A Will is a legal document that allows you to choose who should benefit from your estate after your death. If you do not have a valid Will when you die, your intentions will not be known and your assets will be distributed according to a fixed formula.
Wills can be quite simple or very complex, depending on your individual set of circumstances. Once you have a Will drawn up, you can rest assured that your estate will be distributed according to your wishes.
Please contact us for further information about drawing up your Will, changing your Will, guarding against challenges to it or creating a testamentary trust to care for your loved ones.
Powers of Attorney are often known as ‘living wills’. Powers of Attorney operate while you are alive, but incapable of acting for yourself.
These documents nominate the person you would like to take care of your financial, medical and personal matters in the event you are unable to do so, because of illness or absence.
Set your mind at ease knowing your best interests will be taken care of, by granting Power of Attorney to a person of your choosing. Our experienced team will help you through every step of the process.
It is possible to get a cheap alternative to a properly drawn Will, but this is false economy. At Russo & Russo, our extensive experience ensures, as far as possible, that all your bases are safely covered to provide you with peace of mind.
It is essential to make a properly drawn will for the following reasons:
-An unsatisfactory Will could be challenged in court and cost your estate thousands of dollars in legal fees -A Will that fails to take into account all possible contingencies can lead to disputes related to your instructions, which as a result can cause stress and trauma for loved ones, and possibly irreparable damage to family relationships -Failing to properly instruct the executor of their duties, or choosing the wrong executor, may lead to legal disputes, and may incur financial losses and possibly significant penalties
When a loved one dies or loses capacity, it can be hard to remember important details that are needed to administer their affairs. That’s why we have formulated a personalised Executor & Attorneys’ Dossier which is a detailed guide that sets out details of your personal affairs, professional advisers, location of assets such as bank accounts, superannuation funds, Title documents and other essential information should your executor/attorney need to access these documents.
Having this information in a convenient and easily accessible form can provide you result in significant costs savings in the administration of your affairs. This Executor’s Dossier is included as part of our Will service.
Each Will is unique and must be tailored to your individual circumstances. Call us to discuss our professional service fees. A reduction for couples’ Wills and POAs may apply depending on your specific requirements.
