Depending on the complexity of your affairs, an estate plan may encompass:

  • Appointing an Executor of the Will;
  • Determining whether a Power of Attorney is required, and who should be appointed in that role;
  • Establishing a Testamentary Trust.

An effective Will should be designed according to your personal and financial circumstances and also take into account non-estate assets such as superannuation death benefits.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T HAVE A WILL?

If you die without a Will, therefore without an Executor, the court will appoint an administrator. It can take months for this process to be completed, and there is no guarantee that your dependants will receive what you may have intended.

 

WHEN SHOULD I REVIEW MY WILL?

Your Will should reflect your current circumstances and intentions. The following factors should be used as a prompt to determine when your Will may need reviewing:

  • Marriage, separation or divorce, or entering into a new relationship.
  • Birth or death of children, grandchildren or other close relatives, or other changes in your family circumstances.
  • Significant changes to the value of your assets.
  • Substantial changes to the manner in which you own assets, including the formation of a family trust or the establishment of a self managed superannuation fund.
  • If you enter into a new business or change your existing business structure.
  • Changes in your residency status or of any of your intended beneficiaries.
  • Retirement from full-time employment.

An estate plan is something we recommend for all our families and is especially important for those families with complex circumstances, such as those involving second marriages or loved ones with special needs. Contact us to book an initial consultation.

 

"I started with Lynette personally in 2004, after my husband died. However, my husband first started with Lynette about 10 years before that, to help him prepare for retirement. So I've worked with her a long time now. My husband and Lynette would spend hours talking about things. She even went to visit him in the hospice. She really helped him a lot. Lynette is just that type of person who will go the extra mile. I'm not a business person, but Lynette puts things in terms I can understand. She's easy to talk to and explains things in a simple way when necessary. I rely on her to look after my affairs now, and I am comfortable doing that. She even looks after my daughter's finances now too!”

- Karen Vellnagel

 

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