Wills & Powers of Attorney, Probate and Testator Family Maintenance Claims

Wills & Powers of Attorney

McDonald, Slater & Lay provides a discreet and totally confidential service for the preparation and execution of Wills and Powers of Attorney for our clients. Our lawyers can attend at the homes of our clients when necessary and are able to give in-depth advice on estate planning, taxation issues, donations to charities and other organisations, testamentary trusts, and the role of executors, trustees, attorneys, guardians and administrators.

The careful consideration and formulation of a Will and Powers of Attorney, whether medical or financial, is becoming increasingly important for our clients due to the complexity of personal finances as well as the increasing incidence of blended and separated families.

A well drafted Will ensures that your estate is divided in accordance with your wishes and will minimise the potential for conflict or confusion amongst the beneficiaries as to the intended distribution of your assets.

Probate & Deceased Estates

In the Probate jurisdiction, McDonald, Slater & Lay has extensive experience in providing assistance to clients in the administration of estates with assets in Australia and overseas. We are able to assist clients to efficiently and cost effectively collect and distribute assets in estates.

Our experienced staff will provide early advice on all important matters including the application to the Court for a Grant of Probate, the collection, management of Trust Estates, the disposal of assets and the distribution of entitlements to beneficiaries.

Testator Family Maintenance Claims

The lawyers at McDonald, Slater & Lay are very experienced in and highly successful at litigation in the area of disputed wills and testator family maintenance claims. McDonald, Slater & Lay often act for potential beneficiaries of a Will seeking to make a claim against a deceased estate and our lawyers also have a strong track record in defending such proceedings brought against Executors of deceased estates.

We adopt a proactive approach towards potential and actual estate litigation by providing timely advice as to the strengths and weaknesses of claims and defences, the likelihood of success and the likely outcomes of such matters. We advise on the most cost-effective and efficient process for resolving the dispute, whether in the Courts or through alternative dispute resolution.

Trusteeship, Guardianship and Administration Issues

McDonald, Slater & Lay frequently act as Attorneys under Power, Executors, and Administrators for individuals who do not have family available to carry out such services and our lawyers appear regularly in the Victorian Administrative and Civil Tribunal before the Guardianship and Administration jurisdiction.