Introduction

The Public Trustee maintains a confidential Wills Registry which acts as a central information centre for all Wills that are drawn up, of which notice has been given to the Public Trustee.

Benefits of the Wills Registry

In the administration of a deceased's estate, the administrator or executor (the person appointed to handle the estate of deceased) has to first ascertain whether the deceased left behind a Will. Often, the next-of-kin or beneficiaries may also believe that the deceased may have done so but do not have a copy of the Will or information as to which solicitor drew up the Will.

The information available from the Wills Registry will be useful to the following persons:

1. The person who made the Will (also known as the testator) and/or his/her solicitor if the testator whishes to make a subsequent Will;
2. The next-of-kin or beneficiaries of a deceased testator and/orthe solicitors acting for the estate of the deceased testator to assist them in the administration of the deceased testator's estate; or
3. The next-of-kin or beneficiaries of a deceased and/or their solicitors in determining whether the deceased left behind a Will governing the distribution of his/her estate.

Information provided by the Wills Registry

The following information is available from the Wills Registry to an approved applicant:

1. Particulars of the Testator;
2. Date of Will and Codicil(ie. a supplement modifying a Will);
3. Particulars of the Solicitor who drew up the Will;
4. Particulars of the Custodian of the Will; and
5. Particulars of the Informant.