Over 40% of Australian adults have no valid will in place. Don’t be another statistic at risk.
Clarify your final intentions and look after your family into the future. With an experienced will lawyer by your side, you can draft a legally binding document that ensures your estate will be distributed as intended upon your passing.
Whether you wish to make your first will or update its details after a major life change, turn to Turnbull Hill Lawyers. No matter the complexity of your financial situation, we will handle your will with the utmost respect and rigour.
By planning ahead with Turnbull Hill Lawyers, you can rest assured knowing your loved ones will be taken care of after you’re gone.
Discover quality wills services in Newcastle, Maitland and Sydney.
Formalise your final wishes with confidence
Certain legal criteria must be met when making a will in NSW. Otherwise, your estate will be dealt with as if you died intestate. To avoid any mistakes in its preparation, our lawyers will ensure your will satisfies all requirements and addresses all concerns, including:
- Legal compliance – has your will been prepared, signed and witnessed correctly?
- Assets – Do you know exactly how many assets you hold, where and how you hold them, and their value?
- Beneficiaries – Have you accounted for your beneficiaries’ legal rights and divided your assets accordingly, as well as in line with your wishes?
- Instructions – Are your intentions clear and written in valid legal language to minimise the risk of dispute?
- Trusts – Do you require a testamentary trust and how best should it be structured?
Time to update your will?
Life is full of milestones that may impact your final intentions. That’s why it’s important to review your will regularly and make updates to reflect changes to your circumstances as soon as possible. Our lawyers are here to help you revise your will’s terms in any situation, including after:
- Buying or selling property
- Having a child
- Changes in your relationship status, like marriage, divorce, or separation
- Launching or closing a business
- The death of a family member
- Moving to another country
- Illness diagnoses
- Inheriting assets
Making a will with Turnbull Hill Lawyers
55+ years in estate law
Tackling wills & estate law can be a challenge, especially if it’s your first time. Since 1969, our wills and estates lawyers in Newcastle, Maitland and Sydney have been helping testators leave legacies with valid documentation.
Proactive support
We will look after your case with the utmost efficiency and urgency where needed to meet deadlines. With our prompt legal support, you can draft your will without delay.
Tailored legal advice
We understand that each pool of assets is unique. That’s why we adopt a personalised approach. Whether dealing with straightforward or complicated assets, we deliver dynamic legal services to ensure a smooth experience for testators.
Clear & actionable solutions
We will ensure you fully comprehend your asset pool, rights and responsibilities. Through our practical guidance and regular communication, you’ll be empowered to make informed decisions in the best interests of beneficiaries.
Unrivalled reputation
There’s a reason thousands of testators have trusted Turnbull Hill Lawyers with their wills in NSW. Proud to be leading solicitors, we take pride in our steadfast commitment to superior service and successful outcomes.
Transparent fees
Our wills lawyers provide value for money legal services that you can depend on. Our transparent pricing, based on the time spent on your case, includes clear hourly rates and upfront cost estimates.
Draft a valid will with dependable legal support
Enjoy peace of mind knowing your estate will be administered as intended with advice and assistance from our wills lawyers in Newcastle, Maitland or Sydney. We will guide you through the entire process of making a will in NSW.
What our clients say
They looked after me quite well I was quite pleased with their service.
Patrick Huolohan assisted in updating my estate planning with what was a very quick, simple and efficient process. Patrick was both professional and easy-going which ensured an anxiety-free experience. A modest investment to get the job done right and provide the family with certainty.
I can't thank Ella from Turnbull Hill Lawyers at Charlestown enough for everything she has helped me with over the last 12 months. Ella has been so supportive and understanding. Ella's knowledge of the law is outstanding so I have trusted her advice without hesitation throughout. Knowing that I had Ella fighting for me has given me the courage to carry on and stand up for myself.
Timely response to emails sent. Precise instructions given for what we needed to do, as the executors, and options for how these actions could be carried out. Completely satisfied with the services provided and the manner in which they were performed. Thank you.
I can't thank Adrian Corbould and his Contested Estates team enough. The high level of professionalism of the team (including Nicholas, Nelle and Tammy), guided by Adrian's expertise, experience, knowledge, skill and impeccable ethics, combined with empathy and compassion made a difficult situation much smoother to navigate.
Our wills lawyers in Newcastle, Maitland and Sydney
Get started in 3 simple steps
If you need support with drafting a will in NSW, get in touch with our experienced lawyers. We are always here to help.
Book a consultation
Call our friendly team on 1800 994 279 or contact us today.
Tell us your story
Your wills lawyer will listen carefully to your needs so that we can empower you with invaluable legal advice.
Receive the right support
Gain reliable assistance at every stage of this legal process, whichever approach best suits your financial circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your will is a written document signed by you, which sets out who is to be in charge of administering your estate (your executor/s) and who is to receive your assets (your beneficiaries) when you die.
Some reasons to make a will include:
(1) to express your intention as to how your estate is to be distributed;
(2) to avoid cost, delay and difficulty for your family in administering your estate;
(3) the need to provide adequately for all relevant family members, especially in blended families; and
(4) to reduce the potential for dispute.
In NSW, Section 6 of the Succession Act (2006) states key criteria that must be met for a will to be considered legally enforceable.
In most cases, even if only one error is made or a single detail is omitted, the will is deemed invalid. Consequently, your assets will be distributed as per the laws of intestacy instead of your final wishes.
Therefore, to write a valid will in NSW, you will need to:
- Confirm your mental state at the time of drafting
- Appoint your executor and list beneficiaries
- Make sure all of its information is accurate and current
- Have it signed correctly by eligible witnesses
You must also account for a wealth of personal factors, including but not limited to:
- Guardianship of dependents under the age of 18
- Executors to appoint
- Beneficiaries to list
- Asset details and division
- Businesses and succession planning
- Trusts
- Superannuation
- Funeral instructions
Given the number of inclusions and criteria to consider, it can be challenging to prepare this document correctly without sufficient legal knowledge.
That’s why we’re here to help. If you would like to engage an experienced lawyer to write a will, get prompt, practical and professional support with Turnbull Hill Lawyers today.
You can appoint whomever you like to be your executor.
It can be your spouse, children, friends, brothers, sisters, your accountant, and even your lawyer. You can have more than one executor and the executor can be a beneficiary of your estate.
Your executor must identify all of your assets and liabilities, obtain a grant of probate (if required), use your assets to pay out all of your debts, and distribute your estate in accordance with what is written in your will. If your will is contested, then your executor is responsible for defending the will.
You can name whomever you want as beneficiaries to receive your assets. This can be your spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, brothers, sisters or a charity.
Your will is the written record of your intentions as to whom you would like to receive your assets when you die. No other document formally and legally recognises your intentions the way that your will does.
The only way a person who is not named as a beneficiary in a will can receive a benefit from the estate, is if all of the named beneficiaries agree to that person receiving something or if a judge makes a court order to that effect.
Depending on your circumstances, your marriage may revoke your will and you should obtain legal advice.
Your divorce will invalidate any gifts to your former spouse and any appointment of him/her as your executor in your will.
To update its terms after divorce, contact our lawyers for wills advice today.
This depends on your situation and overall circumstances, what you wish to state in your will and what you want your will to achieve.
Some wills can be relatively straightforward, while others can be extremely complex.
See Also: There is no such thing as a simple will (Why taking shortcuts with your will is not a good idea)
Once we discuss your personal circumstances and wishes with you, we will know what type of will we need to prepare for you to properly reflect your intentions. After that initial discussion, we will provide you with a quote.
Technically, no. You are not legally required to engage a lawyer when making a will in NSW. However, it is strongly advised that you seek professional support when drafting this crucial legal document to ensure it is valid and communicates your final intentions effectively.
A DIY approach lends itself to mistakes being made and optimal estate planning strategies being missed. Consequently, your loved ones may face costly and time-consuming will disputes or delays in obtaining a grant of probate.
Your wills lawyer will take your instructions, be thorough in our approach, advise you of any issues that may arise in the administration of your will (e.g. if someone may contest your will) and prepare your will to give effect to your intentions.
We will also keep your will in our safe custody room at no additional cost and send you a copy for your personal records.
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