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WILLS ACT 1968 - NOTES

Dictionary

(see s 2)

Note 1     The Legislation Act

contains definitions and other provisions relevant to this Act.

Note 2     For example, the Legislation Act

, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:

              •     ACT

              •     civil partner

              •     civil partnership

              •     civil union

              •     civil union partner

              •     domestic partner (see s 169 (1))

              •     estate

              •     interest

              •     judge

              •     land

              •     person

              •     public notice

              •     public trustee and guardian.

"personal property" includes leasehold property, and a share or interest in personal property.

"real property" includes an estate, right or interest in real property.

"registrar" means the registrar of the Supreme Court.

"will" includes—

        (a)     for this Act generally—a codicil; and

        (b)     for part 4 (Miscellaneous)—see section 17.

Endnotes

1     About the endnotes

Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.

Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001

, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel's Office.

Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.

If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.

The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.

2     Abbreviation key

A = Act

NI = Notifiable instrument

AF = Approved form

o = order

am = amended

om = omitted/repealed

amdt = amendment

ord = ordinance

AR = Assembly resolution

orig = original

ch = chapter

par = paragraph/subparagraph

CN = Commencement notice

pres = present

def = definition

prev = previous

DI = Disallowable instrument

(prev...) = previously

dict = dictionary

pt = part

disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative

r = rule/subrule

Assembly

reloc = relocated

div = division

renum = renumbered

exp = expires/expired

R[X] = Republication No

Gaz = gazette

RI = reissue

hdg = heading

s = section/subsection

IA = Interpretation Act 1967

sch = schedule

ins = inserted/added

sdiv = subdivision

LA = Legislation Act 2001

SL = Subordinate law

LR = legislation register

sub = substituted

LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996

underlining = whole or part not commenced

mod = modified/modification

or to be expired


3     Legislation history

The Wills Act 1968 was originally the Wills Ordinance 1968

. It became an ACT Act on self-government (11 May 1989).

Before 11 May 1989, ordinances commenced on their notification day unless otherwise stated (see Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910

(Cwlth), s 12).

After 11 May 1989 and before 10 November 1999, Acts commenced on their notification day unless otherwise stated (see Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988

(Cwlth) s 25).

    Legislation before self-government

Wills Act 1968 A1968-11

notified 13 June 1968

commenced 13 June 1968

as amended by

Ordinances Revision Ordinance 1977

Ord1977-65

notified 22 December 1977

commenced 22 December 1977

Ordinances Revision Ordinance 1978

Ord1978-46

notified 28 December 1978

commenced 28 December 1978

Wills (Amendment) Ordinance 1983

Ord1983-46

notified 6 October 1983

commenced 6 October 1983

Wills (Amendment) Ordinance 1989

Ord1989-16

notified 22 March 1989

commenced 24 March 1989 (s 2 and Cwlth Gaz 1989 No S101)

    Legislation after self-government

Wills (Amendment) Act 1991

A1991-67

notified 7 Nov 1991 (Gaz 1991 No S120)

commenced 7 Nov 1991

Statutory Offices (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994

A1994-97 sch pt 1

notified 15 Dec 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S280)

s 1, s 2 commenced 15 December 1994 (s 2 (1))

sch pt 1 commenced 15 December 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994 No S293)

Wills (Amendment) Act 1997

A1997-114

notified 24 December 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S420)

ss 1-3 commenced 24 December 1997 (s 2 (1))

remainder commenced 24 June 1998 (s 2 (3))

Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999

A1999-66 sch 3

notified 10 November 1999 (Gaz 1999 No 45)

sch 3 commenced 10 November 1999 (s 2)

Statute Law Amendment Act 2000

A2000-80 amdt 3.39

notified 21 December 2000 (Gaz 2000 No 69)

commenced 21 December 2000 (s 2)

Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001

A2001-44 pt 416

notified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)

s 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)

pt 416 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and Gaz 2001 No S65)

Civil Unions Act 2006

A2006-22 sch 1 pt 1.29

notified LR 19 May 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 19 May 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.29 never commenced

Note     Act repealed by disallowance 14 June 2006 (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2006

A2006-40 sch 2 pt 2.32

notified LR 28 September 2006

s 1, s 2 commenced 28 September 2006 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.32 commenced 29 September 2006 (s 2 (1))

Statute Law Amendment Act 2007

A2007-3 sch 3 pt 3.111

notified LR 22 March 2007

s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 1 July 2006 (LA s 75 (2))

sch 3 pt 3.111 commenced 12 April 2007 (s 2 (1))

Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 (No 2)

A2007-16 sch 3 pt 3.34

notified LR 20 June 2007

s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 12 April 2007 (LA s 75 (2))

sch 3 pt 3.34 commenced 11 July 2007 (s 2 (1))

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2008

A2008-7 sch 1 pt 1.22

notified LR 16 April 2008

s 1, s 2 commenced 16 April 2008 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.22 commenced 7 May 2008 (s 2)

Civil Partnerships Act 2008

A2008-14 sch 1 pt 1.25

notified LR 15 May 2008

s 1, s 2 commenced 15 May 2008 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.25 commenced 19 May 2008 (s 2 and CN2008-8

)

Statute Law Amendment Act 2009

A2009-20 sch 3 pt 3.80

notified LR 1 September 2009

s 1, s 2 commenced 1 September 2009 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 3 pt 3.80 commenced 22 September 2009 (s 2)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2010

A2010-13 sch 1 pt 1.9

notified LR 31 March 2010

s 1, s 2 commenced 31 March 2010 (LA s 75 (1))

s 3 commenced 1 April 2010 (LA s 75AA)

sch 1 pt 9 commenced 28 April 2010 (s 2 (4))

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2012

A2012-13 sch 1 pt 1.11

notified LR 11 April 2012

s 1, s 2 commenced 11 April 2012 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.11 commenced 11 April 2014 (s 2 (4))

Civil Unions Act 2012

A2012-40 sch 3 pt 3.26

notified LR 4 September 2012

s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2012 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 3 pt 3.26 commenced 11 September 2012 (s 2)

Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013

A2013-39 sch 2 pt 2.24

notified LR 4 November 2013

s 1, s 2 commenced 4 November 2013 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.24 commenced 7 November 2013 (s 2 and CN2013-11

)

Note     The High Court held this Act to be of no effect (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55)

Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2015

A2015-33 sch 1 pt 1.76

notified LR 30 September 2015

s 1, s 2 commenced 30 September 2015 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.76 commenced 14 October 2015 (s 2)

Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2016

A2016-7 sch 1 pt 1.13

notified LR 29 February 2016

s 1, s 2 commenced 29 February 2016 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.13 commenced 29 August 2016 (s 2 and LA s 79)

Protection of Rights (Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (No 2)

A2016-13 sch 1 pt 1.39

notified LR 16 March 2016

s 1, s 2 commenced 16 March 2016 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.39 commenced 1 April 2016 (s 2 and see Protection of Rights (Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016

A2016-1 s 2)

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2021

A2021-3 pt 20

notified LR 19 February 2021

s 1, s 2 commenced 19 February 2021 (LA s 75 (1))

pt 20 commenced 26 February 2021 (s 2 (1))

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (No 2)

A2021-33 pt 18

notified LR 10 December 2021

s 1, s 2 commenced 10 December 2021 (LA s 75 (1))

pt 18 commenced 17 December 2021 (s 2 (1))

Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (No 3)

A2023-57 pt 19

notified LR 11 December 2023

s 1, s 2 commenced 11 December 2023 (LA s 75 (1))

ss 51-53, s 55, s 56 commenced 12 December 2023 (s 2 (1))

pt 19 remainder awaiting commencement

4     Amendment history

Name of Act
s 1     sub A2007-3

amdt 3.547

Dictionary
s 2     om Ord1977-65

sch 2
    ins A2007-3

amdt 3.550

Notes
s 3     om A2001-44

amdt 1.4338
    ins A2007-3

amdt 3.550

Definitions for Act
s 4     defs reloc to dict A2007-3

amdt 3.549
    om A2007-3

amdt 3.550

Application of Act
s 5     am A2007-3

amdt 3.551

Administration of ordinance
s 6     om Ord1978-46

sch 2

Children—testamentary capacity
s 8 hdg     sub A2007-3

amdt 3.552
s 8     sub A1991-67

s 3
    am A2006-22

amdts 1.120-1.124 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2007-3

amdt 3.553; A2012-40

amdts 3.104-3.106; A2013-39

amdts 2.59-2.61 (A2013-39

never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55))

Supreme Court enabling will by child
s 8A     ins A1991-67

s 3
    am A2007-3

amdt 3.553

Supreme Court enabling revocation of will by child
s 8B     ins A1991-67

s 3
    am A2006-22

amdt 1.125 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2007-3

amdt 3.553; A2012-40

amdt 3.107; A2013-39

amdt 2.61 (A2013-39

never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55))

Will to be in writing and signed before 2 witnesses
s 9     am A1991-67

s 4

Appointments by will
s 11     am A1991-67

s 5

Validity of will etc not executed with required formalities
s 11A     ins A1991-67

s 6

Alteration in will
s 12     am A1991-67

s 7

Rectification
s 12A     ins A1991-67

s 8
    am A2007-3

amdts 3.554-3.558; A2008-7

amdt 1.80; A2009-20

amdt 3.230; A2015-33

amdt 1.261, amdt 1.262; A2016-13

amdt 1.145; A2021-33

s 28

Extrinsic evidence
s 12B     ins A1991-67

s 8

Certain appointments and trusts not void
s 14A     ins A1991-67

s 9

Will attested by beneficiary or domestic partner of beneficiary
s 15 hdg     sub A2008-14

amdt 1.85
s 15     sub A1991-67

s 10
    am A2006-22

amdt 1.126, amdt 1.28, amdt 1.29 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008-14

amdt 1.86; A2012-40

amdt 3.108

Formal validity of wills
pt 2A     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

Definitions for pt 2A
s 15A     ins Ord1983-46

s 2
    def country ins Ord1983-46

s 2
    def internal law ins Ord1983-46

s 2
    def made ins Ord1983-46

s 2
    def place ins Ord1983-46

s 2
    def testator ins Ord1983-46

s 2
    def will ins Ord1983-46

s 2

System of law to be applied
s 15B     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

General rule as to formal validity
s 15C     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

Additional rules as to formal validity
s 15D     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

Relevance of formal requirements for making
s 15E     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

Certain requirements to be treated as formal
s 15F     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

Construction of will not affected by later change of domicile
s 15G     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

Application of pt 2A
s 15H     ins Ord1983-46

s 2

Wills of soldiers etc
s 16     am R3 LRA; A1999-66

sch 3; pars renum R4 LA

Court authorised wills for people without testamentary capacity
pt 3A hdg     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

Court may authorise will to be made, altered or revoked for person without testamentary capacity
s 16A     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36
    am A2023-57

s 51

Information required in support of application for leave
s 16B     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

Hearing of application for leave
s 16C     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

Hearing of application for order
s 16D     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

Court must be satisfied about certain matters
s 16E     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

Execution of will made under order
s 16F     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

Retention of will
s 16G     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36
    am A2023-57

s 52, s 53

Separate representation of person without testamentary capacity
s 16H     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

Recognition of statutory wills
s 16I     ins A2010-13

amdt 1.36

International wills
pt 3B hdg     ins A2012-13

amdt 1.44

Definitions—pt 3B
s 16J     ins A2012-13

amdt 1.44
    def convention ins A2012-13

amdt 1.44
    def international will ins A2012-13

amdt 1.44

Application of convention
s 16K     ins A2012-13

amdt 1.44

Persons authorised to act in connection with international wills
s 16L     ins A2012-13

amdt 1.44

Application of Act to international wills
s 16M     ins A2012-13

amdt 1.44

Creditor to be admitted as witness
s 18     am A2006-22

amdt 1.127, amdt 1.30, amdt 1.31 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008-14

amdt 1.87

Revocation of will by testator's marriage or civil partnership
s 20 hdg     sub A2006-22

amdt 1.132 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008-14

amdt 1.88; A2012-40

amdt 3.109; A2013-39

amdt 2.62 (A2013-39

never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55))
s 20     am 1991 No. 67 s 11; A2006-22

amdts 1.133-1.137 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2007-3

amdt 3.559; A2008-14

amdts 1.89-1.91; A2012-40

amdts 3.110-3.115; A2013-39

amdts 2.63-2.68 (A2013-39

never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55))

Effect of termination of marriage, civil union or civil partnership
s 20A hdg     sub A2006-22

amdt 1.138 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008-14

amdt 1.92; A2012-40

amdt 3.116
s 20A     ins A1991-67

s 12
    am A2006-22

amdts 1.139-1.144 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2006-40

amdt 2.211; A2008-14

amdts 1.93-1.98; A2012-40

amdts 3.117-3.122; ss renum R12 LA; A2013-39

amdt 2.69, amdt 2.70 (A2013-39

never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55))

Revocation of will
s 21     am A1991-67

s 13; A2010-13

amdt 1.37

Devises to people who have altered their sex
s 28A hdg     sub A2016-7

amdt 1.26
s 28A     ins A1997-114

s 4
    am A2016-7

amdts 1.27-1.29

Intermediate income on future and contingent bequests and devises
s 30A     ins A1991-67

s 14

Gifts to issue
s 31     sub A1991-67

s 15
    am A2007-3

amdt 3.560

Legitimacy of issue
s 31A     ins Ord1989-16

s 3

Distribution to issue
s 31B     ins A1991-67

s 16

Beneficiary not surviving testator
s 31C     ins A1991-67

s 16
    sub A2021-3

s 43

Transitional
pt 5     ins A2000-80

amdt 3.39

Application of amendments and provisions
s 35     ins A2000-80

amdt 3.39

Transfer of wills deposited with registrar
s 36     ins A2023-57

s 55
    exp when A2023-57

s 54 commences (s 36 (4))

Annex to Convention providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will 1973
sch 1     ins A2012-13

amdt 1.45

Dictionary
dict     ins A2007-3

amdt 3.561
    am A2008-14

amdt 1.99; A2009-20

amdt 3.231; A2012-40

amdt 3.123; A2013-39

amdt 2.71 (A2013-39

never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55)); A2015-33

amdt 1.263, amdt 1.264; A2016-13

amdt 1.146; A2023-57

s 56
    def personal property reloc from s 4 A2007-3

amdt 3.549
    def real property reloc from s 4 A2007-3

amdt 3.549
    def registrar sub A1994-97

sch pt 1; A2006-40

amdt 2.210
    reloc from s 4 A2007-3

amdt 3.549
    def will sub A2007-3

amdt 3.548
    reloc from s 4 A2007-3

amdt 3.549
    sub A2007-16

amdt 3.140

5     Earlier republications

Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order.

Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical.

Republication No

Amendments to

Republication date

1

Ord1989-16

28 February 1991

2

A1991-67

31 October 1992

3

A1997-114

31 March 1999

4 (RI) †

A2001-44

6 June 2008

5 (RI) †

A2006-40

6 June 2008

6 (RI) †

A2007-3

6 June 2008

7 (RI) †

A2007-16

6 June 2008

8 (RI) †

A2008-7

6 June 2008

9 (RI) †

A2008-14

6 June 2008

10

A2009-20

22 September 2009

11

A2010-13

28 April 2010

12

A2012-40

11 September 2012

13

A2013-39

(never effective)

7 November 2013

13 (RI) ††

A2013-39

(never effective)

24 February 2014

14

A2013-39

(never effective)

11 April 2014

15

A2015-33

14 October 2015

16

A2016-13

1 April 2016

17

A2016-7

29 August 2016

18

A2021-3

26 February 2021

19

A2021-33

17 December 2021

† includes numbering correction in pt 5

†† reissued because of High Court decision in relation to A2013-39















© Australian Capital Territory 2023

ACT Crest high res small
Australian Capital Territory

A1968-11

Republication No 20

Effective: 12 December 2023

Republication date: 12 December 2023

Last amendment made by A2023-57




About this republication

The republished law

This is a republication of the Wills Act 1968

(including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001

, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 12 December 2023

. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 12 December 2023

.

The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4.

Kinds of republications

The Parliamentary Counsel's Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au

):

              • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001

applies

              • unauthorised republications.

The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2001

, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001

, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.

This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).

Uncommenced provisions and amendments

If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol  U  appears immediately before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au

). For more information, see the home page for this law on the register.

Modifications

If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol  M  appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001

, section 95.

Penalties

At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an individual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001

, s 133).

ACT
Crest high res small
Australian Capital Territory

Wills Act 1968


Endnotes52

ACT
Crest high res small
Australian Capital Territory

Wills Act 1968



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