Estate Planning

Estate planning involves more than simply making a Will. It is the process of arranging your legal, financial and personal affairs for your lifetime and after your death.

A complete estate plan may consider:

• Home ownership and whether property is held as joint tenants or tenants in common
• Business ownership and company or trust structures
• Blended family arrangements
• Tax planning and discretionary trusts
• Existing Wills and whether they remain suitable
• Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Medical Treatment Decision Maker appointments
• Advanced Health Care Directives
• Supportive Attorney appointments

Enduring Powers of Attorney and Medical Decisions

We recommend considering an Enduring Power of Attorney for personal and/or financial matters. This allows someone you trust to make decisions for you if you lose capacity.

We generally recommend that an Enduring Power of Attorney only commence once a medical practitioner confirms that you no longer have capacity, rather than immediately upon signing.

You may also wish to appoint a Medical Treatment Decision Maker and prepare an Advanced Health Care Directive, setting out your wishes for medical treatment if you are unable to make those decisions yourself.

Working With Your Accountant

Where appropriate, we can work with your accountant to ensure your estate plan aligns with your financial position, business interests and tax planning needs.

Henry Street Law Can Help

At Henry Street Law, we ask the right questions to ensure your Will and estate plan properly reflect your circumstances. We can advise whether a simple Will or a Testamentary Trust Will is more appropriate, help reduce the risk of estate disputes, and securely store your Will.

Contact Henry Street Law on (03) 5181 6363 to discuss your situation with an experienced estate planning lawyer in Traralgon, or send us a web enquiry to arrange an appointment.