Frequently asked questions
Wills
What is a Will?
A Will is a legal document that sets out your wishes after your death. It outlines how you want your property, possessions, and any dependents or pets to be cared for. It can also include instructions for your funeral and other personal requests.
Why is it important to have a Will?
Without a Will, the law decides who inherits your estate, and the court appoints someone to manage it. That often means delays, extra legal cost and conflict in the family. A Will makes your wishes clear and puts the people you trust in charge.
What can be done to reduce family conflict after I die?
Make a clear, fair Will, keep it up to date, and talk to your family about it. Signing it with two witnesses and recording where the original is kept removes much of the uncertainty that leads to disputes.
What happens if I die without making a Will?
If you die without a Will (known as dying intestate), the law decides who inherits your estate. This may not align with your wishes and can cause unnecessary stress for loved ones.
How much does it cost to write a Will?
Will kits are cheap but leave everything to you, and a lawyer charges for the Will and again for each update. With Willzee Free, you create and update your Will at no cost during your lifetime. If you want expert and legal help, Willzee Smart Start is $240 once, and covers you and your partner.
How often should I change my Will?
You should update your Will after major life changes (like marriage, divorce, or having children) or if your financial situation changes. Willzee allows unlimited updates so your Will is always current.
Why doesn’t Willzee offer joint Wills?
Joint Wills often cause disputes and legal problems when one partner dies. Most couples make mirror Wills instead: two separate Wills that reflect each other, usually leaving everything to each other and then to the same people. With Willzee, each partner makes their own Will, and one Smart Start covers you both if you want expert help.
Is debt transferable through my Will?
No. Your debts are paid from your estate before anything is given to your beneficiaries. Beneficiaries are not personally responsible for your debts.
What happens if I owe more than I own when I die?
If your estate can’t cover your debts, your assets may be sold. If the debt still isn’t covered, the estate may be declared insolvent and unpaid debt written off. No one else is liable.
How old do I need to be to write a Will?
You need to be 18 or over, and of sound mind, to make a Will with Willzee. New Zealand law also lets some people under 18 make a Will, for example if they are married or in a civil union or de facto relationship. If that’s you, get legal advice.
Who should I choose as an Executor?
Most people choose a trusted family member or friend. Your executor makes the decisions after you die, and can have Willzee and a Willzee legal partner do the legal and administrative work alongside them. When you complete your Foundation Will, you choose who you’d like to administer your estate, Willzee or another provider, and your executor always keeps the final say.
Can I change my beneficiaries or executor later?
Yes. Sign in any time to update your beneficiaries, executor or any other details. Each change creates a new version for you to confirm.
What if I move to another country?
Your Will may still be valid, but laws vary by country. We recommend reviewing your Will with legal advice in your new location.
How does Willzee know when I’ve died?
Willzee is usually told by your executor, your family, or someone using Search for a Will. We verify every notification before anything happens, then work with your executor as your Will instructs.
How do I arrange a gift or bequest to a chosen charity?
There are two ways. To give a set amount, add a gift to that charity when you make your Foundation Will. Gifts are paid after debts and estate costs, but before what’s left is shared among your beneficiaries. Or name the charity as a beneficiary, so it shares in what’s left. Start typing its name and we’ll find its registration number, so there’s no doubt which charity you mean.
Is my Willzee Will legally valid in New Zealand?
Yes. Willzee is built for the Wills Act 2007, and our templates have been reviewed by a Willzee legal partner.
Before you print and sign: when you confirm your Will online, we keep a timestamped record of the exact version you approved. That’s the record a court relies on under section 14 to accept a Will that hasn’t been signed and witnessed.
After you print and sign: signed in front of two witnesses, it’s the fully signed Will set out in section 11. That’s the strongest form, and it saves your estate time and cost. Scan the code on your package to confirm you’ve signed and tell us where the original is kept. Your records stay safe in your Willzee Vault, and your executor will know exactly where to find the original.
Signing is the one step only you can do, and we make it simple. Your Will & Wishes package prints in signing order, with clear instructions for you and your witnesses. If you’d like an expert and a Willzee legal partner to review your situation first, choose Willzee Smart Start.
Can I still print and sign my Will?
Yes, and we encourage it. Once you’ve confirmed your Will, print your Will & Wishes package from the Will Centre: your Foundation Will and completed Schedules in one document, in signing order. Sign it in front of two independent adult witnesses, then scan the code on the package to record where the original is kept, so your executor knows where to find it.
What happens to my digital Will if Willzee ever shuts down?
Your Will is securely backed up and can be transferred to any registered estate partner or lawyer, at your request, or by your executor. You’ll always retain ownership and access to your data.
Legal terms
What’s the difference between an executor and an administrator?
Your Will names an executor to carry out your wishes and manage your estate. If you don’t name one, no one named is able to act, or there’s no valid Will, the court appoints an administrator instead. They do the same job, but the court chooses them, not you.
Who is a Testator?
A Testator is the Will maker: the person who makes the Will and whose wishes it sets out.
What does Intestate mean?
Intestate means dying without a valid Will. Your estate will then be distributed based on legal rules rather than your personal wishes.
What are Advance Care Instructions?
Advance Care Instructions set out your medical and end-of-life preferences if you are ever unable to communicate them. They can include who you authorise to make decisions, organ donation wishes, and whether you want life-prolonging treatment. They’re available on request as part of Willzee Smart Start, or on demand for Willzee Smart Managed subscribers, customised by a Willzee legal partner.
What is a Grant of Probate?
A Grant of Probate is a legal document from the court confirming your Will is valid and giving the Executor permission to manage and distribute the estate.
What is section 14 of the Wills Act?
Section 14 lets the High Court treat a document as a valid Will even though it wasn’t signed and witnessed in the usual way, where it’s satisfied the document records the person’s intentions. New Zealand courts regularly do this for typed documents, emails and even text messages. When you confirm your Will with Willzee, we keep exactly the record a court looks for: the version you read, when you confirmed it, and every earlier version. Signing with two witnesses means your executor won’t need to make that application at all, which saves your estate time and cost.
What makes a Will legally binding?
A Will is fully valid when it clearly sets out your wishes, is made by someone of sound mind, and is signed in front of two witnesses as the Wills Act 2007 requires. From the moment you confirm your Will online, Willzee holds a timestamped record of your wishes. Printing and signing it with two witnesses gives it the strongest legal standing and makes things simpler for your executor.
What happens if my executor can’t act or passes away?
You can name a backup executor at any time in Willzee. If both are unavailable, the Court will appoint an administrator to ensure your estate is still managed according to your Will.
Are all Assets subject to Probate?
Not all assets go through probate. Joint accounts, jointly owned property, KiwiSaver and life insurance with a named beneficiary usually pass directly to the surviving owner or nominee. Even so, banks and fund managers often ask for a grant of probate before releasing funds. Willzee’s estate administration fee is based on all the assets that need administering, however they pass, not only those that go through probate.
What is an Estate Account?
An estate account is a temporary bank account set up after someone dies. It holds estate funds, pays off debts, and distributes money to beneficiaries.
How do I get an Enduring Power of Attorney, Advance Care Instructions or Contracting Out document?
They’re available on request as part of a Willzee Smart Start, or on demand at any time for Willzee Smart Managed subscribers. Each is reviewed and customised for your circumstances by a Willzee legal partner, billed at Willzee’s preferred hourly rate and agreed with you first.
Completing your Will
What happens after I finish my Foundation Will?
Your Will is ready to read and confirm straight away. Once it’s confirmed, add your Schedules in the Will Centre whenever you’re ready: your assets and gifts, care and guardianship, digital accounts and funeral wishes. Then print your Will & Wishes package and sign it with two witnesses. If you’d like your situation reviewed by an expert and a Willzee legal partner, add Willzee Smart Start at any time.
What happens if I die before signing my Will?
Your Will still counts. From the moment you confirm it, Willzee holds a timestamped record of your wishes and every version before it. If you die before signing, your executor can ask the High Court to accept it under section 14 of the Wills Act 2007, and Willzee supports them through that. It’s the court’s decision and involves extra legal work, so we encourage you to print and sign with two witnesses. It takes a few minutes and saves your estate cost.
Do I have to complete the Schedules straight away?
No. Your Foundation Will covers the basics. The Schedules are optional additions, designed to give extra clarity and in doing so, reduce future confusion and potential legal costs.
Where do I find my Schedules?
They’re in the Will Centre. Sign in at app.willzee.com and add them whenever you’re ready. There are no separate links to keep track of.
Can I make changes to my Will after completing it?
Yes. Update your Foundation Will or any Schedule at any time. Each update creates a new, timestamped version, and you confirm any change to your Foundation Will, so your latest wishes are always clear. If you’ve already signed a printed copy, print and sign the new version too.
How does Willzee make sure my Schedules are linked to my Will?
Every Schedule you complete is securely referenced to your Foundation Will in our system. When your estate is administered, all documents are grouped under your unique Willzee record so nothing gets missed.
Are the Schedules legally binding?
Your Schedules are there to guide your executor. They sit alongside your Foundation Will and give the detail it doesn’t. Signing them as part of your Will & Wishes package matters most for your Care & Guardianship and Assets & Gifts Schedules, where your wishes about who cares for your children and who receives what carry the most weight.
Will someone check my information?
Yes, administratively. The Willzee team checks every Foundation Will for completeness and clarity, and we’ll get in touch if anything looks unclear. This isn’t a legal review of whether your Will suits your circumstances; with Willzee Free that responsibility rests with you. For a proper review of your situation, choose Willzee Smart Start.
How will I know when my Will is complete?
When you confirm your Will, the Will Centre shows it as confirmed, with the version number and the date and time. Your Will is stored in your Willzee Vault, and your progress shows what’s next: Schedules, then printing and signing.
How do I sign in?
Go to app.willzee.com and enter your email address. We’ll send you a one-time code, or you can continue with Google. There’s no password to remember.
What does confirming my Will mean?
When you’ve read your Will and it says what you want, you confirm it online. Willzee records the exact version you confirmed and when, which is a clear record of your wishes from that day. Then print your Will & Wishes package and sign it with two witnesses, the fully signed Will the Wills Act sets out, which saves your estate time and cost later.
I made my Will with Willzee before the new Will Centre. What changes for me?
Your Will is still recorded with us, with its full history. Next time you sign in with the same email address, you’ll accept our updated Terms and answer two quick questions. Nothing about your Will, your Willzee Free service or your fees changes. Then print your Will & Wishes package and sign it with two witnesses when you’re ready.
Willzee
How can I make sure my Will is not contested?
No one can promise a Will won’t be challenged, but you can make it much stronger. Make reasonable provision for close family, keep your Will up to date, and print and sign it with two witnesses, which gives it the strongest legal standing. If your situation is complex, Willzee Smart Start puts an expert and a Willzee legal partner across your file.
When do I pay Willzee?
With Willzee Free, nothing during your lifetime. Willzee’s fee is paid from your estate after you die. If you choose Willzee Smart Start, you pay $240 once, for you and your partner. If you continue with Willzee Smart Managed, it’s $60 a quarter, plus $30 a quarter for your partner on the same bill, starting when your included first quarter ends.
What does Willzee do after I die?
Willzee doesn’t replace your executor. If Willzee is administering your estate, Willzee and a Willzee legal partner do the legal and administrative work alongside your executor: probate, collecting assets, paying debts and distributing to your beneficiaries. You choose your preferred administration partner when you complete your Foundation Will, and your executor always keeps the final say.
Can’t I just use AI to write my Will?
You can, but AI tools don’t check your identity, structure your Will for New Zealand law, or keep your documents safe and versioned. Willzee takes you from recording your wishes to a confirmed, stored Will, ready to print and sign, and ready to stand up if it’s ever questioned.
Where is my Will stored if I use Willzee?
In your Willzee Vault. You can view and update it any time, add Schedules, and print your signing package when you’re ready. Every version is timestamped and kept in one place, so it’s easy to find when it matters most.
How does Willzee make my Will stronger?
By keeping a timestamped record of every version you confirm, storing your documents securely, and making it simple to print and sign with two witnesses. Those steps reduce the risk of disputes, delays and challenges to your wishes.
Do I still need a lawyer if I use Willzee?
For estate administration, yes: probate and transferring assets need a lawyer. If Willzee administers your estate, a Willzee legal partner does that work at Willzee’s preferred rate. For a standard estate it’s covered within Willzee’s capped estate administration fee, and itemised separately on invoices to your executor. Your executor can choose another provider instead; a release fee then applies.
So what does Willzee actually do?
Willzee helps you record your wishes, assets and accounts ahead of time. When the time comes, your executor and lawyer start with a complete, organised estate file, which saves the time usually spent finding assets and chasing paperwork. And your estate benefits from the preferred rates Willzee has already agreed for the legal work.
How does this save money?
A large part of a lawyer’s time on an estate goes on finding accounts, tracking down paperwork and checking information, billed by the hour. Willzee captures that information while you’re alive, so there’s far less to find later. And because the rates are agreed upfront, your executor isn’t negotiating fees at one of the hardest times of their life.
Who does Willzee work with?
Willzee works with New Zealand law firms as Willzee legal partners. They review our Will templates and carry out estate legal work at Willzee’s preferred rate. Banks and other institutions deal with your executor in the usual way once probate is granted.
Can I get personal help while completing my Will?
Yes. Willzee support can help with how the Will Centre works at any time, free. If you want your situation reviewed, Willzee Smart Start ($240, for you and your partner) gives you up to an hour with a Willzee expert plus a review of your file by a Willzee legal partner, with a clear estimate before any further legal work.
Is Willzee available in Australia?
Not yet. Willzee is built for New Zealand law and currently serves New Zealand residents. Australia is planned as our next market; you can register your interest via the Willzee Australia link in the footer and we’ll let you know when we launch.
What is the difference between Willzee Free, Smart Start and Smart Managed?
Willzee Free is the do-it-yourself track: create and update your Will at no cost, with responsibility for getting it right resting with you. Willzee Smart Start ($240 once, for you and your partner) adds an expert review of your situation and a review of your file by a Willzee legal partner, with a clear estimate before any further legal work. Willzee Smart Managed ($60 a quarter, after Smart Start) keeps you supported: an annual review, the preferred legal rate, key legal documents on demand, and half-price estate administration once your subscription is current and 12 months have passed since your Smart Start.
Can I put Willzee on my phone?
Yes. Open app.willzee.com on your phone. On Android, tap Install. On iPhone, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. Willzee then opens straight to your Will, with no app store needed.
Fees
Is it really free to create my Will?
Yes. With Willzee Free, creating and updating your Will is completely free during your lifetime. Fees apply later: an estate administration service fee paid from your estate after you pass, or a release fee if another provider administers your estate. Willzee Smart Start and Willzee Smart Managed are optional paid services if you want expert and legal support along the way.
How does Willzee make money?
We automate the work that normally takes a lawyer several hours, so our costs stay low enough to give every New Zealander a free Will. Our income comes later, from a single fee for looking after your estate. That fee is what keeps us running now, so we are here for your family when it matters.
When does Willzee charge fees?
During your lifetime, only if you choose a paid service: Willzee Smart Start ($240 once) or Willzee Smart Managed ($60 a quarter). Creating and updating your Will with Willzee Free costs nothing. After you die, the estate administration fee or the release fee is paid from your estate before your beneficiaries receive their shares.
How much does Willzee charge?
A one-time estate administration fee: the greater of $5,800 or 1% of your estate’s value, capped at $30,000. That single fee covers Willzee’s service and the legal work, carried out by a Willzee legal partner at Willzee’s preferred rate, and itemised on invoices to your executor. It’s halved for Smart Managed subscribers whose subscription is current and who are 12 months past their Smart Start. Small estates worth $100,000 or less that don’t need probate pay a release fee of $2,000 instead ($1,000 with Smart Managed). See ‘What do I actually get for the estate administration fee?’ for everything included.
What do I actually get for the estate administration fee?
A complete, managed administration of a standard estate: applying to the High Court for probate or letters of administration, preparing your executor’s affidavit, dealing with the Court and any standard requisitions it raises, collecting straightforward New Zealand assets, closing bank accounts and releasing funds on your executor’s instructions, and preparing a final summary for your beneficiaries. Your executor has someone to talk to throughout. The legal work is carried out by a Willzee legal partner at Willzee’s preferred rate, and every invoice shows the Willzee service fee and the legal partner’s fee separately. The fee is disclosed upfront, capped at $30,000 and halved for qualifying Smart Managed subscribers.
How is my estate’s value calculated for the fee?
The fee is based on all assets requiring administration, however they pass, including by Will, survivorship, nomination or intestacy. That reflects the work actually involved. The fee is the greater of $5,800 or 1% of that value, capped at $30,000 (in today’s terms). Qualifying Willzee Smart Managed subscribers pay half: the greater of $2,900 or 0.5%, capped at $15,000. Both cover Willzee’s service and the legal partner’s work at Willzee’s preferred rate, itemised separately for your executor.
Do Willzee’s fees include GST?
Yes. All published Willzee fees, including the estate administration fee, release fee, Willzee Smart Start and Willzee Smart Managed, are stated inclusive of GST.
What do lawyers charge?
Independent New Zealand guides put simple Wills at $300 to $600 and complex Wills at $800 to $2,000, with senior estate lawyers charging around $400 to $600 an hour. But the drafting fee is the small cost. The real expense usually arrives when the estate is administered: hourly legal fees plus disbursements, or percentage-based trustee fees, often without a cap. Willzee flips this model: creating and updating your Will is free, and the estate administration fee is disclosed upfront and capped.
What is Willzee Smart Start and do I need it?
Willzee Smart Start is a one-off service for $240, and it covers you and your partner. It gives you up to an hour with a Willzee expert to review your situation and prepare your file, then a review of that file by a Willzee legal partner, who gives you a clear estimate before any further legal work. Nothing more is charged without your approval; any further legal work is billed by the legal partner directly at Willzee’s preferred hourly rate. Smart Start is worth considering if you own significant property or assets, have overseas assets, are in a de facto, blended or second relationship, have a trust or want to create one, or want to leave someone out. If your situation is straightforward and you’re confident doing it yourself, Willzee Free is a complete option at no cost, and you can add Smart Start at any time.
Can I cancel Willzee Smart Managed, and what happens if I do?
Yes. Cancel at least 30 days before your next quarterly payment; otherwise it renews automatically. Your Will, Schedules and Vault stay free for life. When your subscription ends, the benefits end with it: the standard estate administration fee applies and access to the preferred legal rate closes. To rejoin later, you start with a new Willzee Smart Start ($240), and the 12-month qualifying period starts again from that payment.
Can I add Willzee Smart Start later?
Yes, at any time. Your existing Foundation Will and Schedules carry straight over, and your Smart Start session reviews and strengthens what you’ve already created. After Smart Start, you can continue with Willzee Smart Managed if you want ongoing support.
Who provides the legal advice?
Willzee’s own experts prepare your file and draft the terms of your Will. A Willzee legal partner, an independent New Zealand law firm, then reviews it and tells you whether any further legal work is needed, with a clear estimate. That review is included in Willzee Smart Start. Anything beyond it is billed by the legal partner directly at Willzee’s preferred hourly rate, always agreed with you before it starts. Willzee is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
What if I choose a different executor or estate provider?
You, or your executor, can choose another provider to administer your estate. The fees are structured so that having Willzee do it is usually the best value.
If another provider acts, your estate pays two fees: a release fee to Willzee, and that provider’s own fees for the administration.
The release fee is the deferred price of your Will and lifetime service. It’s lower than the estate administration fee because the legal work isn’t ours to do: 65% of the fee that would otherwise have applied, between $3,770 and $19,500. On a $1,000,000 estate that’s $6,500 instead of $10,000. For qualifying Smart Managed subscribers it’s 65% of the reduced fee, between $1,885 and $9,750. Small estates worth $100,000 or less that don’t need probate pay $2,000 ($1,000 with Smart Managed).
Whoever acts starts with a complete file. Within 10 business days, we hand over everything your executor and their lawyer need: your current Will and every earlier version, the record of when you confirmed it, your completed Schedules, your signed Will & Wishes package where there is one, and a handover summary. Instead of tracking down assets and paperwork, they start with it all in one place.
Are there any other fees I should know about?
Two to be aware of. If another provider administers your estate, a one-time release fee applies instead of the estate administration fee: 65% of that fee, between $3,770 and $19,500 (or $1,885 to $9,750 for qualifying Smart Managed subscribers), including handing over your complete estate file. And where complex legal work is needed, such as trusts, contested matters or an application to validate an unsigned Will, a Willzee legal partner does it at Willzee’s preferred hourly rate, always agreed with you or your executor before it starts. The same rate applies to any extra hours of Willzee’s own services. See Fees & Services for the current rate.
How does Willzee compare to a traditional lawyer or trustee company?
With a traditional lawyer, you pay for drafting and each update, and your estate later pays hourly fees, often uncapped. Trustee companies charge a share of the estate itself, and the law allows them up to 5% of its gross value. Willzee works differently. Willzee Free lets you create and update your Will at no cost. Willzee Smart Start ($240 once) adds an expert session and a legal partner review, with a clear estimate before any further work, and Willzee Smart Managed ($60 a quarter) keeps you supported. When the time comes, the estate administration fee is disclosed upfront and capped. On a $750,000 estate that’s $7,500, or $3,750 with qualifying Smart Managed, where a trustee company charging the maximum would take $37,500. Check the cost for your estate
Are there any ongoing or subscription costs?
With Willzee Free there are no subscription or renewal fees, ever. Your Will stays active and stored for your lifetime. Willzee Smart Managed is an optional subscription of $60 a quarter (your partner can join for $30 a quarter on the same bill), available after a Willzee Smart Start. It includes an annual review with Willzee, access to a Willzee legal partner at Willzee’s preferred hourly rate, and the 50% estate fee reduction once 12 months have passed since your Smart Start. If you cancel, your Will stays free and safe; only the subscription benefits end.
How does Willzee’s pricing adjust over time?
Our fees are shown in today’s terms. The structure you accept, such as the percentage, the cap and the Smart Managed reduction, stays the same. The dollar amounts may be adjusted over time for the cost of providing the service, and we give at least 30 days’ notice of any material change.
What is Willzee Smart Managed?
Willzee Smart Managed is a subscription of $60 a quarter, available once you’ve completed a Willzee Smart Start. Your partner can join for $30 a quarter on the same bill. It includes an annual review as your life changes, access to a Willzee legal partner at Willzee’s preferred hourly rate, Enduring Power of Attorney, Advance Care Instructions and Contracting Out documents on demand, and a 50% reduction on the estate administration fee. It can’t be bought on its own; Smart Start comes first.
How do I qualify for the 50% estate fee reduction?
Two conditions, both at the date of death: your Willzee Smart Managed subscription is current, and more than 12 months have passed since your Smart Start payment. If either isn’t met, the standard fee applies. If your subscription lapses and you rejoin later with a new Smart Start, the 12 months starts again.
What does ‘done now, paid later’ mean?
It’s how Willzee Free works. You create and update your Will now, at no cost, for your whole lifetime. Willzee is paid later, from your estate, when the work of administering it actually happens: either the estate administration fee if Willzee is engaged, or the release fee if another provider administers your estate.
What is the estate administration fee made up of?
The fee comprises two parts: a Willzee service fee for the platform, records and administration support, and a legal partner service fee for the legal work of administering the estate. Both are itemised separately on invoices to your executor, and the legal partner bills its component directly, as New Zealand law requires.
Can my partner and I share a Smart Start?
Yes. One Smart Start ($240) covers you and one other person. You each have your own account and Foundation Will, you share the included expert time, and the legal partner’s review can cover one or both files. If you continue with Smart Managed, your partner is added for $30 a quarter on the same bill.
What if my estate is small?
If your estate is worth $100,000 or less and can be wound up without probate, your executor can deal with it directly. Willzee releases your Will and estate file for a flat fee of $2,000, or $1,000 if you qualify for the Smart Managed reduction. If probate turns out to be needed, the standard fee applies, less anything already paid.
Why is there a release fee?
Your Will, updates, storage and support are free during your lifetime and paid for once, from your estate. If Willzee administers your estate, that’s the estate administration fee. If your executor chooses another provider, a lower release fee is paid instead, because the legal work isn’t ours to do. It’s one or the other, never both, and it includes handing over your complete estate file.
Data privacy
Is my data safe with Willzee?
Yes. Your information is encrypted in transit and at rest, and held with established cloud providers that are independently audited against recognised security standards, including SOC 2. You sign in with a one-time code sent to your email, or with your Google account, so there’s no password to steal. Your information is never sold, and access is limited to you, your authorised executors and, when required, a Willzee legal partner.
Who can access my Will or personal data?
Only you, your authorised executors and, when required, a Willzee legal partner. During your lifetime, your file goes to a legal partner only if you’ve bought Willzee Smart Start and given your authority. After your death, the legal partner is involved if Willzee administers your estate.
Can I update or delete my information?
Yes. You can update your Will and Schedules at any time, and you can ask us to delete your account. Deleting it ends your lifetime service with Willzee, and we keep only the records the law requires us to keep.
How long does Willzee keep my information?
Your information is retained securely for the lifetime of your account and estate record. After administration is complete, records will be archived or deleted in accordance with NZ privacy requirements.
What happens if there’s a data breach?
In the unlikely event of a breach, Willzee will notify affected users and the NZ Privacy Commissioner as required by law, and take immediate steps to protect and restore your information.
After you pass
Who can notify Willzee if I pass away?
Anyone, including friends, family, or someone searching for your Will can notify Willzee. It’s a simple way to ensure your wishes are followed, even if they don’t have direct access to your documents.
What is Search for a Will?
If you believe someone who has passed away may have held a Will with Willzee, anyone can use the Search for a Will form to ask us to check. We verify the request, and where a record exists we contact the named executor. It’s the fastest way to make sure a person’s wishes are found and followed.
What happens after someone notifies Willzee of a death?
First, we’ll attempt to reach out to you to confirm; just in case the report was a mistake. If we don’t hear back, we’ll then contact your executor and the beneficiaries named in your Will.
How does Willzee help after my death?
Once your death is confirmed and we receive a death certificate, we support your executor to carry out your wishes. If Willzee is administering your estate, that covers applying for probate or letters of administration, preparing your executor’s affidavit, dealing with the High Court, collecting straightforward New Zealand assets, closing bank accounts and releasing funds on your executor’s instructions, and a final summary for your beneficiaries. The fee is made up of a Willzee service fee and a legal partner fee, itemised separately for your executor. Any work outside that scope is done at Willzee’s preferred rate, agreed with your executor before it starts.
Do I have to use Willzee to administer my estate?
No. When you complete your Foundation Will, you choose who you’d like to administer your estate: Willzee, or another provider. Your executor always keeps the final say. If another provider administers your estate, a lower release fee applies instead of the estate administration fee.
