What I learned in Deceased Estates: the quiet gift of getting your Will sorted

As someone who previously led our Deceased Estates team, I’ve seen up close how overwhelming this time can be for families. Emotionally, and practically. 

In that role, I saw the same story play out again and again: families already carrying the weight of loss suddenly facing more uncertainty and struggle. Through paperwork, delays, and difficult decisions made under pressure.  

 At Colonial First State, we process around 6,000 deceased estate claims a year. But roughly 40% of members don’t even have a beneficiary nomination on file. That means too many families are left navigating extra complexity when what they really need is clarity, and a simple, guided path forward. 

That’s why I’m genuinely passionate about our partnership with Safewill. 

Estate planning isn’t about being gloomy and focusing on death; it’s about kindness. Giving your family clarity, calm and fewer decisions to wrestle with later on. 

 The data backs up what I’ve seen firsthand: ASIC’s claims-handling data shows around 80% of claims are finalised within 180 days¹ when a beneficiary is on file. Without one, it can take up to a year. Or about double the time. 

 And I get why people put this off. Simply put, most of us don’t want to think about our own death. 

 A recent Australian survey showed this. It found 29% avoid writing a Will because they don’t like thinking about their own mortality, 48% believe it’ll be too expensive, and 44% think it’ll be too hard or complicated. Even though 50% felt relieved once they’d done it.² If I could sit down with every Australian for five minutes, I’d say this: getting your wishes in writing can be one of the most practical gifts you give your family. Peace, clarity, and a smoother path forward. 

So here are three simple tips to give you and your family a little more certainty during some of life’s toughest moments. And thanks to our partnership with Safewill, these steps are now easier than ever. 

From what I’ve seen, the biggest source of stress for families isn’t “small mistakes” - it’s uncertainty. So start by writing down what matters most: who you want to look after, what you want to happen to key assets, and who you trust to carry out your wishes. If your Will is hard to interpret, families can end up second‑guessing every decision. They shouldn’t have to.  

Once it’s done, treat it like a living document. Revisit it when life changes; a new relationship, a new child, a separation, a new home. If you already have a Will, it’s okay. You can update it at any time, and once your new Will is signed, it’ll become your valid document.  

If the idea of estate planning feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Most Australians feel the same way. One of the reasons I'm proud of our partnership with Safewill is because it's designed to make Will‑writing more accessible and easy.

This one surprises people. There’s a natural connection between superannuation and estate planning because super is often one of the largest assets people have. But it typically sits outside of your estate. In plain terms, your Will may not automatically control where your super - and the insurance within your super - ends up.

 
That’s why beneficiary nominations and Wills should be considered together. If you want to make things easier for the people you love, take a moment to review and update your beneficiary nomination. It's a very simple step that can reduce complexity later.

When families are grieving, they don’t need a scavenger hunt. So think about the practical handover. You might want certain people to know where your Will is kept, who has a copy, what accounts exist, and who to contact. In Deceased Estates, I noticed that delays usually weren’t about anyone doing anything wrong - they were about missing information and the time it takes to gather it.

One simple way to address this is by using Safewill’s Digital Vault. It lets you securely store the details your Executor may need in one place. Assets, liabilities, key contacts, subscriptions, and even your funeral wishes. By having everything organised and easy to access, you can genuinely reduce the time, stress and cost your family may face when managing your estate.

At the heart of this is a simple belief: planning ahead is an act of love. My goal - and our goal at Colonial First State - is to help members feel confident and supported across all aspects of retirement planning by removing the cost and complexity that can come with it. That way, more Australians can protect the people they love during the toughest moments of their lives.