How much do wills cost?

Wills

In many cases, we can prepare your wills and enduring power of attorney (EPOA) for a fixed fee, and we have discounts for married and de facto couples. Our current indicative rates (including GST) for simple wills are set out below—

Please also note that these prices are for simple standard documents only and include only basic legal advice. They include up to 30 minutes of taking instructions, and 15 minutes for witnessing and copying. There are many situations where standard wills are not suitable. In those cases we charge either a fixed fee you agree to with us at the commencement of our instructions, or an agreed hourly rate. For complex documents, please see ‘Complex Wills’ below. If you’re not sure what each of these documents is or whether you need any of them, you can read a short description of them here or you can contact us.

We will email you a costs agreement prior to your first appointment with us.

Advance Care Directive

Anticipatory direction of medical wishes pursuant to section 7 of the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act 1995 (SA), and enduring powers of guardianship are no longer available, having been repealed by the Advance Care Directives Act 2013 (SA).  The new Advance Care Directive Form replaces the existing Medical Power of Attorney, Anticipatory Direction and Enduring Power of Guardianship with a single Advance Care Directive Form (however any of these existing forms will continue to have legal effect post 1 July 2014).

The Advance Care Directive Form allows individuals to appoint substitute decision-makers and/or to clearly document their values, wishes and instructions with respect to their future health care, living arrangements and other personal matters. DIY forms and information are available on the Advance Care Directive site. In the alternative, should you wish us to prepare and / or witness Advance Care Directives (ACD), we will charge for time spent on the task at the hourly rate of the solicitor acting for you. As an indicative figure you can expect a charge of around $300 for an ACD.

Document Packages

We offer lower rates when you order a package of documents. Our current indicative rates (including GST) for packages of simple documents, including witnessing by us are set out below—

Please also note that these prices are for simple standard documents only and include only basic legal advice. They include up to 30 minutes of taking instructions, and 15 minutes for witnessing and copying. There are many situations where a standard will is not suitable. In those cases we would charge either a fixed fee you agree to with us at the commencement of our instructions, or an agreed hourly rate. For complex documents, please see ‘Complex Wills’ below.

Complex Wills and Advice

The prices quoted above are available for simple or non-complex wills only. Where we need to create a complex document for you or to give you any legal advice, we charge either according to the traditional time-based model or a fixed fee that we agree with you in advance. You may need a complex document (such as a complex will) in situations where any of the following are present—

• existing family trusts;
• you have interests of value in a superannuation fund or pension account;
• you have been in a previous relationship, particularly if you have children from that relationship;
• you wish to exclude a particular person from your will;
• you have an existing estate plan;
• you have a need for testamentary trusts;
• you have a need for protective trusts;
• split or mixed families (for example, arising out of a second marriage); or
• large estates.

The cost of as complex will with multigenerational option testamentary trusts start at around $1,000 including GST for a single person and around $1,800 including GST for a couple. If you’re not sure whether you need a simple or a complex document, you can contact us here.

Obligation-Free Meeting

We offer obligation-free first interviews in matters involving complex wills and estate planning during which we can provide you with information, not advice. We do not offer obligation-free first interviews for simple wills, EPOAs, or Advance Care Directives. It is important to appreciate that only information and not advice is provided at the obligation-free first interview. If you want to arrange a meeting with one of our lawyers to discuss your complex will or estate plan, or if you have any questions, please come speak to us. Click here for details.