Wills & Estates

At Hicksons, when dealing with Wills & Estates, we pride ourselves in our ability to engage with our clients with sensitivity and compassion, as we understand each situation is unique.

Our highly experienced and dedicated Wills & Estates team works closely with our clients to develop a comprehensive understanding of their circumstances to implement bespoke solutions.
 
We are experts at formulating strategies that ensure a person's entire wealth is transferred to the next generation in the most tax-effective manner, while also ensuring a beneficiary’s inheritance is protected to the degree required.

Our Wills & Estates team can assist clients across a broad range of issues, including:

• Providing advice on complex estate planning due to blended families and high net wealth individuals who may have trusts, companies, self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) and businesses which need to be considered as part of their overall estate plan;
• Drafting wills with appropriate testamentary trusts for each beneficiary;
• Advising on appropriate beneficiary nominations for superannuation and drafting Binding Death Benefit Nominations or Non-lapsing beneficiary nominations where required;
• Preparing appropriate Enduring Powers of Attorney and Appointments of Enduring Guardian; and
• Acting for executors or administrators of deceased estates to obtain grants of Probate or Letters of Administration, and attending to the calling-in of assets, payment of all debts and arranging distributions to the beneficiaries.

Please contact Hicksons Special Counsel, Roslyn Pavey should you need any assistance or guidance.

Contested Estates

Hicksons also offers a Contested Estates Litigation service. If you are an Executor, beneficiary or family member with a concern regarding an Estate we can assist you. We have particular expertise acting on behalf of:

• Executors: including acting in contested probate applications, responding to family provision claims and defending challenges to the validity or interpretation of testamentary documents including lack of capacity and undue influence claims.
• Charitable beneficiaries: including acting on behalf of one or more charitable beneficiaries where their bequests may be impacted by a family provision claim or there are concerns regarding the administration of the Estate

Please contact Hicksons Partner, Cheree Sawley should you need any assistance or guidance.