A Will is a legal document that formalises your wishes in relation to your assets and possessions. A Will appoints as person as an Executor(s), who is responsible for administering a deceased person’s estate, ensuring that any debts are paid, and distributing the remaining assets as detailed inthe Will to nominated beneficiaries.

It is important to obtain legal advice to ensure your wishes are well documented and executed in accordance with the guidelines for creating a Will. Easy to use will kits, available online or over the phone, might seem convenient but can easily become invalidated due to a failure to complete the legal requirements to make the Will effective. Our team will guide you through the process to ensure your wishes are protected and respected.

It is important to ensure that your Will is kept updated if anything significant changes such as getting married, divorced, having children or the purchase of a large asset. Our lawyers will undertake a review and update your Will, to ensure that the distribution of any assets you acquire in the future are safeguarded.

Wills can be contested on many grounds, including where the deceased person may have been under undue influence or lacked the mental capacity attime of creating Will. A person excluded from a Will, but entitled to a share inthe estate can also contest a Will. Our team can assist you through the legal process involved to contest a Will. Time limitation periods apply to contest a Will, So it is important tocontact our lawyers as soon as possible.

There are two types of applications you can make to the Supreme Court of NSW to execute or administer a deceased person’s estate:

• Grant of Probate: A legal document that authorises an executor(s) to manage and distribute a deceased person’s estate in accordance with their will.
• Grant of Letters of Administration: This applies where a deceased person did not have a Will. This a legal document authorising the administrator(s), who would commonly be the next of kin, to manage a deceased person’s estate in accordance with the law.