Category Digital Wills / Informal Wills

This article was written by Nancy Wang Principal Solicitor at W & G Lawyers. 

Not every will is a neatly typed document, signed in a solicitor’s office with two witnesses looking on. Queensland law recognises that a person’s genuine final wishes should not fail simply because the paperwork wasn’t perfect. The recent decision of Justice Crow in Hall v Hall [2026] QSC 134 is a striking illustration of this principle, involving a handwritten note left by a woman shortly before she took her own life.

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Lessons from the NSW Court of Appeal’s $13.6 Million Decision

A recent decision of the NSW Court of Appeal has confirmed that, in exceptional circumstances, a note saved on an iPhone can operate as a legally valid will. While the Court ultimately upheld the deceased’s wishes, the case highlights the significant risks associated with informal estate planning.

The decision in Wheatley v Peak [2025] NSWCA 265 reinforces a simple and critical message. A properly drafted and executed will remains the safest and most effective way to protect an estate.

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