Online will services have grown in New Zealand as a middle ground between a free template and a lawyer-drafted will. They generate a document tailored to your answers, guide you through the signing process, and sometimes include storage and updates. They are appropriate for simple estates, but have clear limits.
Online will services in New Zealand compared
The table below summarises the main NZ online will providers as of 2026. Prices are illustrative ranges — check the current provider site before paying, as pricing and feature sets change.
| Service | Cost (illustrative) | Lawyer review | Testamentary trust | Executor support | Storage | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Trust online will | ~$99 | Limited (in-house) | No | Public Trust available as paid executor | Free with Public Trust | New version required |
| Footprint | ~$80 | No | No | Guidance only | Digital copy stored online | Subscription option for updates |
| NZ Gathering Place | ~$199 | Optional, additional cost | Limited | Guidance provided | Digital copy stored online | Re-draft required |
| Lawyer-drafted will | From ~$450 | Yes | Yes | Tailored advice on selection | Usually free with the firm | Reviews and codicils available |
Prices and features listed are illustrative as of 2026 and change over time. Confirm current details on each provider's website — for example publictrust.co.nz, footprint.co.nz, or the relevant provider's own site — before purchasing.
When an online will is right for you
An online service is a reasonable fit when your situation is straightforward and your wishes are clear-cut. Specifically:
- Your estate consists of a family home, KiwiSaver, a bank account or two, and personal effects
- You want to leave everything to your spouse or partner, and then to your children equally
- You have one preferred executor (commonly a spouse, partner, or adult child) plus a back-up
- You have no business interests, overseas assets, or testamentary trust requirements
- You are confident no one will challenge the will under the Family Protection Act 1955 or the Property (Relationships) Act 1976
- You are comfortable arranging your own signing ceremony with two adult witnesses
When you need a lawyer
The same complex situations that defeat a free template also defeat an online service. A lawyer is the appropriate choice if any of the following apply:
- Blended families. Providing for a current partner alongside children from a prior relationship requires life-interest trusts or contracting out of relationship property — not template-friendly.
- Testamentary trusts. A trust inside your will needs trustee powers, distribution rules, and Trusts Act 2019 wording that online services do not produce.
- Business assets. Company shares, partnership interests, or sole-trader assets often interact with shareholder agreements, buy-sell clauses, and succession planning.
- Overseas assets. Property or accounts held in another jurisdiction may require a separate will under that country's law.
- Vulnerable beneficiaries. A dependant with a disability, addiction, or bankruptcy history usually needs a structured trust rather than a direct gift.
- Anticipated challenges. If you are deliberately excluding a spouse, child, or de facto partner, a lawyer can prepare a contemporaneous statement of reasons to reduce the chance of a successful Family Protection Act claim.
Process: 5 steps using an online will service
- Answer the online questionnaire. Provide details about your assets, family, executor, beneficiaries, and any specific gifts. Most services take 20-40 minutes.
- Review the generated document. Read every clause carefully. If anything is unclear or does not reflect your wishes, do not sign — contact the provider or a lawyer.
- Print the will on paper. Online wills are not valid until printed and signed. Print on plain A4, single-sided, with no alterations after printing.
- Arrange the signing ceremony. Two adult witnesses must be physically present at the same time. They cannot be beneficiaries or the spouses of beneficiaries. You sign first at the end of the document; both witnesses then sign in front of you and each other.
- Store the signed original safely. Use a fireproof safe, bank safe-deposit box, or a free storage service such as Public Trust's. Tell your executor where it is. Keep a copy at home with a pointer to the original.
Risks of online wills
Online services reduce drafting risk but do not eliminate execution and capacity risks. Common failure modes:
- Capacity not assessed. A lawyer routinely assesses testamentary capacity at the time of instructions — particularly important for older clients or anyone with declining health. An online service has no way to do this.
- Witnessing errors. Witnesses signing at different times, or a beneficiary witnessing the will, are common mistakes that an online service cannot prevent.
- Misunderstood questions. A questionnaire might ask whether you have any "dependants". If you answer "no" but you have an adult child who relies on you financially, the resulting will may be exposed to a Family Protection Act claim.
- No record of advice. If the will is later challenged, there is no file note showing what you were told and what you understood. A lawyer's file is admissible evidence; a clickwrap online flow generally is not.
- Revocation surprises. Standard online wills revoke every prior will. If you have an overseas will dealing with overseas assets, the new NZ will may unintentionally revoke it.
- No ongoing review. Marriage, separation, new children, and large changes in assets all warrant a will review. Online services rarely prompt you to update.
Compare the alternatives
Read our companion guides on free will templates and will kits for a fuller picture of the DIY options before deciding.