Wills & Estates
Planning for the Future, Protecting Your Family
Thinking about your Will and estate can feel overwhelming, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take for your loved ones. We make the process simple, clear, and reassuring.
Irvine Lawyers provides practical advice on Wills, Powers of Attorney, and managing deceased estates. We’re here to give you peace of mind, knowing your wishes are clear and your family is protected.
A clear, legally sound estate plan is the best gift you can give your family. At Irvine Lawyers, we are practical wills and estates lawyers helping individuals and families across Victoria. Whether you’re based in Warrnambool, South Morang, or greater Melbourne, our team is here to listen to what matters most to you.
We guide everyone, from young families needing their first Will, to retirees updating their plans, to executors needing help navigating their duties. We cut through the legal jargon and provide a clear path forward for your estate planning, ensuring your assets are protected and your wishes are honoured. As experienced estate planning lawyers in Victoria, we help you plan for every stage of life.
Our Wills & Estates Services Include
- Drafting & Updating Your Will: We prepare clear, legally valid Wills that reflect your wishes and ensure your assets are distributed the way you intend.
- Probate Applications: We assist executors in applying for a Grant of Probate where there is a valid Will, helping to ensure the estate is administered in accordance with the deceased’s wishes.
- Letters of Administration: Where there is no Will, we assist families in applying for Letters of Administration so the estate can be legally managed and distributed.
- Estate Administration: We provide guidance and support to executors and beneficiaries throughout the estate administration process, including asset collection, debt management, and distribution of assets.
FAQs: Wills & Estates
An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) is a legal document where you (the ‘principal’) appoint someone you trust (your ‘attorney’) to make decisions about your finances and/or personal matters (like where you live). It’s ‘enduring’ because it continues even if you lose the capacity to make decisions for yourself.
In Victoria, this document allows you to appoint a specific person (your ‘decision maker’) to make medical treatment decisions for you if you are unable to communicate them yourself.
This is called dying ‘intestate’. If this happens, the law dictates how your assets are distributed according to a set formula. This formula may not match your wishes and can often lead to costly delays and disputes for your family.
Probate is typically required when the deceased person owned real estate in their sole name or had significant assets in their name. Asset holders (like banks) often require a Grant of Probate before they will release funds to the executor.
After we advertise the application, it typically takes the Supreme Court of Victoria anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to process and issue a Grant of Probate, assuming the application is straightforward. However, timeframes can vary depending on the Court’s workload
While Will kits seem simple, they are a major cause of future legal disputes. They often don’t account for complex assets like superannuation, family trusts, or blended families. A small mistake can make the Will invalid, costing your family far more in the long run than the cost of professional advice.