What is an Advance Care Directive?

An Enduring Power of Attorney deals with property and financial matters, but what about your health and lifestyle wishes?

This is where an Advance Care Directive comes in.

What is an Enduring Power of Attorney?

An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) is a legal document that allows you to choose someone you trust (your attorney) to manage your financial and legal affairs on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself.

Does my family trust need its own Power of Attorney?

If your trust has a corporate trustee, a separate Power of Attorney for the trustee can help keep things running if the directors are unable to act due to illness, loss of capacity, death or extended absence.

How do I choose a testamentary guardian for my children?

A testamentary guardian is the person you appoint in your Will to care for your minor children if you pass away. They step into your role in making important long-term decisions about your children’s upbringing, welfare, education and overall care.

Should I use a Testamentary Trust?

In mid-June 2026, the Government confirmed that testamentary discretionary trusts will be excluded from the proposed 30% minimum distribution tax on trusts. This is welcome news for families wanting to preserve wealth and provide long-term security for future generations.

I’ve changed my mind! Is my Will still binding?

If you want to replace or stop the operation of an existing Will, thinking about it isn’t enough – you need to take proper legal steps to ensure the existing Will is revoked. If you don’t take these steps, there is a real risk that the old Will remains valid and binding, even if it…

When should you update your choice of executor?

Over time, circumstances change. The person you appointed years ago may no longer be the best fit due to relocation, health, financial complexity or changes in your relationships. That’s why regularly reviewing your choice of executor is essential to keeping your estate plan effective and aligned with your wishes.

What happens to your family trust when you die or lose capacity?

Family trust assets are usually not dealt with under a Will. So what happens when a person who controls a trust dies or loses capacity?

Does my company need a Power of Attorney?

Making your Will and Enduring Power of Attorney is an important step towards getting your estate planning sorted, but if you have one or more companies that you control, you may also need to consider a power of attorney for those companies.

Do I really need a Will?

If you don’t have a Will, someone else decides who gets your money, who handles your estate and who looks after your kids. It might not be what you would have wanted.

The value of a Letter of Wishes for guardians raising your kids

No one knows your children the way you do, or cares more about the life they’ll grow into. If something happened to you, would your children’s guardian know how you’d want them to be raised and cared for?

Do godparents automatically become guardians?

While godparents may play an important role in a child’s life, they don’t have any legal authority unless they’re formally appointed as testamentary guardians in a will or by a court.

Is a Post Office or Online DIY Will ok?

We know what you’re thinking: “You’re lawyers – of course you’re going to say that I should see a lawyer to prepare my Will”. You’re right. We think you should see a lawyer to prepare your Will.

Does everything automatically go to my spouse when I die?

It is a common assumption in estate planning that a spouse will automatically inherit everything. However, that is not always how the law operates.

What is a testamentary guardian?

A testamentary guardian is the person who you appoint in your Will to look after your minor children if you pass away.

Leaving a charitable bequest in your Will

Leaving a charitable bequest in your Will can be a thoughtful way to support the causes you care about, but it’s important to get it right. Here are the things you should consider.

When should you update your Will?

While our goal is to put in place an estate plan that you can ‘set and forget’, it is important that you undertake a regular review of your circumstances and estate planning documents to check that your estate planning strategy remains appropriate, as changes can creep up on you.

Can a pet be a beneficiary in your Will?

Pets are a beloved part of many Australian households. But have you thought about what would happen to your pet if you died? Under Australian law, pets are considered property. This means that pets are unable to inherit directly under a Will. However, there are still options to protect pets in your estate plan.