{"id":16929,"date":"2026-10-18T17:01:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T06:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/superannuation-and-your-will\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T17:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T06:01:35","slug":"superannuation-and-your-will","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/","title":{"rendered":"Superannuation and Your Will: Who Receives Your Super When You Die?"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.ct-page{max-width:880px;margin:0 auto;padding:32px 20px 48px;font-size:17px;line-height:1.85}.ct-page h2{margin-top:1.6em}.ct-page h3{margin-top:1.2em}.ct-page ul,.ct-page ol{padding-left:1.4em}.ct-page li{margin:.3em 0}.ct-answer{background:#fff;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-left:4px solid #C9A26B;border-radius:6px;padding:16px 20px;margin:8px 0 24px}.ct-answer strong:first-child{display:block;font-size:.85em;letter-spacing:.04em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8a6a3b;margin-bottom:4px}.ct-cta{background:#f4f1ea;border-left:4px solid #C9A26B;padding:16px 20px;margin:28px 0}.ct-related{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr));gap:10px;list-style:none;padding:0!important}.ct-related li{margin:0}.ct-related a{display:block;padding:12px 14px;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;height:100%}.ct-table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:12px 0}.ct-table th,.ct-table td{border:1px solid #e3ddd0;padding:10px 12px;text-align:left;vertical-align:top}.ct-table th{background:#f4f1ea}<\/style>\n<div class=\"ct-page\">\n<div class=\"ct-answer\"><strong>Short answer<\/strong>Superannuation is not automatically part of your estate, so your Will does not control it. The fund&#8217;s trustee pays your death benefit according to a valid <strong>binding death benefit nomination<\/strong> if you have one, otherwise at its discretion under the fund rules and super law. Checking your nominations is an essential part of any Will review.<\/div>\n\n<h2>Who can receive your super?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Your dependants<\/strong> under super law: your spouse or de facto partner, your children of any age, anyone financially dependent on you, and anyone in an interdependency relationship with you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Your estate<\/strong> (your &#8220;legal personal representative&#8221;), in which case it is paid under your Will.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A nomination in favour of someone outside these groups, such as a brother or sister, is not valid.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Types of nomination<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Binding nomination<\/strong>: the trustee must follow it if it is valid. Many lapse after three years unless renewed; some funds allow non-lapsing nominations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Non-binding nomination<\/strong>: a guide only; the trustee decides.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reversionary pension<\/strong>: an income stream continues to a nominated beneficiary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Self-managed super funds<\/strong>: what happens depends on the fund&#8217;s trust deed and who controls the fund after your death.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Tax on death benefits<\/h2>\n<p>Lump sums paid to a &#8220;tax dependant&#8221; (a spouse, a child under 18, a financial dependant or someone in an interdependency relationship) are generally tax-free. Adult children who are not financially dependent usually pay tax on the taxable component: up to 15% plus the Medicare levy, and more where the fund has an untaxed element. Paid through the estate, the Medicare levy does not apply, but the money then forms part of the estate and can be claimed by creditors or in a family provision claim.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Common problems we see<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Nominations that lapsed years ago.<\/li>\n<li>A nomination that contradicts the Will, especially in blended families.<\/li>\n<li>Insurance inside super that is worth more than the account balance and was never considered.<\/li>\n<li>Beneficiaries overseas who need help claiming and dealing with Australian tax.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We review your super nominations as part of every <a href=\"\/en\/estate-planning-victoria\/\">estate plan<\/a>, and act for families claiming death benefits.<\/p>\n\n<div id=\"ct-enquiry\" class=\"ct-eq\" data-no-translation>\r\n<style>.ct-eq{background:#f4f1ea;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:10px;padding:22px 24px;margin:32px 0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.6}.ct-eq h2,.ct-eq h3{margin:0 0 6px}.ct-eq p{margin:0 0 12px}.ct-eq form{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:12px}.ct-eq label{display:block;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px}.ct-eq input,.ct-eq select,.ct-eq textarea{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;border-radius:6px;font-size:16px;background:#fff}.ct-eq .full{grid-column:1\/-1}.ct-eq button{background:#8a6a3b;color:#fff;border:0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 22px;font-size:16px;cursor:pointer}.ct-eq .hp{position:absolute;left:-9999px}.ct-eq small{color:#5f5a50}.ct-eq .ok{background:#e7f3e8;border-left:4px solid #3c8d40;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .bad{background:#fbeaea;border-left:4px solid #b03a2e;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .ct-direct{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;margin-top:14px}.ct-eq .ct-direct a,.ct-eq .ct-direct button{background:#fff;color:#2b2b2b;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;padding:9px 14px;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;font-size:15px}@media(max-width:640px){.ct-eq form{grid-template-columns:1fr}}<\/style>\r\n<h3>Tell us about the estate<\/h3>\r\n<p>A short message is enough. We reply in English, Mandarin or Cantonese, and quote fees in writing before any work starts.<\/p>\r\n<form method=\"post\" action=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-admin\/admin-post.php\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"action\" value=\"ct_estate_enquiry\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_ts\" value=\"1792418106\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_lang\" value=\"en\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_page\" value=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/\">\r\n<div class=\"hp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><label>Website<input type=\"text\" name=\"ct_website\" tabindex=\"-1\" autocomplete=\"off\"><\/label><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_name\">Your name *<\/label><input id=\"ct_name\" name=\"ct_name\" required maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_email\">Email<\/label><input id=\"ct_email\" name=\"ct_email\" type=\"email\" maxlength=\"160\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_phone\">Phone, WeChat or WhatsApp<\/label><input id=\"ct_phone\" name=\"ct_phone\" maxlength=\"80\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_language\">Preferred language<\/label><select id=\"ct_language\" name=\"ct_language\"><option>English<\/option><option>Mandarin<\/option><option>Cantonese<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_type\">What do you need help with?<\/label><select id=\"ct_type\" name=\"ct_type\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is a Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is no Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and I am not sure if there is a Will<\/option><option>Making or updating a Will or estate plan<\/option><option>Executor or trustee question<\/option><option>A dispute about an estate<\/option><option>Other<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_state\">Where are the assets?<\/label><select id=\"ct_state\" name=\"ct_state\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Victoria<\/option><option>New South Wales<\/option><option>Queensland<\/option><option>Western Australia<\/option><option>South Australia<\/option><option>Tasmania<\/option><option>ACT<\/option><option>Northern Territory<\/option><option>More than one state<\/option><option>Overseas as well<\/option><option>Not sure<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_time\">Best time to contact you (optional)<\/label><input id=\"ct_time\" name=\"ct_time\" maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_msg\">Brief details (optional)<\/label><textarea id=\"ct_msg\" name=\"ct_msg\" rows=\"4\" maxlength=\"3000\"><\/textarea><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><button type=\"submit\">Send enquiry<\/button><br><small>We use your details only to respond to your enquiry. Sending this form does not create a lawyer\u2013client relationship. <a href=\"\/privacy-policy\/\">Privacy<\/a><\/small><\/div>\r\n<\/form>\r\n<div class=\"ct-direct\"><strong style=\"width:100%\">Or contact us directly<\/strong>\r\n<a href=\"tel:+61396023988\">Call +61 3 9602 3988<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"mailto:chuatan@tpg.com.au\">chuatan@tpg.com.au<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/61490369102\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp +61 490 369 102<\/a>\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"ct-wechat\" data-msg=\"WeChat ID copied\">WeChat: chuatan262<\/button>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\t\n<h2>Related guides<\/h2><ul class=\"ct-related\"><li><a href=\"\/en\/letters-of-administration-victoria\/\">Letters of administration (no Will)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/estate-planning-victoria\/\">Estate planning: Will, power of attorney, medical decisions<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/testamentary-trusts\/\">Testamentary trusts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/executor-disputes\/\">Executor problems and disputes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/what-to-do-when-someone-dies\/\">Checklist: the first 30 days after a death<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/do-i-need-probate\/\">Do I need probate? 2-minute check<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/professional-executor-trustee\/\">Professional executor &amp; trustee services<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/%E9%81%97%E5%98%B1%E4%B8%8E%E9%81%97%E4%BA%A7\/\">Wills &amp; estates fees<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<p><em>General information only, not legal advice. It is based on Victorian law unless stated otherwise; the rules in other states and territories differ. Your circumstances should be assessed individually.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short answerSuperannuation is not automatically part of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Superannuation and Your Will: Death Benefit Nominations | Chua Tan","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Your Will doesn't automatically control your super. How binding death benefit nominations work, who can receive super, and the tax on death benefits.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_wpcom_ai_launchpad_about_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_gallery_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_contact_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_events_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_video_page":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_portfolio_piece":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16929","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.2 (Yoast SEO v28.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Superannuation and Your Will: Death Benefit Nominations | Chua Tan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your Will doesn&#039;t automatically control your super. How binding death benefit nominations work, who can receive super, and the tax on death benefits.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Superannuation and Your Will: Who Receives Your Super When You Die?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Your Will doesn&#039;t automatically control your super. How binding death benefit nominations work, who can receive super, and the tax on death benefits.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Chua Tan Associates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/chuatanassociateslawyersmelbourne\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chua-tan-associates-lawyers-melbourne-team.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/superannuation-and-your-will\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/superannuation-and-your-will\\\/\",\"name\":\"Superannuation and Your Will: Death Benefit Nominations | Chua Tan\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-18T06:01:35+00:00\",\"description\":\"Your Will doesn't automatically control your super. How binding death benefit nominations work, who can receive super, and the tax on death benefits.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/superannuation-and-your-will\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/superannuation-and-your-will\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/superannuation-and-your-will\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Superannuation and Your Will: Who Receives Your Super When You Die?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/\",\"name\":\"Chua Tan Associates \u8521\u5e86\u4f1f\u5f8b\u5e08\u4e8b\u52a1\u6240\",\"description\":\"Lawyers, consultants and public notary service.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"Chua Tan Lawyers\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Chua Tan Lawyers, Public Notary and Consultant\",\"alternateName\":\"Chua Tan Lawyers\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/CHUA-TAN.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/CHUA-TAN.jpg\",\"width\":923,\"height\":923,\"caption\":\"Chua Tan Lawyers, Public Notary and Consultant\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chuatan.com.au\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/chuatanassociateslawyersmelbourne\",\"https:\\\/\\\/au.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/chua-tan-associates\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Superannuation and Your Will: Death Benefit Nominations | Chua Tan","description":"Your Will doesn't automatically control your super. How binding death benefit nominations work, who can receive super, and the tax on death benefits.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Superannuation and Your Will: Who Receives Your Super When You Die?","og_description":"Your Will doesn't automatically control your super. How binding death benefit nominations work, who can receive super, and the tax on death benefits.","og_url":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/","og_site_name":"Chua Tan Associates","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/chuatanassociateslawyersmelbourne","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/chua-tan-associates-lawyers-melbourne-team.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/superannuation-and-your-will\/","url":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/superannuation-and-your-will\/","name":"Superannuation and Your Will: Death Benefit Nominations | Chua Tan","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-10-18T06:01:35+00:00","description":"Your Will doesn't automatically control your super. How binding death benefit nominations work, who can receive super, and the tax on death benefits.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/superannuation-and-your-will\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/superannuation-and-your-will\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/superannuation-and-your-will\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Superannuation and Your Will: Who Receives Your Super When You Die?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/#website","url":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/","name":"Chua Tan Associates","description":"Lawyers and notary public services in Melbourne.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/#organization"},"alternateName":"Chua Tan Lawyers","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/#organization","name":"Chua Tan Associates \u2013 Lawyers &amp; Notary Public, Melbourne","alternateName":"Chua Tan Lawyers","url":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/CHUA-TAN.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/CHUA-TAN.jpg","width":923,"height":923,"caption":"Chua Tan Lawyers, Public Notary and Consultant"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/chuatanassociateslawyersmelbourne","https:\/\/au.linkedin.com\/company\/chua-tan-associates"]}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16929\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}