Drafting your last will and testament
Do you have a valid will?
If you die without a valid will you will die intestate. This means that you have no say over who inherits your estate.
Whether you need to update your will or whether you wish to execute a will for the first time, Bainbridge Legal will give you peace of mind in knowing that your chosen loved ones can receive their rightful inheritance.
If you already have a will it is recommended that you should review its content every five years or at any significant milestone in your personal life.
Will drafting, updates and will challenges
Challenging a will
Have you been excluded from or been left with an inadequate provision in a will?
Bainbridge Legal can assist you challenge a will by making an application pursuant to the Succession Act 2006 (formerly contained within the Family Provision Act 1982). You may have a valid claim independent of whether the will is grossly unfair and regardless of whether you were dependent on the deceased at the time of death.
Strict time limits apply to family provision applications so don't delay; call Bainbridge Legal today.
Time to update your will?
All of the following are appropriate times to update your Will:
- If you marry, separate or divorce
- If you enter into or end a de facto relationship
- If you have children (including adopted or fostered children)
- If your executor dies or becomes unwilling or unable to act because of age, ill health or any other reason
- If a beneficiary (someone who has been left something in the Will) dies
- If you have specifically left any property which you subsequently sell or give away or put in trust or into a partnership
- If you re-arrange your financial affairs such as setting up a family trust, establishing a self managed super fund, entering a new business venture or retiring
The dangers of DIY will kits
According to the NSW Law Society:
When you make a homemade will, you risk not drawing it up properly or not expressing your intentions clearly enough. It’s also easy to create a tax liability which your beneficiaries will have to pay. Finally, a DIY will kit is more likely to be contested, which means the whole process of giving away your assets could end up in court.
That’s why, when you make your will, it’s important you have it drafted by someone who understands the law and can advise you on the best way to make sure your assets end up where you want them to. And that means engaging a solicitor.
If you insist on taking the risk, you should take particular care to ensure the will is not only drafted properly, but also that it is executed and witnessed in accordance with the requirements of the Succession Act.