SA Public Trustee Free Will & Enduring Power of Attorney

What Is This Payment?

The Public Trustee South Australia is a state government body that, among other things, drafts Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney. For eligible concession card holders, this drafting is provided free of charge — a service most people would otherwise pay a solicitor or trustee company to prepare.

The rule database tags it as a Group B benefit with eligibility_only as its result role. The questionnaire confirms whether you are likely to qualify; the value is the free legal document preparation, not a cash payment.

Eligibility is also extended in practice to people subject to a SACAT or court protection order, and to people for whom the Public Trustee is appointed as executor or trustee — but the core questionnaire test is holding an eligible concession card while living in South Australia.

How Much Can You Get?

The amount block is eligibility_only with period: none. The service produces no direct cash payment; the value is the free preparation of legal documents that are normally charged for.

• A free Will drafted by the Public Trustee.
• A free Enduring Power of Attorney, letting you nominate who can make financial decisions if you cannot.
• Avoided private fees — these documents typically attract a charge when prepared by a solicitor or private trustee.

Eligibility Conditions

The eligibility block is an all set, so every condition below must pass.

1. You live in South Australia: state = SA. The service is run by the Public Trustee South Australia.
2. You hold an eligible concession card: concession_card_type in [pensioner_concession_card, health_care_card, low_income_health_care_card, commonwealth_seniors_health_card, dva_gold_card] — any one of these accepted cards qualifies you.

If you do not hold one of the listed cards, you may still be eligible if you are subject to a SACAT or court protection order, or if the Public Trustee is appointed as your executor or trustee — but you should confirm this directly with the Public Trustee.

Having a valid Will and Enduring Power of Attorney matters at any age: without them, decisions about your estate and your finances can fall to default legal processes rather than the people you would choose.

How To Apply

The channels are online and phone through the Public Trustee South Australia, with your concession card as evidence.

• Contact the Public Trustee online or by phone to start a Will or Enduring Power of Attorney.
• Have your eligible concession card ready as evidence of eligibility.
• Work through your wishes with the Public Trustee, who drafts and finalises the documents.

Read the official Public Trustee SA Will guidance

Rule-Based Scenarios

Scenario 1: pensioner updating an old Will

Beryl, an Age Pensioner in Adelaide, holds a Pensioner Concession Card and has an out-of-date Will. She contacts the Public Trustee and has a new Will and Enduring Power of Attorney prepared free of charge.

Scenario 2: Health Care Card holder making a first Will

Daniel, who holds a Health Care Card, has never made a Will. Because he is an eligible card holder in SA, the Public Trustee drafts both his Will and an Enduring Power of Attorney without a fee.

Scenario 3: Seniors Health Card holder planning ahead

Margaret, who holds a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, wants to make sure her daughter can manage her finances if her health declines. The free Enduring Power of Attorney lets her nominate her daughter formally.

Scenario 4: no eligible card

Tom does not hold any of the listed cards and is not under a protection order, so he does not qualify for the free service through the card test. He weighs up paying the Public Trustee or a private solicitor for the documents.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming it is a cash benefit: this is eligibility_only — it provides free document preparation, not money.
• Thinking only the Will is covered: the service covers both a Will and an Enduring Power of Attorney.
• Believing you need to pay first: for eligible card holders the drafting is free; you should not be charged the usual fee.
• Not bringing your concession card: your eligible concession card is the evidence of eligibility, so have it ready.
• Assuming you are too young or have too little to need a Will: an Enduring Power of Attorney and a Will protect your wishes regardless of age or estate size.
• Overlooking protection-order eligibility: people under a SACAT or court protection order, or where the Public Trustee is executor or trustee, may also qualify even without a listed card.

Related Benefits

• SA No Interest Loan Scheme — up to $2,000 interest-free for low-income households.
• SA Seniors Card — concessions and discounts for older South Australians.
• SA Cost of Living Concession — an annual payment for low-income households.
• SA Public Dental — subsidised dental care for concession card holders.
• Age Pension — federal income support for older Australians.
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card — federal concessions for self-funded retirees.

Frequently Asked Questions