Wills and Estates

Wills & Estates Lawyers Traralgon

At Henry Street Law, we help individuals and families prepare clear, legally valid wills and estate plans that reflect their wishes and protect their loved ones.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing a Will. The right structure depends on your assets, family circumstances, beneficiaries and long-term intentions. With more than 30 years’ experience in wills and estates, Henry Street Law can guide you through the process and help you avoid unnecessary confusion, conflict or costly disputes.

Preparing Your Will

A properly prepared Will should comply with the Wills Act 1997 (Vic), clearly set out your wishes and reduce the risk of disagreement between family members after your death.

When preparing your Will, it is important to consider:

Who Will Be Your Executors?

Your executor is responsible for applying for Probate or Letters of Administration through the Supreme Court of Victoria, managing your assets and debts, and ensuring your wishes are carried out.

Where possible, it is often sensible to appoint two executors, in case one is unable or unwilling to act.

Who Will Be Your Beneficiaries?

You can choose who receives your assets and how your estate is distributed. If you do not make a valid Will, your estate will be distributed under the intestacy rules in the Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic), which may not reflect your wishes.

It is also important to consider how an inheritance may affect your beneficiaries. In some circumstances, a Testamentary Trust Will may assist with tax planning or asset protection.

How Do You Know a Will Is Valid?

For a Will to be valid, the person making it must have testamentary capacity, the Will must be properly signed and witnessed, and there must be no evidence of tampering.

Witnesses should be over 18 and should not be beneficiaries or closely related to beneficiaries.

If there is any concern about capacity, we can help arrange supporting medical evidence, including a doctor’s affidavit if required.

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 wills and estates lawyer in Traralgon, or send us a web enquiry to arrange an appointment.