Electronic wills are examples of informal wills.
An informal will is one that does not comply with the formalities of a conventional will. A conventional will is written on paper, signed by the maker of the will and signed by 2 witnesses. An informal will departs in some way from these formal requirements. In the case of electronic wills, there is usually no paper, no signature by the maker and no signature by witnesses.
Since 2006, the Queensland Supreme Court (along with the Supreme Courts in other Australian States and Territories) has had the power to declare as valid, a document where it is established to the satisfaction of a Judge that whatever is in existence is intended to be a will, even though it is not in paper form nor signed or witnessed (in other words, an informal will of which an electronic will is an increasingly common example).
Conventional wills can be admitted to probate by the Registrar. In 2026, a realistic cost (legal fee and out of pocket disbursements) for probate granted by a Registrar is about $4,000 plus GST on some components.
However, an informal will cannot be admitted to probate other than by the order of a Judge. Electronic wills include those which are generated electronically on a computer, iPhone or similar device, for example by way of text message, video etc.
Because the matter must go before a Judge, realistic legal fees in Queensland in 2026 would start about $20,000. This expense comes out of the estate. If there are multiple parties (for example, persons who on proper grounds oppose an order declaring an informal will to be valid) who take an active part in the hearing, then that figure can potentially multiply.
Electronic creation of a document such as a will has short term convenience during lifetime at the cost of a very significant expense burden for the estate after death.