How Long Does It Take to Make a Will?

In short: It depends how you do it. With an online service like Will Hero, most people finish a legally valid Will in 15–30 minutes. A lawyer-drafted Will usually takes days to weeks (appointments, drafts, and follow-ups). A DIY Will kit often takes 1–3 hours or more, and getting it right can be tricky. The slowest part for any option is often organising two witnesses and signing — that’s usually minutes once you have your document.

Below we break down each option, what “done” really means, and what can slow you down.

What Does “Done” Actually Mean?

When people ask how long it takes to make a Will, they usually mean one of two things:

1. Finishing the draft — the document is written and reflects your wishes.
2. Having a signed, witnessed, legally valid Will — the document is executed and ready to use.

For online Wills, the 15–30 minute figure is typically the time to complete the draft (answer the questions, review, and generate the document). You still need to print, sign, and have two witnesses sign — that’s usually a few minutes in one sitting.

For lawyers, “done” includes meetings, draft reviews, and revisions, so the calendar time is much longer even if the actual hands-on time is less.

How Long Does It Take to Make a Will Online?

With an online Will platform like Will Hero, most people complete their draft in 15–30 minutes. Here’s what that includes:

For a simple Will: If you’ve already thought through your key decisions (executor, beneficiaries, guardians), you can typically finish in 15–20 minutes. That covers:

• Answering guided questions (executor, beneficiaries, guardians, gifts, provisions)
• Reviewing the generated Will on screen
• Making any edits

What makes a Will “simple”? A simple Will typically has straightforward circumstances: standard executor and beneficiaries, straightforward asset distribution, no special provisions or conditions, and you’ve already decided on your key choices. If your situation is more complex — blended families, special provisions, conditional gifts, or you need time to think through scenarios — your Will will naturally take longer, and that’s perfectly normal.

For more than just a simple Will: Many people take 30–60 minutes or longer, often across multiple sessions. This is normal and expected when you need to:

• Think through family structures, special provisions, or conditional gifts
• Research details (dates of birth, addresses, asset values)
• Review with a partner or family member before finalising
• Use Will Hero’s Review My Will, scenario testing, and AI assistant to ensure everything is correct

After completing your draft, you need to:

• Print your Will (or have it printed and posted to you)
• Sign in front of two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries (otherwise their gift may be invalid)
• Have the witnesses sign the same document

That signing step is usually 5–10 minutes once you have the printed document and two people available. So from start to “legally valid, signed Will,” many people are done in under 30 minutes of active time for a simple Will, or 30–60+ minutes if you need more time to think and review.

What helps?

• Will Hero’s visual Will designer, Review My Will, and AI assistant
• State-specific, legally valid documents so you don’t have to research the law yourself
• The ability to pause and come back later — your progress saves automatically

Why People Take Longer (And That’s Perfectly Normal)

Many people take longer than 15–20 minutes, and that’s completely normal. Here’s why:

You need time to think. Making a Will involves important decisions about your family’s future. It’s natural to pause and consider your choices, especially when it comes to:

• Choosing an executor who can handle the responsibility
• Deciding how to divide assets fairly among beneficiaries
• Appointing a guardian for minor children
• Thinking through “what if” scenarios

You may need to gather information. You might not have all the details at your fingertips:

• Dates of birth for beneficiaries or guardians
• Full addresses for executors or beneficiaries
• Asset values or account numbers
• Contact details for people you want to include

You might want to review with your partner. Many couples create their Wills together or review each other’s decisions. This conversation is valuable and worth taking time for.

You’re creating more than just a simple Will. If you have blended families, special provisions, conditional gifts, or want to use Will Hero’s advanced features (like Review My Will, scenario testing, or AI assistance), you’ll naturally spend more time ensuring everything is exactly right.

The good news: Will Hero saves your progress automatically. You can start your Will, pause to think or gather information, and come back later — even days later. Many people complete their Will across multiple sessions until they feel confident everything is correct.

How Long Does It Take to Make a Will with a Lawyer?

A lawyer-drafted Will usually takes days to weeks from first contact to a signed, final document.

Rough timeline:

• First appointment: 1–2 hours (plus travel and wait time) — you explain your situation and wishes.
• Draft preparation: 1–2 weeks — the lawyer prepares a draft.
• Review and changes: You read the draft, send feedback; there may be a second (or third) appointment or several email rounds.
• Final version and signing: Often another 1–2 weeks, depending on the firm’s workload and your availability.

Total: Often 3–6 weeks on the calendar, sometimes longer for complex estates or busy firms.

What can slow you down?

• Scheduling around the lawyer’s availability and your work
• Multiple rounds of changes
• Complexity (businesses, trusts, overseas assets, blended families) — more back-and-forth
• Firm workload (e.g. around tax time or end of financial year)

For straightforward estates, a lawyer adds certainty and tailored advice, but it is the slowest option in terms of calendar time.

How Long Does It Take to Make a Will with a DIY Kit?

A DIY Will kit (from a newsagent, post office, or online) can take 1–3 hours or more to fill in properly — and longer if you’re unsure about legal terms or how to describe your wishes.

Rough breakdown:

• Reading the instructions and forms: 20–40 minutes
• Filling in the blanks: 30–90+ minutes, depending on how many beneficiaries, gifts, and clauses you have
• Checking for mistakes: 15–30 minutes — kits usually don’t include guidance on common errors

What can slow you down?

• Unclear or legalistic wording in the kit
• No professional review — you may spend extra time trying to work out if it’s correct
• Common mistakes (e.g. witnesses who are beneficiaries) that can void gifts or the whole Will
• Handwriting legibly if the kit is paper-only

Important: A DIY kit can produce a valid Will if it’s completed, signed, and witnessed correctly — but it’s easy to get it wrong. An online Will with built‑in checks and review is often faster and safer than a kit.

What Can Slow You Down (Regardless of Method)?

A few things can add time no matter which option you choose:

• Choosing an executor and backups — Deciding who will handle your estate and who to pick if they can’t.
• Listing beneficiaries and backup beneficiaries — Deciding who gets what, and who steps in if a beneficiary can’t inherit. See why backup beneficiaries matter.
• Appointing a guardian for minor children — Thinking through who would care for them and having a conversation with that person. Your legally valid Will can name a guardian (while courts have the final say); making and discussing that choice can add time.
• Specific gifts — Deciding on particular items or amounts for certain people.
• Finding two witnesses — They must be adults, not beneficiaries (or spouses of beneficiaries, otherwise their gift may be invalid), and they must be present when you sign. Organising a time that suits everyone can add a few days.

For an online Will, having a rough idea of these before you start can help you finish faster — but it’s perfectly fine to take your time and think through each decision carefully.

How Will Hero Can Help

Will Hero is built to get you from “no Will” to a signed, legally valid Will as quickly and safely as possible:

• Guided, step‑by‑step questions — Covers executor, beneficiaries, guardians, gifts, and common provisions so you don’t have to guess what to include.
• Visual Will designer — You see how your estate is distributed as you go, which speeds up decisions and reduces second‑guessing.
• State-specific, legally valid documents — Compliant with Australian requirements for your state or territory. Will requirements are set out in state and territory legislation (see, for example, the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) and similar Acts in other jurisdictions).
• Professional review — Reduces the risk of errors that can invalidate a Will or cause disputes.
• Clear signing and witnessing instructions — So you know exactly what to do and who can witness.

Most people complete their draft in 15–30 minutes for a simple Will, or longer if they need time to think, research, or add special provisions. After that, it’s a matter of printing, signing in front of two witnesses, and having them sign — which usually takes a few minutes when you’re ready.

Key Takeaways

• Online (e.g. Will Hero): 15–30 minutes to complete the draft for a simple Will; longer if you need time to think or add special provisions. A bit more to print, sign, and have two witnesses sign. Many people finish in under 30 minutes of active time total, while others take longer and that’s perfectly normal.
• Lawyer: Typically days to weeks (e.g. 3–6 weeks) from first appointment to a signed Will, depending on complexity and the firm’s workload.
• DIY Will kit: Often 1–3+ hours to fill in, with higher risk of mistakes and no professional review.
• What slows you down: Deciding on executors, beneficiaries, guardians, and specific gifts; and organising two suitable witnesses.
• The fastest and simplest path for most people is an online Will — you get speed, structure, and review without the cost and scheduling of a lawyer.

If you’re ready to create your Will, you can start with Will Hero — no credit card required to begin. Most people finish a simple Will in 15–30 minutes, while others take longer to think through their decisions. See pricing for our flat fee and what’s included.

Related Guides

Looking for more information about creating your Will? Check out these helpful resources:

• Create Your Will Online — Start your state-specific, legally valid Will in 15–30 minutes
• How to Make a Legally Valid Will in Australia — Complete guide to Australian Will requirements and best practices
• How to Make Your Will at Home — Step-by-step guide to creating your Will from home

Create Your Will by State

Each Australian state and territory has specific Will requirements. Create your state-compliant Will:

• Online Wills NSW — New South Wales
• Online Wills Victoria — Victoria
• Online Wills Queensland — Queensland
• Online Wills Western Australia — Western Australia
• Online Wills South Australia — South Australia
• Online Wills Tasmania — Tasmania
• Online Wills ACT — Australian Capital Territory
• Online Wills Northern Territory — Northern Territory