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Estate Planning and Wills

estate planning and wills

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The foundation of an Estate Plan is your last Will and Testament

Estate planning is the way that you anticipate and arrange for your estate to be passed onto your beneficiaries in the most financially efficient and tax effective.

A staggering 50% of Australians die without an Estate Plan in place!

Estate planning can be combined with savings, investment, retirement, and long-term care planning, as well as trusts, to form an all-inclusive tax-saving financial plan for the preservation of your assets; the protection and continued operation of your business; the support and care of your minor children upon you and your spouse’s death; and much more.

This area of law is a specialised area, within the field of Wills and Estates and whilst many lawyers include this field within their practice, Estate Planning it is very much a case of buyer beware! If you have your estate structured by a lawyer who specialises in this field, it could prevent heartache later down the track, with Will disputes and the tax complications.

For the past 20 years, Heckenberg Lawyers has been acting for clients wanting to establish an Estate Plan and they specialise in this area of practice.

If someone receives a Life Estate under a Will it means that they have the right to possession and enjoyment of property, including income from property, for the duration of their life. A Life Estate is usually created to allow a person to live in a property until their death at which time the property will vest in a person or class of persons named in the Will (called the “remainderman”).

There are many positives to the creation of a Life Estate under a Will. In a time of complex family arrangements a life estate can be used to ensure that the property of the deceased goes to children from a previous marriage whilst also allowing their current spouse the benefit of the property and income derived from the property. For example Ted had three children from his first marriage. When he and Mary got married they decided to sell Mary’s house and live in Ted’s house. Mary kept the proceeds of the sale from her house and made several gifts to family and friends. Ted and Mary agreed that if Ted died first Mary would have the right to reside in the house until her death and after her death the proceeds of sale of the house would be divided equally between Ted’s three children.

There are also negatives involved in the creation of a Life Estate. Going back to Ted and Mary above difficulties may arise if the relationship between Mary and Ted’s children is not amicable. In effect, Ted’s children will have no ability to deal with the property until Mary’s death unless an agreement is reached between themselves to sell the property to a third party.

Of more importance is that the creation of a Life Estate for a spouse may give rise to an application by the spouse for a family provision order on the basis that the Life Estate is an inadequate provision for their proper maintenance and support.

If you are interested in the creation of a Life Estate it is important that you talk to a legal specialist in Wills and Estates about the positives and the negatives of Life Estates. Our expert Wills and Estate Lawyers have advised numerous clients on the advantages and disadvantages of Life Estates including an honest appraisal of whether a Life Estate was appropriate in the client’s circumstances.

You work hard to build up and maintain your assets. It makes sense to take the same sort of care in making sure that your loved ones get the benefit of them when you are gone. But if you don’t have a will, your property will be divided up according to a set formula, whether you like it or not. And if you don’t have any next of kin when you die, your property will go to the State.

Learn more here.

A Power of Attorney, is similar to that of a Will. It is a legal document whereby someone is appointed and has the authority to act on your behalf for property matters and financial agreements. The person you appoint as your Power of Attorney, cannot make decisions on your health or wellbeing, these are covered by a separate document, and the person appointed is known as Enduring Guardian.

Learn more here.

The main benefits of Testamentary Trusts are their ability to protect assets and to reduce tax paid by beneficiaries from income earned from the inheritance and created by a Will. It helps provide a greater level of control over the assets of the Will.

Learn more here.

Specialist Wills for Succession Planning? Do you need one? If you are in the process of having your Will drafted you might be wondering if there are Specialist types of Wills that would suit your circumstances and meet your needs by ensuring that your assets are passed on to your beneficiaries in way you desire.

Learn more here.

Related Pages

Mary Wyrley
Mary Wyrley
5-Star Google Review
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Graeme, Michael and the counsel they chose have been incredible. My family will dispute has been incredibly difficult and very acrimonious. Heckenberg have been helpful, supportive and always gave me realistic, honest advice about all possible outcomes. The outcome has been fantastic and I get to keep my home. Thank you
Jane Araneda
Jane Araneda
5-Star Google Review
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Thanks to Graeme, Blaise and their team at Heckenberg Lawyers for helping us finalise our matter in a timely manner. They were always very helpful and professional. They took care of everything very well, which meant that there was no added stress on me and my family. Jane A.
Kim Pink
Kim Pink
5-Star Google Review
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I found Heckenberg Lawyers to be very professional and knowledgeable. Graeme took the time and explained the entire process to me. He was never pushy nor was he just after "his cut" as so many other practices are. He was at all times looking out for the best interest of the estate and not wanting it to be eaten. I found his staff to be extremely thorough and attentive. I would have no hesitations to recommend this practice if you want the best outcome possible.
Donna Hodges
Donna Hodges
5-Star Google Review
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Blaise was extremely professional in assisting with all matters to do with my fathers estate and probate. She made an extremely complex process very easy to understand and instilled great confidence at a difficult personal time for our family.
Sonja Psaroudis
Sonja Psaroudis
5-Star Google Review
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If you need legal representation in a matter to do with Wills & Estate law I highly recommend Graeme, Blaise and the whole team at Heckenberg. Their knowledge and expertise in this area of the law was a huge comfort at a very difficult time, saving all parties involved time and money in the long run. Thanks again .!
Olma Mignacca
Olma Mignacca
5-Star Google Review
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Graeme is trustworthy and thorough. His charges were reasonable and easily understood. The team was considerate and helpful.
Samuel Burns
Samuel Burns
5-Star Google Review
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As the executor of an estate, I engaged Graeme and his team to handle a family provision claim and probate matter. I found Graeme to be professional and knowledgeable. Throughout the entire process, Graeme treated all parties involved with respect. He was always willing to take my concerns onboard and never pushy. Highly recommended.
Helen
Helen
5-Star Google Review
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Let me take this opportunity to thank you both for your professionalism, assistance and patience in this matter. Helen
Elaine Ivan
Elaine Ivan
5-Star Google Review
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Graeme, Thank you to you and your staff for taking on my case in regards to the estate of my dad Walter Etchells against my brother Robert Etchells. I am happy with the outcome as the amount is a lot more and fairer than Robert wanted. Thanks again for all the work you all put into this and for me receiving the settlement amount sooner than I thought I would. Regards Elaine Ivan
Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson
5-Star Google Review
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I am a UK Resident. My wife passed away after suffering a debilitating illness in 2022.Part of her estate was located in Australia NSW. To redeem it I had to obtain a Seal of Probate in the UK and a Reseal of Probate in Australia. I engaged Graham Heckenberg and his team to guide me through the process, explaining fees and steps necessary. On gaining the Reseal of Probate of my wife's estate they also enabled the transfer of the estate to myself. I would like to thank and recommend Graham and his team for their professionalism and efficiency in fulfilling my instructions
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