Wills & Estates

Planning for the future is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. We’re here to guide you through the process with compassion and expertise. We understand that every family is unique and can provide personalised guidance in will-making and estate administration. We will explain complex legal terms in plain language to ensure you are supported and appropriately informed in your decision-making.

Why a Valid Will Matters

A Will is more than just a legal document; it’s a clear expression of how you want your property dealt with after you die. Without a valid Will, your assets may not be distributed as you intend, potentially causing unnecessary stress and complications for your family.

As your life changes, you may need to review your Will to consider new circumstances. Significant events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, substantial increases in assets, and declining health are reasons to review your Will to ensure it still meets your objectives and testamentary intentions.

Wills must comply with specific legal requirements to be valid, and a one-size-fits-all approach is seldom appropriate when planning your future. We’ll help you create a legally binding Will that is tailored to your specific circumstances. We will assess your family dynamics and, if necessary, implement proactive measures to help minimise potential disputes within your family after you die.

Powers of Attorney: Planning for the Unexpected

A power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust (your attorney) to act on your behalf regarding specified matters if you are unable to. For example, your attorney can act for you while you are overseas, suffer poor health, or reach an age when you need more assistance managing your affairs. An attorney may be authorised to operate your bank accounts and even enter legal contracts on your behalf. If you become legally incapacitated, an enduring power of attorney enables your attorney to make certain decisions on your behalf.

Knowing you have an attorney in place when you need it can give you peace of mind, but granting a power of attorney requires careful consideration. After understanding the various options for structuring your power of attorney, you’ll be able to instruct us to prepare documents that suit your needs.

When Someone Dies: Guiding You Through the Process

After a person dies, someone needs to look after their property and finalise their financial and legal affairs. If the person dies and leaves a valid Will that appoints an executor, that person will be responsible for:

• making funeral arrangements
• identifying and protecting assets
• applying for a grant of probate, if required
• contacting the deceased’s account providers and government authorities
• claiming funds under superannuation and life policies
• distributing assets and transferring property to beneficiaries

Dealing with a deceased estate can be overwhelming. We can handle the legal complexities of probate and estate administration and guide you through the process of finalising your loved one’s affairs.

Probate and Letters of Administration

A grant of probate ‘proves’ the Will of the deceased person and authorises the executor to deal with the estate assets and distribute them according to the provisions of the Will. In some circumstances, a grant of probate may not be required before administering an estate, and we can advise you about this.

If a person dies without leaving a valid Will, an interested person (typically a beneficiary and/or next of kin) will usually need to apply to the Supreme Court for letters of administration. This is similar to a grant of probate and authorises the administrator to deal with the estate.

If you need assistance, call 02 9130 6661 or email and