Wills Act 1968
- Number
- A1968-11
- Status
- In Force
- Current law
- Point-in-time versions
- Law history
Current version
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 February 2026 | HTMLPDFWord | R22 | 23 February 2026 | Republication for amendments by A2026-4 |
Administering Minister and Directorate
- Attorney-General - Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Point-in-time versions
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 February 2026 | HTMLPDFWord | R22 | 23 February 2026 | Republication for amendments by A2026-4 |
| 11 June 2025 - 22 February 2026 | HTMLPDFWord | R21 | 11 June 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2023-57 and expiry of transitional provision (s 36) |
| 12 December 2023 - 10 June 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R20 | 12 December 2023 | Republication for amendments by A2023-57 |
| 17 December 2021 - 11 December 2023 | HTMLPDFWord | R19 | 17 December 2021 | Republication for amendments by A2021-33 |
| 26 February 2021 - 16 December 2021 | HTMLPDFWord | R18 | 26 February 2021 | Republication for amendments by A2021-3 |
| 29 August 2016 - 25 February 2021 | HTMLPDFWord | R17 | 29 August 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-7 |
| 1 April 2016 - 28 August 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R16 | 1 April 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-13 |
| 14 October 2015 - 31 March 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R15 | 14 October 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-33 |
| 11 April 2014 - 13 October 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R14 | 11 April 2014 | Republication for amendments by A2012-13 |
| 7 November 2013 - 10 April 2014 | HTMLPDFWord | R13 (RI) | 24 February 2014 | Reissued because of High Court decision in relation to A2013-39 |
| Never effective | HTMLPDFWord | R13 | 7 November 2013 | Republication for amendments by A2013-39 Never effective because of High Court decision in relation to A2013-39 (see reissued republication) |
| 11 September 2012 - 6 November 2013 | HTMLPDFWord | R12 | 11 September 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2012-40 |
| 28 April 2010 - 10 September 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R11 | 28 April 2010 | Republication for amendments by A2010-13 |
| 22 September 2009 - 27 April 2010 | HTMLPDFWord | R10 | 22 September 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2009-20 |
| 19 May 2008 - 21 September 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R9 (RI) | 6 June 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2008-14 Reissued for numbering correction in pt 5 |
| 7 May 2008 - 18 May 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R8 (RI) | 6 June 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2008-7 Reissued for numbering correction in pt 5 |
| 11 July 2007 - 6 May 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R7 (RI) | 6 June 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2007-16 Reissued for numbering correction in pt 5 |
| 12 April 2007 - 10 July 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R6 (RI) | 6 June 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2007-3 Reissued for numbering correction in pt 5 |
| 29 September 2006 - 11 April 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R5 (RI) | 6 June 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2006-40 Reissued for numbering correction in pt 5 |
| 12 September 2001 - 28 September 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R4 (RI) | 6 June 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2001-44 Reissued for numbering correction in pt 5 |
| 21 December 2000 - 11 September 2001 | HTMLPDFWord | R3B | 20 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A2000-80 |
| 10 November 1999 - 20 December 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R3A | 20 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1999-66 |
| 31 March 1999 - 9 November 1999 | HTMLPDFWord | R3 (RI) | 20 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1997-114 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 15 December 1994 - 23 June 1998 | HTMLPDFWord | R2A | 20 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1994-97 |
| 7 November 1991 - 14 December 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R2 (RI) | 20 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1991-67 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 11 May 1989 - 6 November 1991 | PDFPDF | R1 (RI) | 20 January 2020 | Unauthorised version not available Republication for initial republication since self-government Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 28 December 1978 - 5 October 1983 | PDFPDF | R0A (RI) | 20 January 2020 | Unauthorised version not available Republication for amendments by Ord1977-65 and Ord1978-46 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 13 June 1968 | PDFPDF | As notified | 13 June 1968 | This ordinance became an ACT Act on 11 May 1989 (see Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth) s 34 (4)) |
Notification statement
The Wills Ordinance 1968 was notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 13 June 1968 (Cwlth Gaz 1968 No 53).
(Parliamentary Counsel)
Ordinance as notified
| Date notified | Effective | Files/Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 June 1968 | 13 June 1968 | PDFPDF | This ordinance became an ACT Act on 11 May 1989 (see Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth) s 34 (4)) |
Explanatory statement
| Version | Published | Files/Formats |
|---|---|---|
| As presented | 13 June 1968 | HTMLPDFWord |
Commencement
| Provision | Commencement date | Commencement method |
|---|---|---|
| all provisions | 13 June 1968 | Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 (Cwlth), s 12 |
Expiries
| Provision | Expiry date | Expiry method |
|---|---|---|
| s 36 | 11 June 2025 (midnight) | s 36 (4) |
Amendments
For section-by-section amendment annotations, see the amendment history in the endnotes in the current version of this law.
| Year and number | Amending law | Amending provision | Commencement date |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2021-3 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2021 | pt 20 | 26 February 2021 |
| A2021-33 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (No 2) | pt 18 | 17 December 2021 |
| A2023-57 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (No 3) | s 54 | 11 June 2025 |
| A2023-57 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (No 3) | ss 51-53, s 55, s 56 | 12 December 2023 |
| A2016-13 | Protection of Rights (Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.39 | 1 April 2016 |
| A2016-7 | Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2016 | sch 1 pt 1.13 | 29 August 2016 |
| A2015-33 | Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2015 | sch 1 pt 1.76 | 14 October 2015 |
| A2013-39 | Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 | sch 2 pt 2.24 | 7 November 2013 |
| A2012-40 | Civil Unions Act 2012 | sch 3 pt 3.26 | 11 September 2012 |
| A2012-13 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2012 | sch 1 pt 1.11 | 11 April 2014 |
| A2010-13 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2010 | sch 1 pt 1.9 | 28 April 2010 |
| A2009-20 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2009 | sch 3 pt 3.80 | 22 September 2009 |
| A2008-14 | Civil Partnerships Act 2008 | sch 1 pt 1.25 | 19 May 2008 |
| A2008-7 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2008 | sch 1 pt 1.22 | 7 May 2008 |
| A2007-16 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.34 | 11 July 2007 |
| A2007-3 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 | sch 3 pt 3.111 | 12 April 2007 |
| A2006-40 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2006 | sch 2 pt 2.32 | 29 September 2006 |
| A2006-22 | Civil Unions Act 2006 | sch 1 pt 1.29 | never commenced |
| A2001-44 | Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 | pt 416 | 12 September 2001 |
| A2000-80 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2000 | amdt 3.39 | 21 December 2000 |
| A1999-66 | Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 | sch 3 | 10 November 1999 |
| A1997-114 | Wills (Amendment) Act 1997 | s 4 | 24 June 1998 |
| A1994-97 | Statutory Offices (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 | sch pt 1 | 15 December 1994 |
| A1991-67 | Wills (Amendment) Act 1991 | ss 3-16 | 7 November 1991 |
| A1989-16 | Wills (Amendment) Act 1989 | s 3 | 24 March 1989 |
| A1983-46 | Wills (Amendment) Act 1983 | s 2 | 6 October 1983 |
| A1978-46 | Acts Revision Act 1978 | sch 2 | 28 December 1978 |
| A1977-65 | Acts Revision Act 1977 | sch 2 | 22 December 1977 |
| A2026-4 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2026 | pt 13 | 23 February 2026 |