Wills & Estates.
Planning for the future and managing a loved one’s estate can be both legally complex and emotionally challenging. Effective estate planning and administration are essential to protecting beneficiaries, avoiding unnecessary disputes and preserving wealth.
We provide clear, practical advice at every stage — from preparing a will and succession plan, to administering deceased estates and resolving disputes. We can advise you in relation to:
Wills and succession planning
A valid and properly structured will is the cornerstone of effective succession planning. Under the Succession Act 1981 (Qld), strict legal requirements apply to the making, execution and interpretation of wills. Without a valid will, your estate may be distributed under Queensland’s intestacy laws, which may not reflect your wishes.
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We work closely with individuals, families, business owners and trustees to prepare tailored wills that clearly set out how assets are to be distributed, who will administer the estate, and how vulnerable beneficiaries will be protected.
Our advice also extends to testamentary trusts, agribusiness succession planning, general business succession planning, superannuation death benefit nominations, and estate planning strategies designed to consider taxation implications, reduce the risk of disputes, and preserve family wealth across generations.
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Planning for the future is not only about what happens after you pass away — it is also about protecting your wishes and interests during your lifetime. Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Directives allow you to appoint trusted decision-makers to act on your behalf if you lose capacity, ensuring your financial, personal and health matters continue to be managed according to your wishes.
Estate administration
Administering a deceased estate can be legally complex and emotionally challenging. The Succession Act 1981 (Qld) governs key aspects of estate administration, including the process for obtaining a grant of probate or letters of administration, the distribution of estate assets, and the time limits for claims against the estate.
We assist executors and administrators at every stage of the estate administration process, including applications for probate and letters of administration, asset collection and realisation, payment of debts and liabilities, estate accounting, and final distribution to beneficiaries. Our role is to ensure the estate is administered efficiently, and in accordance with the law, while protecting executors from personal liability.
Estate litigation
Disputes over estates can arise even in well-planned matters. We have extensive experience in estate litigation under the Succession Act 1981 (Qld), including family provision applications, disputes concerning the interpretation and validity of wills, and disputes among beneficiaries and third parties. These claims often involve allegations of inadequate provision, lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, or improper execution. We act for executors, beneficiaries and third parties in both defending and bringing estate claims, with a strategic and commercially focused approach.
