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Public Trustees

Australian State and territory public trustees

Public trustees are government agencies established in each state and territory.  There were established for the purpose of providing services to the public on end of life matters.  For example on:

  • wills and will-making;
  • acting as executors and trustees.  Either by appointment by will when using their will-making services.  Or as executor or administrator of last resort in other situations when there is no one else. 
  • obtaining probate and managing deceased estates;
  • managing trust funds;
  • acting as attorney when appointed under a power of attorney;
  • guardianship (where that function is part of their responsibilities);
  • storage of wills in some jurisdictions.

Due care and research should be undertaken to understand what is involved before accessing and signing up to these services. 

Below is a table of the public trustees by state and territory. 

Jurisdiction Public trustee
New South Wales

New South Wales Trustee and Guardian: https://www.tag.nsw.gov.au/

It is part of the New South Wales Government Department of Justice: https://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/

Victoria State Trustees of Victoria: https://www.statetrustees.com.au/
South Australia South Australian Public Trustee is at https://publictrustee.sa.gov.au/
Queensland The Public Trustee of Queensland: https://www.pt.qld.gov.au/
Western Australia Public Trustee of Western Australia: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/public-trustee
Tasmania The Public Trustee of Tasmania is at https://www.publictrustee.tas.gov.au/
Northern Territory The public trustee is called the Office of the Public Trustee for the Northern Territory.  See About the Public Trustee at https://nt.gov.au/law/processes/about-public-trustee.
It is part of the Northern Territory Government, https://nt.gov.au/.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

The Public Trustee and Guardian (PTG): https://www.ptg.act.gov.au/

It provides trustee, guardianship and administration services to residents of the ACT.

 

B Stead
BHS Legal
Updated July 2023

 

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