Wills and Estates Services
We are here for you when it comes to Wills and Estate Administration. We offer experienced services with Wills and other documents, Administration, Will Disputes/Litigation and Enduring Powers of Attorney and Impairment.
Obtaining Grants For The Supreme Court
- Applications for Grants of Probate with the Will
- Applications for Grants of Letters of Administration with the Will
- Applications for Grants of Letters of Administration on Intestacy (i.e without a will)
- Applications for the recognition of informal wills as valid Wills
Administration of Deceased Estates
- Collecting assets including:
• Money held at bank accounts, credit unions etc;
• Superannuation proceeds;
• Shares and equities;
• Life insurance proceeds;
• Unpaid wages;
• Bonds held by nursing homes or retirement villages;
• Compensation; and
• Transferring real estate into the name of the administrator/executor. - Selling assets including:
• Arranging valuations;
• Household furniture;
• Motor vehicles;
• Shares; and
• Real estate. - Payment of debts including:
• Advertising for creditors;
• Assessing whether debts are properly due and payable;
• Loans;
• Refunding overpaid pensions;
Preparation and lodgement of tax returns. Providing legal advice
- Preparation of estate accounts for the executors and beneficiaries
- Distribution of the estate in accordance with the Will or rules of intestacy including:
• Holding assets pursuant to the terms of any trust under the Will (e.g for minors or
people with disabilities);
• Transferring real estate to beneficiaries; and
• Transferring shares to beneficiaries.
Real Estate Transactions in Deceased Estates
- Conveyancing
- Deeds of Family Arrangement
- Requests to Record Death – to record death of a joint tenant on title
- Transmission Applications – to transfer the deceased’s interests on title to the
administrator/executor or beneficiary
Estate Litigation
- Defending estates in family provision applications
- Representing beneficiaries in family provision applications
- Bringing family provision applications against estates on behalf of disappointed beneficiaries or family members
- Challenging the validity of Wills
- Applications concerning the construction of Wills
- Recovering money owing to estates (e.g loans, compensation etc)
- Proceedings in relation to wrongful death
- Citation proceedings to remove executors from office
Representing Beneficiaries
- General representation of beneficiaries to protect their interests in estates
Making Wills, Enduring Power of Attorney etc.
- Drafting Wills including testamentary trusts and protective trusts
- Drafting Enduring Powers of Attorney for financial matters and personal matters
- Drafting Advance Health Directives
- Drafting family trusts and unit trusts
- Applications to QCAT for the appointment of administrators or guardians