Step 4 - Locate the Will & Insurance Information
Last updated: June 2019
Why is this important?
This step is focused on locating the valid Will (if one is in place) and finding out about any pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurances the deceased person may have arranged to help the family and save you money and time. You should check this before you engage a Funeral Director in case there are restrictions.
simplyEstate is here to help with the process. Contact us via email or book a first free phone appointment.
Approximate Effort & Cost
Reading: 15 mins
Preparing: 30 mins
Completing: 1-2 hrs
Total: 1:45-2:45 hrs
Cost: $0
Instructions
To find out how this Process Guide works, access the instructions here.
Glossary
4.1 Overview
The Will is an important document as it outlines the deceased person’s final wishes. You should ascertain if ─
- a Will is in place and you can locate it;
- a pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurance is in place;
- you can make an informed decision on how to progress with the body transport from the home, hospital or nursing home without incurring unnecessary costs; and
- you can secure other important documents whilst looking for the Will.
Contents
4.2 Check if a Will is in Place & Locate It
4.3 What if There are Multiple Wills
4.4 What if There is no Will?
4.5 Check for Pre-Arranged Funeral Provisions
4.5.1 If a Will is in Place
4.5.2 If No Will is in Place
4.6 Contact the Funeral Insurance or Funeral Provider
4.7 Secure Other Documents
4.8 Actions and Decisions to Complete Step
4.2 Check if a Will is in Place & Locate It
First of all, you will need to find out if the deceased person put a Will in place and where this may be located. The spouse, de facto partner, children aged 18 and over, parents, siblings or the Executor (person nominated in the Will to administer the deceased estate) may be able to help with this.
If you are unsure where the Will may be located, you should check:
- filing cabinets at the deceased person’s home
- filing cabinets at the deceased person’s office
- a Next of Kin’s home
- a safe in the home
- a bank deposit box
- the State/Territory’s Public Trustee (WA – Will Bank , NSW – Will Safe, VIC – Will Bank)
- files with an accountant
- files with a lawyer
- the Will Registry
If the Will is stored by someone else, you may need to use the copy of the Will to prove the death until you receive the Death Certificate (see Step 8 – Apply for the Death Certificate) allowing you to obtain the original Will.
4.3 What if There are Multiple Wills
There may be instances where multiple Wills or multiple versions of Wills are found. It will be crucial to determine which of the Wills is valid and to be used for the estate administration process.
If you are unsure which Will is valid, it is recommended that you seek specialist help from one of our carefully selected Specialist Partners near you. Their contact details are listed in the yellow section to the right or below.
4.4 What if There is no Will?
If you have determined that no Will is in place and this is confirmed by family members, then you should still check if any pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral or funeral insurance plans are in place as outlined below.
4.5 Check for Pre-Arranged Funeral Provisions
Some commonly known providers for pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurance in Australia are:
- AIA Funeral Insurance
- American Express
- ANZ
- Apia
- Real Insurance
- Choosi
- Australian Seniors
- Insuranceline
- Zurich
- Many Funeral Directors also offer such arrangements
4.5.1 If a Will is in Place
After locating the Will, you will be able to search for references to any pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurance and with which provider.
It will be worthwhile also checking who the Executor nominated in the Will is for the next Step 5 – Determine the Executor or Administrator of the Deceased Estate and for the Executor to hold on to the Will.
The deceased person may have drafted a Will a while ago and as time went on changes were required to amend certain clauses or entire sections of a Will. This can either be achieved by drafting a new Will completely or draft a Codicil, which is a supplementary document to the Will. If a Codicil is in place, the Will and the Codicil(s) will need to be provided.
4.5.2 If no Will is in Place
If no Will was found and the Next of Kin or family confirms that no Will is in place, look for documents of pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurance providers such as policy documents, letters, invoices or business cards.
4.6 Contact the Funeral Insurance or Funeral Provider
If you have successfully located the provider, you should contact them to inform them of the death and check what services are covered, especially the transportation of the body at this point in time. Also check which provider you can choose from if specified or what restrictions and limits you need to be aware of when you work through Step 6 – Organise Transportation of the Body.
4.7 Secure Other Documents
As you are looking for the Will and pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurance documents, we recommend that you take all other relevant documents that may be important for the deceased estate administration into your custody if you will be the likely Executor or Administrator. Refer to the simplyEstate Document Checklist here.
4.8 Actions and Decisions to Complete Step
If you would like a little help from us at simplyEstate with this Step, you can email us or book your first free phone appointment. If you would like specialist help, get in touch with one of our Specialist Partners listed to the right or below in the yellow section and see how they can help.
If you have decided to tackle this Step yourself after reading and understanding this Step, you may want to:
- Find out if a Will is in place;
- Locate the Will;
- Where multiple Wills can be found, determine which Will is the valid Will;
- Check the Will or other documents where you could not find a Will about any pre-arranged funeral, pre-paid funeral plan or funeral insurances;
- Contact the insurance or funeral provider about the arrangement and request if the body transport is included based on your situation;
- Prepare the transportation of the deceased person’s body as outlined in Step 6 – Organise Transportation of the Body; and
- Secure other important documents that you have found whilst looking for the Will.
Once you have completed all the necessary actions and decisions, you can move on to the next Step by clicking below or save progress at the top.
Would you like to talk to us?
Book your free first appointment with us now to discuss the deceased estate administration.
Do you need specialist help?
Estate Lawyers
simplyEstate Specialist Partner Listings coming soon in 2020.
simplyEstate Specialist Partner Listings coming soon in 2020.
simplyEstate Specialist Partner Listings coming soon in 2020.
simplyEstate Specialist Partner Listings coming soon in 2020.
Help us improve this step
If you have worked through this step and found something that could be added, is not quite right or you think may no longer apply, please let us now.
