Wills and Estates

Adelaide, Kingswood, South Australia Ph (08) 8357 2666

We have many years experience in Wills and Estates matters. We act with care and sympathy yet provide professional advice. When you choose Economos Lawyers we will offer you a special discount on a Will, Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship package. Call now on 8357 2666 to make an appointment.

We can assist you with:

• Wills
• Enduring Power of Attorney
• Enduring Guardianship
• Probate and Estate Administration
• Grant of Administration
• Contesting a Will

What is a Will and why do you need one?

A Will is a legal document that clearly sets out how you wish your assets to be distributed upon your death.

If you die without a Will, your assets are distributed according to law. As a result, your assets may go to relatives who you rarely see, rather than your loved ones. This can lead to long delays and expensive costs in the distribution of your assets.

It is important to update your Will when you marry, start a family, separate, divorce, sell or buy property and the birth of grandchildren.

Call Economos Lawyers now on 8357 2666 to ensure your wishes are carried out.

Enduring Power of Attorney

An Enduring Power of Attorney is a crucial part of your estate planning. It is important to appoint a person of your choice to properly manage your assets and financial affairs.

An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document where you appoint a person to handle your assets and financial affairs if you are unable to do so due to accident, illness or your absence.

It is your choice as to whether it operates immediately or delayed for a future event. The appointment can be for a fixed period or to carry out a specified task.

If you lose mental capacity to handle your affairs the Enduring Power of Attorney starts to operate. Your attorney will then be responsible for handling your financial affairs, collecting your income and paying your bills.

The Enduring Power of Attorney ends when you die, then the executor in your Will takes over responsibility for your estate.

Call Economos Lawyers now on 8357 2666 to draft your Enduring Power of Attorney.

Enduring Guardianship

An Enduring Power of Guardianship is a legal document where you give directions to a person of your choice relating to your future lifestyle and medical treatment. It starts to operate when you lose mental capacity due to illness, accident or other event.

Call Economos Lawyers now on 8357 2666 to draft your Enduring Power of Guardianship.

Probate and Estate Administration

If you own real estate or other large assets, for example significant bank accounts, then your executors may have to obtain Probate to carry out the directions in your Will. Probate is a legal document granted by the Court authorising your executors to carry out the wishes in your Will.

A Probate application is a detailed process. If you are an executor in a Will we recommend that you contact us to prepare the Probate application.

Even if a Probate application is not required we can help executors with the interpretation of a Will. There may be gifts or other parts of the Will requiring a careful analysis. Early legal advice is necessary for you to be aware of your rights and obligations.

Call Economos Lawyers now on 8357 2666 to guide you through this process.

Grant of Administration

If the deceased has died without a Will then a person called an administrator may have to apply for a Grant of Administration. For example, a spouse, child, parent or sibling of the deceased may be an administrator. The law also sets out other individuals who can be an administrator.

A Grant of Administration is a legal document granted by the Court authorising the administrator to distribute the deceased's assets to certain individuals according to law. It is essential for you to seek immediate legal advice if you think you have an entitlement to the deceased's assets.

Call Economos Lawyers now on 8357 2666 for assistance.

Contesting a Will

The law sets out various individuals who can challenge a Will. You may seek to challenge a Will where you are left without adequate provision. There are certain steps required to be taken before distribution of the assets. It is important to seek urgent legal advice from an experienced solicitor to ensure that you do not lose your opportunity to make a claim.

All legal costs of the individuals challenging the Will may be paid from the assets of the estate.

Call Economos Lawyers now on 8357 2666 if you think you have the right to challenge a Will.

Back