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Wills and Estates Lawyer For Plans Your Family Can Count On
When it comes to wills and estates, it’s not just about signing documents, it’s about making decisions that will outlive you. A wills and estates lawyer at Lazarus Legal works with you to put the right structures in place now, so your family isn’t left sorting through uncertainty later. It’s not just a plan on paper; it’s peace of mind for the people who matter most.
A Will Is How You Protect The Life You Built And The People You Built It For
Most problems with wills and estates don’t come from bad intentions.
They come from missing details, vague instructions, or plans that were never built to handle real life.
Like a will that names a guardian, but says nothing about how your children should be raised.
Or an estate plan that forgets superannuation or family trusts, leaving major assets tied up in legal battles.
Or a rushed amendment that creates just enough uncertainty for someone to challenge it later.
We’ve helped families untangle plans that were too vague to follow.
We’ve seen inheritances tied up in court for years over small mistakes.
And we’ve seen how the stress of poor planning falls hardest on the people already grieving.
We don’t just draft documents, we build plans that stand up when families need them most.
If instructions need strengthening, we fix them.
If risks need managing, we raise them early.
If difficult conversations are needed now to avoid conflict later, we guide you through them.
We don’t overcomplicate your wishes.
We make sure they’re clear, complete, and capable of protecting the people you care about.
Two Decades Of Protecting Families And Preserving Legacies
For over 20 years, we’ve helped families, business owners, and individuals across NSW put clear, enforceable estate plans in place, making sure their decisions are carried out properly, their assets pass as intended, and their families are supported through the process.
20+ Years
advising NSW clients on estate planning, succession, and probate matters
98%
of probate applications lodged granted on first attempt without requisitions
4 out of 5
wills we review from other sources need material amendments to stand up in probate
$150 million
How We Help You Decide What Happens After You Can’t
The formal process of trademark registration is governed by specific legal principles that can be challenging to navigate without specialised knowledge. An examiner’s report is not a simple checklist; it is a legal document based on the Trademarks Act 1995 and a body of case law.
Here are some key points to consider:
Estate Planning
Estate planning is the complete strategy for deciding how your assets, responsibilities, and wishes are managed both during your lifetime and after death. It’s not just about writing a will. It brings together all the legal documents and structures needed to protect your family, control your estate, and prevent unnecessary disputes.
Wills & Succession
Your will is the centrepiece of your estate plan. It sets out who inherits your assets, who manages your estate (the executor), and what happens to specific responsibilities like business ownership or trust management. Succession planning takes it further, ensuring that your structures, like family trusts or companies, transfer properly across generations.
Powers of Attorney
Estate planning doesn’t just prepare for what happens after death. Powers of attorney give people you trust the legal authority to manage your finances, property, and legal matters if you lose the ability to act during your lifetime, protecting you and your family from expensive court processes later.
Guardianship
If you have children or dependents, guardianship planning is critical. A will can nominate guardians, but a properly prepared guardianship arrangement provides clearer legal protection. This ensures that those who rely on you are cared for by the right people if you're no longer able to decide for them.
Probate & Letters of Administration
After death, your estate can't be distributed without court authority. Probate (if there’s a valid will) or Letters of Administration (if there isn’t) legally appoint someone to manage the estate. We guide executors and families through this process to make sure assets are transferred, debts are settled, and legal obligations are properly handled.
- Ready when you are
Let's Lock In Your Estate Plan
Book a consult with our wills and estates lawyer team and walk away with clear advice on structuring your estate, protecting your family, and avoiding the mistakes that tie up inheritances for years. We’ll talk through your assets, your concerns about guardianship or executors, and what actually needs to happen to make sure your wishes are carried out properly.
No pressure to commit today, just practical guidance on what your estate plan should look like and what it’ll take to get it done. Contact Lazarus Legal to discuss your will and estate planning needs.
What Your Wills and Estates Lawyer Wants You to Know
How much does a wills and estates lawyer charge for a will in Australia?
Simple will costs typically range from $500 to $1,500 for straightforward circumstances, while more complex estate planning with trusts, business structures, or superannuation arrangements can cost between $2,000 and $5,000 or more. Hourly rates for wills and estates lawyers in NSW generally sit between $200 and $600 per hour, depending on experience and location. What you’re really paying for isn’t just the document itself but the legal advice that prevents costly mistakes down the track. A poorly drafted will can cost your estate tens of thousands in probate complications, family disputes, or tax liabilities that proper planning would have avoided. The Supreme Court of NSW processes thousands of probate applications each year, and many face delays due to unclear or incomplete wills that could have been prevented with proper legal advice.
Does Australia Post have will kits?
Yes, Australia Post sells will kits through their retail network and online shop, typically for around $20 to $40. These are pre-printed forms with instructions designed for simple, straightforward estates. However, using a will kit comes with significant risks. Courts have refused to recognise will kits as valid when they’re not properly executed, witnessed, or when the instructions are unclear about asset distribution. The Queensland Supreme Court case Panigas is one example where a couple’s Post Office will kits were found invalid because they weren’t properly signed and the terms were too unclear to determine their intentions. Most estate planning scenarios involve complexities like superannuation nominations, trust structures, tax implications, or blended families that generic kits simply don’t address.
What is the 3-year rule for a deceased estate?
The 3-year rule refers to tax concessions available to deceased estates during the first three income years after someone dies. During this period, the estate’s income is taxed at individual tax rates (including the tax-free threshold) rather than the higher trust tax rates that apply afterwards. This means if the estate earns less than $18,200 in taxable income during these first three years, there’s no tax payable. The rule also applies to capital gains tax exemptions for the deceased’s main residence. If the property is sold within two years of death (or three years with ATO approval in certain circumstances), the estate or beneficiary may be exempt from paying CGT on any capital gain. This is why executors often face pressure to finalise estates within this timeframe.
Who is the best person to be executor of a will?
The best executor is someone who’s organised, trustworthy, and willing to handle the administrative burden of managing your estate. Many people choose their spouse, an adult child, or a close friend, but this isn’t always the right call if they lack financial literacy, live overseas, or might be too emotionally affected by death to handle the responsibilities properly. Professional executors like NSW Trustee & Guardian or law firms can be appointed when family dynamics are complicated, the estate is large, or there’s potential for disputes. Your executor needs to apply for probate, collect assets, pay debts, lodge tax returns, and distribute the estate according to your will within six months of death unless there’s reasonable explanation for delay. If you’re appointing multiple executors, they must all apply for probate jointly unless one renounces their role or is unable to act.
When do I hire a wills and estates lawyer and when can I DIY?
You need a wills and estates lawyer when your situation involves anything beyond the most basic circumstances. If you own property, have superannuation over $50,000, run a business, hold assets in trusts or companies, have a blended family, want to include testamentary trusts, or have concerns about someone contesting your will, DIY solutions won’t cut it. The Legal Aid NSW website notes that proper legal advice helps you understand complex issues like executor responsibilities, tax implications, and how assets pass outside your will. Four out of five DIY wills reviewed by legal professionals need material amendments to stand up in probate. The cost of fixing a poorly drafted will after death typically far exceeds what you’d pay for proper legal advice upfront, not to mention the family conflict and stress it creates during an already difficult time.