Robbins Watson Solicitors Areas of Practice

When a loved one dies, there are a myriad of details to be sorted through. Bank accounts have to be collected in, shares sold, real estate properties transferred or sold, government authorities to inform... the list goes on.

Issues that must be considered include:

• should you get probate, and what does it mean anyway?
• what do you do if there is no will?
• how do you know if the will is valid?
• how do you handle superannuation and life insurance entitlements without suffering a huge tax penalty?
• is a claim upon the estate by a disgruntled family member likely, and what should be done about it?
• when is it safe to pay out the funds to the beneficiaries, and when does the executor risk a personal claim ?
• what do you do about creditors of the estate?
• how do you handle partly completed matrimonial proceedings of the deceased?
• how should the business of the deceased be dealt with?
• who do you contact to transfer the house?
• What does Joint Tenancy really mean?
• What do you do if the will gives away property that the deceased doesn't own?
• How do you handle a Family Trust when the principal dies?

When we are engaged to assist in estate administration, we act to administer the estate as quickly as it may safely be done, while ensuring that the executor does not expose him or her self to risk of litigation by making distributions prior to the statutory periods for making of Family Maintenance claims.

We look for safe, sensible solutions to the issues that arise, and ensure that, where you have to make a choice, you are given all your options, with our recommendation about which option is best for you.

Consultants

Justin Moynihan (Senior Consultant)
Click to view profile.