88Power to open wills

### 88 Power to open wills > > (1)  [*\[Section 88 Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 167, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS167@Hpa@EN) The Tribunal, The Public Trustee or a trustee company, within the meaning of the [Trustee Companies Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1953-072) , may, before or after the death of a represented person, open and read any paper or writing which purports to be, or is alleged to be, the will of the represented person. > > > (2)  [*\[Section 88 Subsection (2) amended by No. 21 of 2023, s. 62, Applied:01 Sep 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-09-01/act-2023-021#GS62@EN) [*\[Section 88 Subsection (2) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 167, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS167@Hpb@EN) A guardian or an administrator other than The Public Trustee or a trustee company may, with the approval of the Tribunal, open and read any paper or writing which purports to be the will of a represented person, but must not disclose its contents to any other person without the further approval of the Tribunal. > > > (3)  [*\[Section 88 Subsection (3) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 167, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS167@Hpd@EN) [*\[Section 88 Subsection (3) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 167, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS167@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 88 Subsection (3) inserted by No. 4 of 2000, s. 17, Applied:28 Apr 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-04-28/act-2000-004#GS17@EN) The Tribunal may, for the purposes of a hearing in relation to Guardianship stream proceedings, open and read any paper or writing which purports to be, or is alleged to be, the will of a person in respect of whom an application for a guardianship order or an administration order has been made. > > > (4)  [*\[Section 88 Subsection (4) inserted by No. 21 of 2023, s. 63, Applied:01 Sep 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-09-01/act-2023-021#GS63@Hpa@EN) For the purposes of [subsections (1)](#GS88@Gs1@EN) and [(3)](#GS88@Gs3@EN) , the Tribunal has a right to obtain a copy of a will, from a person who has possession of the will of a represented person or a person in respect of whom an application for a guardianship order or an administration order has been made. > > > (5)  [*\[Section 88 Subsection (5) inserted by No. 21 of 2023, s. 63, Applied:01 Sep 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-09-01/act-2023-021#GS63@Hpa@EN) A person who has custody or control of a will, to which the Tribunal has a right under [subsection (4)](#GS88@Gs4@EN) , must, at the request of the Tribunal, provide to the Tribunal a copy, of the will, that is certified by the person. > > > > Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units. > > > (6)  [*\[Section 88 Subsection (6) inserted by No. 21 of 2023, s. 63, Applied:01 Sep 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-09-01/act-2023-021#GS63@Hpa@EN) In this section – > > > > > ***will*** includes any paper or writing that is a will, part of a will, a revoked will, a purported will or a copy of a will.