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Wills & estate planning
For generations, our solicitors have helped Coast families record exactly what should happen to the things they worked for. A properly drafted will is one of the simplest, most valuable documents you will ever sign - and one of the easiest to get quietly right.
No consultation fee for wills & estates. Enquiring is free.
Key facts
- Without a valid will, your estate is distributed under the intestacy formula in the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) - not necessarily as you would have chosen.
- Superannuation and life insurance usually sit outside your will unless your nominations direct them to the estate.
- We prepare wills together with enduring powers of attorney and appointments of enduring guardian, and hold original wills in safe custody.
Wills that hold up
A valid NSW will must meet strict formal requirements. We make sure yours does - whether that is a straightforward will or one using testamentary discretionary trusts for tax, family-protection or vulnerable-beneficiary reasons. We recommend reviewing your will after any major life event: marriage, separation, a new child, a new home or business.
Safe custody, at no charge
As a free service to clients, we hold original wills and appointment documents in our purpose-built safe custody room, so they are exactly where your family needs them, when they need them.
Also see: Enduring power of attorney & guardianship · Probate - the complete guide
How we can help
- Simple and complex wills, including testamentary discretionary trusts
- Estate planning across generations, businesses and blended families
- Advice on superannuation and life insurance nominations
- Updating wills after marriage, separation or new children
- Free safe custody of your original documents
Common questions
How much does a will cost in NSW?
It depends on how complex your affairs are - a straightforward will costs less than one involving trusts, businesses or blended families. We explain the cost up front before any work starts, so there are no surprises. There is no initial consultation fee for wills and estate planning - ask us and we will tell you exactly what yours would involve.
What is the catch with a free or DIY will kit?
DIY kits often fail on the details that matter - unclear wording, wrong witnessing, assets that cannot actually be gifted the way the kit assumes. Those mistakes usually surface after you are gone, when your family has to sort them out. A professionally drafted will costs a little more now and can save your family a great deal later.
What is a common mistake people make with their will?
Not updating it. Marriage, separation, divorce, new children and new property can all change what your will should say - and in some cases can revoke parts of it. We recommend reviewing your will after any major life event.
What happens if I die without a will (intestacy)?
Your estate is distributed according to a legal formula - not necessarily how you would have chosen. The formula sets out an order (spouse, children, parents and so on), and applying it can be slower and more stressful for your family than administering a clear will.
Are life insurance and superannuation included in my estate?
Not automatically. Superannuation and life insurance benefits are dealt with outside your will unless steps are taken. It is worth knowing whether you have made a binding death nomination with your fund, whether it lapses, and who you have nominated - we walk through this as part of estate planning.
This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different - for advice on your matter, request an initial consultation. Enquiring is free, and there is no initial consultation fee for wills & estates matters.
Request your initial consultation.
Sit down with a solicitor, tell your story, and leave knowing where you stand. Enquiring is free, there is no consultation fee for wills, conveyancing, powers of attorney, deceased estates or contested estates, and for other matters an initial consultation is $275 - full costs explained before any work begins.