity or disputes. If a word cannot be read, the court must interpret the testator’s intention — which is exactly the kind of uncertainty a Will should prevent.
Online Will advantage: The Will is digitally generated with clear, printed text. No handwriting issues.
7. No Provision for Contingencies
What happens if your primary beneficiary dies before you? What if your executor is unable to act? What if you and your spouse die in the same accident? A well-drafted Will includes contingency provisions for all of these scenarios. DIY kits rarely prompt you to consider them.
Online Will advantage: Platforms ask about backup beneficiaries, backup executors, and simultaneous death provisions.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | DIY Will Kit | Online Will (ezyWill) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $30–$50 | $99/year |
| Speed | 30–60 minutes | 15–20 minutes |
| Guidance | Basic written instructions | Interactive Q&A with explanations |
| State-specific | No (generic) | Yes |
| Legal language | You write it yourself | Generated by the platform |
| Witnessing instructions | Generic | State-specific, step-by-step |
| Residual estate clause | You must remember to include it | Automatic |
| Revocation clause | You must remember to include it | Automatic |
| Contingency provisions | You must think of them yourself | Prompted by the platform |
| Updates | Buy a new kit ($30–$50 each time) | Unlimited (included) |
| Digital vault | No | Yes |
| Executor notifications | No | Yes |
| Lawyer review | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Risk of errors | High | Low |
When a DIY Kit Might Be Acceptable
In the interest of fairness, there are limited circumstances where a DIY kit might be acceptable:
- You have a very simple estate (one beneficiary, no children, no property)
- You have legal knowledge and understand estate planning concepts
- You are creating a temporary Will while you arrange a more comprehensive one
- You are overseas and need something immediately (though most online platforms work from anywhere)
Even in these cases, an online platform is a better choice for the same or marginally higher cost. The $50 to $70 difference between a DIY kit and an online Will is trivial compared to the risk of an invalid or ambiguous document.
The Consequences of a Defective Will
A defective Will is not just an inconvenience — it can be catastrophic for your family.
Partial Intestacy
If parts of your Will are invalid (e.g., a gift fails because the witness was a beneficiary’s spouse), those parts are governed by intestacy laws. The rest of the Will may still apply, but the combination of Will and intestacy can produce bizarre and unintended results.
Complete Invalidity
If the entire Will is invalid (e.g., improper witnessing), your estate is distributed entirely according to intestacy laws. Everything you planned — the gifts, the guardianship nomination, the charitable bequests — is ignored. For more on what happens in this scenario, see our guide on intestacy laws in Australia.
Family Disputes
Ambiguous Wills are far more likely to be contested. Family members who feel they have been unfairly treated (or who interpret the ambiguous language differently) may bring family provision claims. These disputes are emotionally and financially devastating.
Probate Complications
Courts may refuse to grant probate for a defective Will, requiring additional evidence, affidavits, or a “rectification” application. This adds months and thousands of dollars to the administration process.
The Bottom Line
A DIY Will kit is better than no Will at all — but only just. For a small additional investment, an online Will platform eliminates the most common sources of error, provides state-specific legal language, and includes features (like a digital vault and executor notifications) that a paper kit simply cannot offer.
The question is not “Can I afford an online Will?” It is “Can I afford the risk of a DIY kit?”
Create your Will with ezyWill — guided, state-specific, and lawyer-reviewed. No blank templates. No guesswork.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For complex estates or specific legal questions, we recommend consulting a qualified solicitor. ezyWill provides legally structured Will templates tailored to Australian state and territory requirements.
