FAQ'S

Some frequently asked questions about writing your Will. If you have any other queries please contact one of our Bequest Officers listed below.

Who should have a Will?
Anyone over the age of 18 years of age should have a valid Will regardless of how little they own.  If you die without a Will your assets and belongings will be disposed of under the rules of intestacy, and these rules may not produce the desiredc result for the deceased person or their loved ones.

When to Change/ Update your Will?
Whenever your circumstances change, marriage/ divorce can cancel or invalidate your Will, children born/ adopted, death’s, health etc.   For minor changes you can add a codicil, for major changes it is advisable that you re-write your Will to ensure no complications.

Should husband and wife have separate Wills?
Yes, to avoid unwanted legal complications after one person dies or if marriage circumstances change.  

Why should a solicitor assist me with writing my Will?
It is advisable that you organise your Will through a solicitor as it is likely to be the most important document you ever sign.  With such an important document, you don’t want to risk complications or errors which could later translate into further problems with loved ones after you die.

Why should I let The Wilderness Society know if I have left a gift in my Will?
By advising us of your gift to wilderness, you are enabling us to not only have the pleasure of thanking you personally, but you are also allowing us to plan for the future.  This allows us to be pro-active and long term in our strategies for wilderness protection.  We would also like the opportunity to invite you to join our Forever Wild group and to be listed on our annual Honour Roll as a small token of our appreciation.

Can I leave my property to The Wilderness Society?
We welcome property bequests provided we are given permission to sell the land and use the funds for campaigning to get wilderness protected.  As we are an advocacy organisation, we are much more effective at protecting wilderness through funded lobbying and campaigning, as opposed to holding and managing land that may not be of particularly high conservation value. If you would like your land protected, you can place a conservation covenant on it, which will ensure that the flora, fauna, water quality and the natural diversity of the land will be protected in perpetuity.

How will my bequest best help protect Australia’s wild places?
If you do decide to leave a bequest to The Wilderness Society it is not generally advisable to be too specific about where you would like your gift to be spent.  Due to the nature of our environmental campaigns, it is hard to predict exactly where the funds will be needed in 10-20 years time and specified campaigns may be completed, or hopefully, won by the time the funds arrive.  You can be reassured that the funds will be used in the areas of greatest need that will contribute towards our overall WildCountry vision.  If you would like to discuss this please contact Gaye French on below contact details.