Let’s be honest — your lovingly polished antique sideboard? Your kids are mentally loading it into the trailer for a tip run. That crystal decanter set from Nana? They’re wondering if Vinnies will even take it. And your commemorative cricket ball collection? Sorry, Dad — no one’s fighting over it.
Here’s the straight-up truth most Aussies don’t talk about when it comes to estate planning: your family probably doesn’t want your stuff.
We’re not just talking about the obvious no-hopers like souvenir teaspoons or the Elvis clock that warbles at midnight. We mean the “cherished family pieces” that meant the world to you, but to your kids — raised in an IKEA-meets-Kmart, minimal-clutter world — they’re just more things to deal with during a hard time.
A Cultural Shift in “Stuff”
Australia’s homes have gotten smaller, our lifestyles more mobile, and our tastes less… let’s say… “ornamental.” Where once you’d fill a home with gifts from generations past, today’s heirs often live in flats, not federation homes. And let’s not get started on the storage costs.
So what happens to all the family heirlooms nobody wants?
Give Clear Instructions — Not Guilt
The best thing you can do? Put your wishes in writing. A good Will in Australia will usually include a clause allowing your executors to distribute your personal items — jewellery, keepsakes, collectables, even footy jerseys — based on a separate list you create. It’s called a Statement of Wishes.
Why is that helpful? You can change this list anytime without updating the entire Will. And you save your loved ones from the awful job of guessing which grandkid wanted the wedding photo album or whether Uncle Steve really did want Dad’s R.M. Williams boots.
Without a list, your executors will need to use their best judgement (and hopefully some family diplomacy) to divvy up your possessions. A simple list can spare a lot of tension and late-night group chats.
Don’t Burden Your Legacy
The takeaway is simple: buy what makes you happy, not what you think someone else might treasure one day. Enjoy your life and your things while you can. If you want to leave a meaningful legacy, think cash, superannuation, or even a donation to a cause you care about — not that crocheted rug your great-aunt made in 1947.
Let’s Plan Wisely
If you’re ready to get real about what happens to your belongings when you’re gone — the treasures and the trash — we’re here to help you write a Will that actually works for your family.
📞 Book an appointment with us today and take the weight of uncertainty off your shoulders — and off your kids’ trailer.