Frequently Asked Questions

We focus on family law, estate planning, and estate administration. This includes divorce and separation, property and financial settlements, parenting and child custody, spousal maintenance and child support, financial agreements and consent orders, wills (including testamentary trusts), enduring powers of attorney, enduring guardianship, probate, and estate administration. Our role is to provide clear, practical advice and guide you through each step of the process. Whether you are planning for the future, going through a relationship change, or managing an estate, we are here to help you make informed decisions with confidence and protect your legal rights.

While you are not legally required to have a lawyer during separation, having professional legal advice can protect your rights and help you avoid costly mistakes. A lawyer can guide you through property settlements, parenting arrangements, and financial agreements, ensuring they are fair and legally binding. We also help reduce stress by explaining the process clearly and representing your interests during negotiations or in court if needed. Our goal is to help you reach a resolution that supports your future and avoids unnecessary conflict, saving you time, money, and emotional strain in the long term.

A will is a legal document that outlines how your assets will be distributed after your death. A testamentary trust is created within a will and comes into effect after you pass away. It allows assets to be held in trust for beneficiaries, offering potential tax benefits and protection from creditors or relationship breakdowns. Testamentary trusts are especially useful for blended families or where beneficiaries are young, have disabilities, or need asset protection. We can help you decide whether a simple will or a will with a testamentary trust best suits your needs and your family’s circumstances.

An enduring guardianship allows you to appoint someone to make personal, health, and lifestyle decisions for you if you lose the capacity to make them yourself. This can include decisions about medical treatment, living arrangements, and personal care. It does not allow them to manage your finances — that is covered by an enduring power of attorney. We can help you set up an enduring guardianship so your wishes are respected and legally recognised. This planning ensures that, if the time comes, someone you trust will make decisions in your best interests.

An enduring power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. Unlike a general power of attorney, it continues to operate if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. This ensures your affairs can be managed without interruption. We can prepare an enduring power of attorney that reflects your wishes and meets all legal requirements. It is an important part of planning ahead, providing peace of mind that your financial matters will be looked after if you are unable to manage them.