Helping you with….
Wills and Estate Planning
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What Our Clients Have Said…
I would like to thank everyone at Harriss Jones Lawyers, particularly Kathryn, who recently prepared wills, enduring power of attorney and appointment of enduring guardian for both my husband and I.
The team were very helpful and we were impressed by their friendly, professional and efficient service.
I have subsequently recommended Harriss Jones Lawyers on a number of occasions, including to my elderly parents, who were also very appreciative of their kindness and patience.
I will continue to recommend them to others, and my husband and I would definitely use them again in the future, if the need arises.
Thanks again.
Estate Planning is an essential activity necessary to prepare yourself and your family for life’s uncertainties.
COVID-19 brought to the forefront of many people’s minds the need to be equipped for all circumstances. Estate planning includes the completion of the following documents:
- Will – a legal document that determines how your assets will be distributed, who will manage the estate and who will benefit from it.
- Power of Attorney – a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf. We encourage our clients to complete an Enduring Power of Attorney, which means the document will continue to operate if you lose the capacity to make decisions yourself.
- Appointment of Enduring Guardian – a legal document that enables an appointed person/s to make decisions regarding your health & personal affairs when you can no longer make these decisions for yourself.
Once your Estate Planning is completed, you will have peace of mind knowing that your affairs are in order, should life throw you a curve-ball.
FAQs
It is good practice to complete a Will document if you have any assets or dependants, and to update it as your circumstances change, so that your estate (your net worth in the eyes of the law) can be dealt with according to your wishes after you pass away.
You should review your Will every few years, but particularly after any major events, such as marriage, divorce, property purchase or sale, a death of a beneficiary or if your assets change significantly.
- We strongly recommend visiting a lawyer to draft a Will document, rather than purchasing a will kit or handwriting one yourself. We can assist you to make sure your Will is legally valid and to ensure that your wishes are accurate and clear, to avoid any later confusion and conflict amongst your loved ones. Doing this will protect your family and friends from costly legal disputes that can put significant stress on your family and relationships after your passing.
- We recommend that you consider who you might like to appoint as your Executor under your Will. Your Executors have the legal and administrative task of handling your assets and any debts you may have after you die and making sure that your wishes are upheld, so we suggest that you appoint someone you trust.
- Consider who you might like to appoint as your beneficiaries and what effect their inheritance might have on their circumstances. You can choose anyone as a beneficiary and distribute your assets in any way you like, however if you don’t provide for your family or any dependants you may have, your Will can be contested and your hard-earned assets used on litigation fees. We can assist you to determine the best method of leaving gifts or whether a testamentary trust is necessary to sidestep potential taxation problems for your beneficiaries.
Contact us to get started today.
- An Appointment of an Enduring Guardian allows one or more people to make medical and lifestyle decisions for you, such as where you live and what care and services you receive. Your document can specify if you would like your guardian to refuse medical treatment on your behalf in certain circumstances (for example, refusing to continue the use of life support equipment in the event that you were terminally ill or in a coma).
- We are here to answer any questions you may have so give us a call or send us an email.
- A Power of Attorney appoints one or more people to act as your representative either for a specific task or in general. A Power of Attorney can operate at any time and can also be enduring (meaning that it will continue to operate if you lose the capacity to make decisions for yourself). Your attorney can make decisions regarding your finances, assets and property.
- We are here to answer any questions you may have so give us a call or send us an email.
Our Process
We recommend that you complete your Will, Enduring Guardian and Power of Attorney documents together so that your appointed representatives can rely on these documents should any unforeseen circumstances arise. It is also far more cost effective to complete the three documents with us at the same time.
Book an initial consultation with us today by emailing or calling us.
We can complete your drafts as quickly as you require, and once you have signed your documents we will arrange for your nominated persons to attend our office to accept their appointment, free of charge.
The best Instruments for my Circumstances
At Harriss Jones Lawyers, we pride ourselves on understanding your unique wishes and situation, and will answer all of your questions.
We will assist you in navigating the legal terminology in your documents, and we can take your instructions either at our office, or in certain circumstances, we can make a hospital or nursing home visit to you.
We are experienced in dealing with deceased estates, so we will always ensure that your documents are drafted in such a way to help protect your family from expensive estate litigation after your death.
We will advise you as to whether you would be best with a Will or a Testamentary Trust and can draft and review any Contracts to make Mutual Wills or a Codicil to a Will.
Pricing
At Harriss Jones Lawyers, our Estate Planning documents are provided at a fixed cost, and you can save by completing your Will, Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian documents at the same time with us to ensure complete peace of mind. Please contact us for further information regarding our professional fees.
Get Started or need More Information
To get started organising or updating your estate planning, select the ‘Phone us‘ or ‘Book’ buttons below.
What Our Clients Have Said…
I would like to thank everyone at Harriss Jones Lawyers, particularly Kathryn, who recently prepared wills, enduring power of attorney and appointment of enduring guardian for both my husband and I.
The team were very helpful and we were impressed by their friendly, professional and efficient service.
I have subsequently recommended Harriss Jones Lawyers on a number of occasions, including to my elderly parents, who were also very appreciative of their kindness and patience.
I will continue to recommend them to others, and my husband and I would definitely use them again in the future, if the need arises.
Thanks again.