• Safewill is offering its legal wills at no cost until the end of March to help more Australians complete their estate plans

• The digital estate planning platform has become the largest will writer in Australia and is on a path to further growth after a $17 million Series B funding

• Nearly half of all Australians still do not have a will, leaving families vulnerable to legal disputes as more look to inheritances for their financial security

 

Special Report: A Sydney-based “death tech” is steering more Australians away from inheritance showdowns by making estate planning more accessible.

New research from Australian and New Zealand-focused end-of-life planning platform Safewill has revealed that 46% of Australians – around 12.5 million people – do not have a valid will, leaving families across the country vulnerable to legal battles and emotional turmoil.

As financial pressures mount, particularly due to rising housing costs, inheritances are becoming an essential safety net for many.

Safewill chief executive officer Adam Lubofsky said: “The way estate planning has typically been approached in Australia is outdated and doesn’t align with modern families.

“With millions of dollars at stake and relationships on the line, Australians can’t afford to ignore this essential task.

To address this, Safewill is offering free wills until March 31. Each will is reviewed by its affiliate law firm, Safewill Legal, ensuring it is completed correctly at no cost.

 

Inheritance disputes common

According to Safewill, one in three Australians now say they know a family who has fought over a will, highlighting the increasing frequency of estate disputes. Children are ranked as the top contenders to dispute a will, followed closely by siblings and partners.

“More Australians need to take proactive steps to ensure that their assets are protected and their families avoid unnecessary disputes,” Lubofsky said.

“Every adult, no matter their financial situation, should have a will in place. Updating it after key life events like marriage, separation, children, or major assets changes ensures it remains relevant.”

 

A leader in digital estate planning

Since launching in 2019, Safewill has seen remarkable growth, expanding its user base by 200% year-on-year. More than 150,000 Australians have used its platform, with wills costing just $160 (outside of its Free Wills campaign), which is roughly 80% less than traditional legal services.

Safewill has also earned enterprise-level trust from major organisations such as Mercer Super, Maurice Blackburn, the ACT Public Trustee and Guardian, and Real Insurance, which offer its estate planning tools to its customers.

Additionally, the company operates Safewill Legal, a specialist wills and estates law firm that ranks among the fastest-growing in the country, and has secured top tier charity partnerships through facilitating more than $1 billion in future gifts to over 250 organisations including Guide Dogs, RSPCA and Cancer Council.

 

Fuelling future growth

Following a $17 million Series B funding round led by Reinventure, Carthona Capital, and King River Capital, Safewill is investing in product development and expanding its market reach. The raise also attracted high-profile investors, including Zip Co co-founder Larry Diamond, Betashares co-founders Alex Vynokur and Ilan Israelstam, funds management veteran Chris Cuffe, former Perpetual CEO Geoff Lloyd, and Indebted founder Josh Foreman.

“We’re using this funding to build a broader suite of digital tools that simplify estate planning and administration,” Lubofsky said. “It’s about more than just writing wills – it’s about transforming how Australians navigate end-of-life planning.”

With ongoing innovation and growing market traction, Safewill is also exploring expansion into the US and UK, aiming to bring its streamlined approach to estate planning to a global audience.

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Safewill, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.