Estate asset register: how to list what the estate owns
An asset register is a list of everything the person owned or was entitled to at the date of death. It is the starting point for most estate work, including a court application for a grant if one is needed.
What to list
- Bank accounts and term deposits: the institution, account type, last four digits, and the balance at the date of death.
- Real estate: the address and how it was owned. The Supreme Court of Western Australia notes that jointly held property, such as a joint tenancy, may pass differently from property held in the person’s sole name. Ask your solicitor how each asset was held.
- Shares and managed funds: the company or fund, the number of units and the registry.
- Superannuation and insurance: list them, but note that these are often paid under their own rules and not through the will. Ask each fund what applies.
- Vehicles: make, model and registration number.
- Personal items: note valuable items such as jewellery, art, collections and tools.
- Money owed to the person, such as a refund, a loan or unpaid wages.
- Digital assets: online accounts with value, domain names, loyalty points and cryptocurrency, noting how access works.
What to record for each
| Column | Why |
|---|---|
| Description and identifier | So anyone can find it |
| Held in whose name | Solely, or jointly with someone |
| Value at date of death | Starting position |
| Source and date of the value | A statement, a valuation or an estimate |
| Status | Not yet contacted, in progress, transferred, sold, distributed |
| Where the paperwork is | Statement, certificate, valuation |
Court applications
When applying for probate, the courts ask for details of assets and liabilities. The Supreme Court of Western Australia lists the information needed: for example, the street address of any land, share details from the register, and the bank, branch and balance of accounts. Having your register tidy before you start makes the form much easier.
Keep estimates honest
Mark each value as estimate or confirmed. Update the register when a valuation or final balance arrives rather than overwriting the original, so you can show how a figure changed.
A 20-tab Google Sheets / Excel workbook for tracking the estate: tasks, notifications, assets, debts, expenses, time, decisions, distributions and a printable summary.