Free wills and will kits offered with funeral insurance

Written by Henry Smith · Reviewed by Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931) · Updated 2026-10-20 · Reviewed quarterly, when the underlying data is restated.

Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.

Some insurers advertise a free will kit with a policy, but we found only one such offer on the products reviewed for this page: Golden Insurance's Life Insurance, which is not guaranteed-acceptance funeral cover. Momentum Life offers 20% off a will at Public Trust, not a free one. A kit does not replace legal advice, and it should not decide which policy you buy.

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Funeral cover See your price Ages 40–75 · $3k–$30k Life cover See your price Ages 18–65 · $50k–$300k

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Funeral cover: Only accidental death is covered for the first 2 years. Total premiums can add up to more than the cover, and it may not meet the whole cost of a funeral.

Life cover: Conditions you already have aren't covered for the first 2 years (premiums refunded instead). Suicide isn't covered for the first 2 years, and a few conditions can be excluded permanently.

Insurer: Momentum Life Limited. Financial strength rating B (Fair) from AM Best, affirmed 11 February 2026; B ratings sit in AM Best's 'vulnerable' range. The rating scale is available for inspection at every Momentum Life office in New Zealand. What this means

Already have cover? Keep it. New cover won't pay for a condition you already have in its first 2 years.

Opens Momentum Life's online application; its guidance only covers eligibility. QuoteHub is a Momentum Life partner. Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver may receive a commission if you buy. General information, not advice.

A will kit is a template or guided form for writing a will yourself. A free will offered with insurance is a promotional extra: it comes with a policy, but it is not part of the insurance contract. The insurance pays a benefit when the insured person dies. The will says who looks after the estate and who inherits it. They do different jobs and one does not substitute for the other. In New Zealand a will is valid only if it follows the signing rules in the Wills Act 2007, whoever supplies the form. The practical question is whether the extra is worth anything to you and whether it influences the choice of policy. If you would take out the cover anyway, a free or discounted will is a small bonus. If the will is the reason you are buying, stop and compare the policy first.

What offers are there?

This is what we found, as at 20 October 2026. Offers change, so check the provider's page.

Provider	What is offered	What we could confirm
Golden Insurance (its life insurance policy)	"Receive a Free Will Kit when you take out a policy"	The page states no other conditions. Golden Insurance is not guaranteed acceptance: it asks health and lifestyle questions (Golden Insurance)
Momentum Life (for its customers)	20% off a Will and an Enduring Power of Attorney with Public Trust, using a code	A discount, not a free will. Momentum's FAQ says "As a customer of Momentum Life" and does not define "customer" or give full terms (Momentum Life: FAQs)
Guaranteed-acceptance funeral products from other insurers	Nothing found	We did not find a free will offer on the funeral insurance pages we reviewed

QuoteHub has a separate page on a free will; read its terms to see which cover it applies to. Public Trust's online wills start at $69 (as of 2 October 2025) across three price tiers (Public Trust: DIY will kits). Public Trust charges $68 for a signing appointment (Public Trust).

Does a DIY will protect your wishes?

It can. Public Trust says a DIY will "should be valid" if it is signed and witnessed correctly and the will owner is of sound mind, but that kits are "designed for simple situations, which isn't the case for most Kiwis" (Public Trust: DIY will kits). Its main warning is about clarity: an ambiguous will is easier to contest, and one that is very unclear or legally incorrect may work as if there were no will. Our making a will and will template guides go further.

Checklist: where DIY wills tend to fail

These come from the Wills Act 2007 (as at 28 October 2021) (New Zealand Legislation). This is general information, not legal drafting advice.

Age. The will-maker must be 18 or over, with narrow exceptions in sections 9 and 10.
Signing and witnesses (s11). In writing, signed by the will-maker (or by someone else at their direction and in their presence), with at least two witnesses present together when the will-maker signs or acknowledges the signature. Each witness signs in the will-maker's presence.
Gifts to witnesses (s13). A gift to a witness, or to their spouse or partner, is void unless an exception applies, such as two other unconnected witnesses. The executor may act as a witness (s12).
Changes (s15). The clear routes are a signed, witnessed change or note on the will, or a new will. An informal alteration invites doubt about what you meant.
Marriage and separation. Marriage or a civil union revokes an earlier will unless it was made in contemplation of it (s18). After a separation order, gifts to the former partner are void unless the will shows otherwise (s19).
An informal document. The High Court can validate a document that expresses testamentary intentions even if it does not meet the rules (s14), but that is a court application, not a plan.
No executor named, or one who cannot act. An administrator is then appointed through the court; see dying without a will.

Family situations add risk that a kit may not handle. The Family Protection Act 1955 lets spouses, partners, children, grandchildren, maintained stepchildren and in some cases parents apply if adequate provision was not made, within 12 months of the grant (Family Protection Act 1955). A surviving partner may also choose between the will and a division of relationship property within six months of the grant (Property (Relationships) Act 1976). If you are in a blended family, own a business or property, or want a trust, get advice.

A will is also a poor place to rely on for funeral wishes. Community Law says that "regardless of what instructions you leave in your will, your executor has the final say" on burial or cremation, with tikanga Māori considered (Community Law: Choosing an executor). Tell your executor and family what you want.

How do the costs compare?

A kit or online will costs a small fraction of what some estate work costs. The probate fee is $275 (updated 22 July 2026) (Ministry of Justice). One law firm lists a straightforward probate application from $2,500 plus the filing fee and letters of administration from $3,300 plus disbursements, with higher bands for complex estates (PK Law pricing, undated, retrieved 20 October 2026). The same firm lists a simple will from $750 for one person, excluding GST. A clear will may make administration simpler, but we found no source that puts a figure on the saving, and a free will does not change these costs if the estate is complicated.

Should you choose a policy because of a promotional offer?

No. A free will is the lightest part of the decision. Judge the funeral cover on:

The first 24 months. For Momentum's Funeral Insurance, only accidental death within 90 days of the accident pays in that time; any other death refunds all premiums for that person. See waiting periods.
Premiums. They are fixed each year to the 89th birthday for Momentum but can change for everyone on the plan on 30 days' notice, and total premiums can exceed the benefit, which may not cover the whole funeral. This is not a savings plan. See the cost guide.
Who can apply. Momentum's Funeral Insurance accepts New Zealanders aged 40 to 75 with no health questions; benefits are $3,000 to $30,000.
Whether you need the policy at all. Our page on whether funeral insurance is worth it sets out the alternatives.

If you also need a will, price it separately, and compare what you get. Do not let the promotion set the cover amount.

Where to get advice

Compared: promotional will offers from the providers named above, as at 20 October 2026, from their own pages. Not every insurer is included. This is one adviser's reading, not a score. The buttons on this page open Momentum Life's online application. Momentum Life Limited has a financial strength rating of B (Fair) from A.M. Best, affirmed 11 February 2026; B sits in A.M. Best's "vulnerable" range on Momentum's own table, and the rating is not a recommendation (financial strength). QuoteHub is a Momentum Life partner and Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver may receive a commission if you buy a Momentum policy; see how we are paid. Advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). For a will, speak to a lawyer or Public Trust. Back to the funeral insurance hub or Momentum Funeral Cover.