The ACT’s wills register has been expanded to include wills previously held by the ACT Supreme Court, making it easier for families to locate important documents after a person’s death.

The change follows amendments to the Wills Act 1968, which transferred responsibility for holding the documents to the Public Trustee and Guardian.

The transfer was formally marked this week when ACT Supreme Court registrar Jayne Reece handed over the wills to ACT Public Trustee and Guardian Robyn Hakelis.

Ms Hakelis said consolidating the documents into a single register would make it easier for families to locate wills and reduce delays in administering estates.

The Public Trustee and Guardian is also in discussions with Legal Aid ACT about the possible future transfer of its historic wills collection.

The register currently includes wills prepared or held by the Public Trustee and Guardian, along with those transferred from the Supreme Court. It does not include wills held by private law firms or other organisations unless they are formally lodged with the agency.