Wills and Estate Planning

Your will is the last legal document that you will need in your life.  It appoints a person to represent you after your death and charges them with dealing with your possessions and valuable assets in accordance with your wishes.  It is a common misconception that if you do not make a Will, the government gets your estate.  While this is far from the truth, having a Will is vital to ensure that your possessions are distributed in accordance with your wishes.  If you fail to make a Will it is possible that your loved ones will not receive any benefit from your estate, more importantly your assets may be distributed to parties you do not wish to benefit.  It is also important to ensure that your children are placed into the care of a trusted relative or friend. 

As an additional precaution, it is worth noting that your Will will not take effect if you are incapacitated.  Mental illness or coma may leave you alive and unable to deal with your assets, financial affairs or make decisions in relation to medical treatment.  We recommend that you execute Enduring Powers of Attorney to ensure that a trusted person is able to act on your behalf should you ever suffer this misfortune.

If you haven’t got a Will or Powers of Attorney, we strongly recommend that you give this matter your urgent attention.  Call our lawyers today and ask about making a Will and Powers of Attorney.