Types of wills. Simple, Normal or Complex — Which Will Suits You?
Not all wills are the same. As life gets more complicated, your will usually needs to move up a level.
Agreed — here's Block 1 with the cards back to short summaries in the old style; the full detail stays in the comparison chart (Block 2 is unchanged and doesn't need re-pasting). Block 1 — Types of Will: Introduction (add as: Code Block) html
Which Type of Will Do You Need?
There are four types of will we prepare. Each type includes everything in the one before it, then adds more. Most New Zealand families use a Family Bespoke Will as part of a complete will-based estate plan. The comparison chart below shows exactly what each will includes.
Simple Bespoke Will
Leaves everything to your partner, then your children, other named people equally, or your trust. No conditions or complex arrangements.
$300 (1 person) / $600 (couple)
Family Bespoke Will Most Popular
Adds guardians for young children, gifts and bequests, provisions for pets, and detailed trustee powers. Works for most New Zealand families and is included in all will-based estate plans.
$500 (1 person) / $1,000 (couple)
Custom Bespoke Will
For blended families, business or farm interests, overseas assets, life interests, uneven shares, or where your estate involves a family trust.
$700 (1 person) / $1,300 (couple)
Specialist Bespoke Will
For estates needing specialist drafting — testamentary trusts, leaving your estate to two or more trusts, or charitable gifts with conditions. Prepared personally by our lawyers and not offered online.
From $750 (1 person) / from $1,400 (couple)
💡 Not sure which type you need?
When you request a quote through our will-based estate plan page, we will review your situation and confirm the right will type for you — at no charge and with no obligation.
Ready to Get Started?
Choose the right plan for your situation — we will confirm the correct will type when you request a quote.
Will-Based Estate Plan
The right choice for most New Zealand families. Includes your will, enduring powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and more — as a complete coordinated package.
Will-Based Estate Plan →Trust-Based Estate Plan
If you have significant assets, a blended family, or want maximum asset protection, a trust-based plan may suit you better. Includes all will-based documents plus your trust.
Trust-Based Estate Plan →
Will Provisions — Full Comparison
| Provision | Simple | Family | Custom | Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited edits for 30 days | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Choose your Executors/Trustees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Choose Subsequent Executors/Trustees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leave estate to partner/others equally | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leave estate to children/others equally | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leave estate to your trust | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child share goes to their children | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Information about your children | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Burial or cremation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Special signature provisions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statement of Wishes (optional add-on, +$43) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Detailed trustee powers | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Guardians for children under 18 | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bequests (gifts) | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Provisions for pets | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contemplation of marriage/civil union | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exclude NZ Māori land | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Children from previous relationships / blended families | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exclude/include overseas assets | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pacific Islands will validity | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Additional wills for Australian / Pacific Islands assets | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Right to occupy / life interest (one beneficiary) | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Uneven shares (unequal division of assets) | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Include your family trust | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power to pay estate to a trust instead of a beneficiary | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Business owner provisions | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Separation/divorce cover | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Farm succession | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exclude/include NZ Māori land | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Detailed beneficiary protection clauses | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disabled beneficiary provisions | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Excluded beneficiaries clause | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Testamentary trust creation | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Leave estate to 2 or more Trusts | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Charitable remainder trusts / charitable gifts with conditions | — | — | — | ✓ |
| No-contest provisions | — | — | — | ✓ |
Ready to get your will-based estate plan started?
Request a free, no-obligation quote — we'll confirm which type of will suits you and what it will cost.