WILLS & ESTATE PLANNING

Wills Lawyers Wangaratta

A clear will and a proper plan for the people you love, drafted by local solicitors in Wangaratta who understand North East families, farms and family businesses.

Why a properly drafted will matters

A will is the one document that speaks for you when you no longer can. A valid, up-to-date will made by a solicitor sets out clearly who receives what, appoints the right executor, and heads off the confusion and conflict that a home-made or out-of-date will so often causes. Most of the estate disputes we see begin with a will kit or an online template that did not do what the person thought it did. For families in Wangaratta and across the North East, getting the will right is the kindest and cheapest thing you can do for the people you leave behind.

What we prepare

Wills. Simple and complex wills, drafted to reflect your wishes and to account for the assets that do and do not pass under a will, such as superannuation, life insurance and jointly owned property.
Enduring powers of attorney. Appointing someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs if you lose capacity, so your family avoids a costly VCAT application later.
Medical treatment decision makers and advance care directives. Putting your health decisions in trusted hands and on the record.
Testamentary trusts. Trusts created by your will to protect assets for children, provide for a beneficiary with a disability, guard against a beneficiary's relationship breakdown or bankruptcy, and deliver tax advantages for minor beneficiaries.

Rural and family-business succession

North East Victoria runs on farms and family enterprises, and passing one on is rarely as simple as a gift in a will. A farm or a business is a livelihood and a legacy, often tied up in trusts, companies and land that has been in the family for generations. We plan estates where the assets are spread across properties, entities and family members, working through the succession, tax and fairness questions so the enterprise survives the handover and the family stays intact. This is core work for us, not the exception.

When to review your will

A will made years ago may no longer do what you think it does. In Victoria, marriage generally revokes a will and divorce affects gifts to a former spouse, so major life events are the moments to check. We recommend a review every few years, and after any marriage, separation, new child or grandchild, death of a beneficiary or executor, or significant change in your assets.

Local, and here when it counts

You deal with the same solicitor from the first conversation to the signing, at whichever of our Wangaratta, Wodonga or Myrtleford offices suits you. And when the time comes to administer an estate, we are the same firm your family can turn to for grant of probate and estate administration.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Every 3 to 5 years, or after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child. Regular reviews ensure your will still reflects your wishes.

Probate is the legal process of proving a will is valid. It grants the executor authority to administer the estate. We handle the entire probate application process.

Yes, eligible persons can make a family provision claim if they believe the will does not adequately provide for them. We advise both claimants and executors in contested matters.

You are said to die "intestate" - your estate is distributed according to a legal formula rather than your wishes. This can lead to unintended outcomes for your family and lengthy delays in administration.

Yes. While you are alive, you are under no obligation to disclose the contents of your will to anyone. After your death, only the executor and beneficiaries with a legitimate interest typically see the will.

Next step

To make or update your will with a local Wangaratta solicitor, see our broader wills, probate and estates services, meet our team, or contact us to arrange a time.