Wills Act 1968
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3 Legislation history page 56 Wills Act 1968 Effective: 23/02/26 R22 23/02/26 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 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 commenced 11 June 2025 (s 2 (4)) Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2026 A2026-4 pt 13 notified LR 16 February 2026 s 1, s 2 commenced 16 February 2026 (LA s 75 (1)) pt 13 commenced 23 February 2026 (s 2)
Endnotes Amendment history 4 R22 23/02/26 Wills Act 1968 Effective: 23/02/26 page 57 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 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
Endnotes 4 Amendment history page 58 Wills Act 1968 Effective: 23/02/26 R22 23/02/26 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 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