Most Australians can create a valid Will without a lawyer. The key is choosing the right approach for your situation.
Most Australians do not need a lawyer for a legally valid Will. What matters is meeting your state or territory’s rules: usually the Will is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed correctly after printing. The right path depends on how much personalised legal advice you need, not on whether you used a website or a solicitor.
In Australia, the same core formalities apply whether you prepare a Will online, with a kit, or through a solicitor. The real difference is how you prepare it, what support you receive, and when tailored advice is worth it. Lawyers give personal legal advice; platforms like Will Hero offer guided drafting and education. Will Hero is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Will Hero suits Australians who want a guided, visual way to build a valid Will, not only a blank form. See who Will Hero is best for. This page explains online Will vs lawyer in plain English. For more on validity, read is an online Will legal in Australia?.
At a glance
| Topic | Online Will (e.g. Will Hero) | Lawyer / solicitor |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Usually a fixed platform fee, e.g. $99 when you’re ready to finalise with Will Hero (see pricing for current inclusions). Indicative; other platforms vary. | Often hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on firm, location, and complexity (always confirm a quote with your solicitor) |
| Templates & drafting | Leading online Will platforms (Will Hero and others we compare in our 2026 review) typically use lawyer-drafted templates and structured clauses. You work through guided questions. That is not the same as a solicitor drafting bespoke wording for your file or advising on your specific risks. | Your Will is drafted and tailored by your solicitor for your circumstances, often heavily customised, with personal legal advice along the way. |
| Personalised legal advice | Guided drafting and education; no solicitor–client relationship or personal legal advice on the platform | Can advise on your specific circumstances, risk, and structure |
| Time & convenience | Usually done in one sitting at home; how it works | Appointments, instructions, and drafts across days or weeks |
| Best when | You want a clear, valid Will and can follow a guided process for typical estates | You need tax or asset structuring, high complexity, disputes, or ongoing representation |
For many Australians with straightforward to moderately complex estates, an online Will is often the most practical option.
It offers a clear, guided process without the cost and time of working with a lawyer for typical drafting needs. See a lawyer when you need tailored advice or your situation is highly complex or contested (when to see a lawyer below).
Best option based on your situation
| Your situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Very simple estate (e.g. single, minimal assets) | DIY Will kit or a basic online Will |
| Typical family or moderate complexity | Guided online Will with checks (e.g. Will Hero) |
| Want to explore “what if” scenarios before signing | Guided online Will with scenario tools (e.g. Will Hero) |
| Complex tax, business structures, disputes, or litigation | Lawyer / solicitor |
Is an online Will safe and valid?
Yes, if you complete it properly, print it, and sign and witness it according to your state or territory. The same legal requirements for execution apply whether you drafted online, used a kit, or worked with a solicitor. Online tools guide the drafting steps; they do not replace correct witnessing on paper. For steps and state context, see how to make a legally valid Will in Australia and is an online Will legal in Australia?.
How Will Hero supports confidence online
A lawyer explains your options in conversation; a strong online platform helps you see and test your Will as you go. These Will Hero tools support that (they do not replace a solicitor when you need personal advice). For more than a minimal Will, the Will Provisions Library adds structured optional clauses (conditional gifts, exclusions, pet guardianship, and similar), still through guided questions, not bespoke solicitor drafting.
Visual Will
Interactive map of executors, guardians, gifts, and residual estate, so your Will is easier to understand than a wall of legal text.
Scenario testing
Try “what if” outcomes (for example if someone dies before you) and see how your instructions respond.
Review My Will
Checks and plain-English summaries to catch gaps or conflicts before you print and sign.
AI assistance
Guided answers about Wills and estate planning as you work through your document (helpful context, not legal advice).
Will Provisions Library
Structured optional clauses and conditions, so you can go beyond a bare-bones Will while staying inside the guided online flow. For what still needs a solicitor, see When to see a lawyer instead below.
Explore all capabilities on the features hub.
Will Hero’s Visual Will turns your choices into a clear diagram, so you’re not signing something you can’t follow.
When an online Will is often enough
Many Australians only need a legally valid Will that records executors, guardians (if relevant), beneficiaries, backups, and gifts, without ongoing legal representation. Online platforms exist to make that process structured and repeatable, with checks and plain-English explanations, while you remain responsible for your choices.
Will Hero is for Australians who want an easy, guided way to create a valid Will, with more flexibility than a basic template for backups, gifts, and real-life contingencies, without assuming you need a solicitor for every decision. Many online Will platforms focus only on very simple situations; Will Hero is built for clearer contingency planning and structured checks in the same easy-to-follow flow (education and guidance, not legal advice). The Will Provisions Library is where that extra depth lives: optional clauses you can add in-flow (still not the same as bespoke solicitor drafting; see when to see a lawyer). See who Will Hero is best for for a practical fit checklist. Our Legal Compliance Framework summarises how Will Hero approaches multi-state logic and review (general information only).
When to see a lawyer instead
The checklist below describes situations where professional help is usually appropriate. Many people will not need every item on it—but if any of it matches your circumstances, it is worth speaking to a lawyer or other qualified professional.
Will Hero is a comprehensive online Will and estate-planning tool for many Australians, but it is not a law firm and does not replace a solicitor or other professional where personalised advice, bespoke documents, or representation is required.
When a solicitor or other professional is usually the right choice
Seek qualified legal or financial advice (as appropriate) if you:
- Need complex tax or asset structuring (for example intricate trusts or business structures that require tailored advice)
- Require testamentary trusts or special-needs trust planning. Will Hero does not currently support testamentary trusts; structuring almost always needs a solicitor
- Hold assets overseas or have cross-border estate issues. Rules and tax outcomes can differ by country; get advice in each relevant jurisdiction
- Need business succession planning or ownership arrangements beyond what a typical Will covers
- Have a large or highly complex estate, or unusual ownership arrangements
- Need ongoing legal advice or representation (including litigation)
- Are dealing with disputed estates or situations where conflict is likely and you need advocacy
- Need financial advice or tax-minimisation strategies. Will Hero does not provide these; a licensed adviser may be appropriate
Estate planning Will Hero is not built to cover (today)
If your plan depends on the items below, a lawyer or other specialist is usually the better starting point, or you may need documents outside Will Hero’s current product:
- Highly customised Will provisions beyond Will Hero’s structured options. Bespoke clauses typically need solicitor-drafted wording
- Documents not in Will Hero’s current suite (see the features hub for what is available today), such as: general (non-enduring) Power of Attorney outside our flow; medical or advance care decision-making documents where you need state-specific forms not offered in the product; informal letters of instruction or standalone letters of intent; or a dedicated digital asset plan as a formal bundled product
- Power of Attorney in Will Hero is currently focused on NSW (Enduring Power of Attorney and Appointment of Enduring Guardian). If you are not in NSW, or you need other states’ PoA or guardianship documents, seek locally appropriate advice and instruments. For NSW, see Power of Attorney (NSW).
Services Will Hero does not offer
- Probate or estate administration as an ongoing service
- End-to-end funeral planning
- Personal legal advice or court representation
- Financial planning or tax-minimisation advice
For any of these complex matters, we recommend qualified legal or financial professionals so your needs are addressed properly.
None of this changes that Will Hero is still a strong fit for many typical Australian Wills (executors, guardians, beneficiaries, gifts, and backup planning) when you do not need bespoke structures, cross-border advice, or the documents and services above.
For most everyday estates, many people can prepare a valid Will online, then print, sign, and witness in line with their state’s rules. For step-by-step formalities, see how to make a legally valid Will in Australia. National overview: online Wills Australia.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer to make a valid Will in Australia?
Often no, for a typical estate. Validity usually depends on writing, signing, and witnessing correctly under local law, not on whether a solicitor drafted the document. See a lawyer when you need tailored advice or your situation is highly complex or contested.
Is an online Will legally the same as a lawyer-drafted Will?
The same core rules apply in each state and territory: the document must satisfy local formalities (and you must have capacity, act freely, and so on). Online tools help you draft; solicitors can advise on your specific risks and structures. Either way, you must execute the printed Will properly.
Can an online Will be safe and valid?
Yes, when you finish, print, sign, and witness it correctly for your state or territory. Here, “safe” means legally effective when executed properly: the same formalities as any other Will. Online drafting does not remove the need for correct witnessing on paper.
When should I see a lawyer instead of using an online Will?
When you need personalised legal advice (for example complex tax, testamentary or special-needs trusts, international assets, business succession, very large or unusual estates, disputes, or court matters), or when you need documents or services your platform does not offer. See When to see a lawyer instead above for Will Hero’s limits and examples. Online platforms suit many everyday situations; they are not a substitute for a solicitor–client relationship where that is required.
How much does a lawyer cost compared to online?
Lawyer fees vary by firm, city, and matter, often hundreds to thousands of dollars. Online services commonly use a fixed drafting fee (see pricing). Always confirm quotes with your solicitor.
Are online Wills legal in Australia?
Yes, when the Will is printed, signed, and witnessed according to your state or territory. Read more in is an online Will legal in Australia?.
How Will Hero fits
If that sounds like your situation, the guided flow, Visual Will, Review My Will, and related features help you reach a sign-ready Will for many typical estates, without billable appointments. You can still see a solicitor whenever you need bespoke advice or your circumstances become more complex.
Ready to start? Start your Will (free to try; pay when you’re ready to finalise).
Still deciding? Read I need a Will — where do I start? or who Will Hero is best for.
Last updated: 1 May 2026.
