Willing you to prepare

If you haven’t made a will there are no excuses for putting it off.

Public Trustee NSW branches will be open on Saturday, May 16 to draw up wills free of charge for anyone over the age of 18.

Having a will is particularly important for gay and lesbian partners because, in the absence of legal marriage in Australia, they are classified as de facto couples.

This means in the event of their partner’s death they will have to provide evidence of their relationship with the deceased using costly affidavits and legal documentation.

Peter Whitehead from Public Trustee NSW said making a will was simple and could save gay and lesbian couples the complex process of proving their relationship.

Wills determine your preferences as to who will be entitled [to your estate] as opposed to leaving it up to the interpretation of the statute law, he said.

info: To find your nearest Public Trustee office visit pt.nsw.gov.au