YOUR LEGACY, YOUR ESTATE PLAN
We understand the importance of looking after your family and loved ones in the event that anything happens to you. We work closely with you to ensure that your Estate Plan takes care of your wishes so that if anything happens to you, everything happens the way you would like it to.
Importantly, we assist you with the transfer of your wealth to the next generation in the most asset protective and tax effective manner possible.
WHAT IS AN ESTATE PLAN?
An Estate Plan is more than just a Will. In putting your Estate Plan in place we look at your family and business structures and have important conversations with you regarding what is important to you and what legacy you would like to leave behind.
A careful examination of your business structures and a review of your Family and Unit Trust Deeds is undertaken so that we may obtain an extensive overview of the assets that you own and those that you control.
You may have a disabled child, a child in an unstable matrimonial relationship, a child who is bankrupt or in a profession that carries a high risk of litigation or perhaps a child who is not able to manage their wealth for a number of reasons, including substance abuse or other addictions. We chat with you regarding your concerns about your children and advise you of the best way to make provision for them in your Will. This may include making provision for the inclusion of Testamentary Trusts, Capital Protective Trusts or Special Disability Trusts in your Will.
You may also have a blended family where you and your partner have children from previous relationships. We chat with you in respect to what you would like to happen to the assets you individually own or control upon your death and assist you with strategies that can be implemented so that your wishes can be documented adequately in your Will. Such strategies may include Life Interests or Capital Protective Trusts.
Your superannuation is also an integral part of an estate plan, so we make sure that you have a current, valid Binding Death Benefit Nomination in place and if you have an SMSF, we review the Trust Deed to make sure the correct Binding Death Nomination is in place in accordance with the provisions of your SMSF Trust Deed.
WHAT ABOUT IF YOU BECOME INCAPACITATED?
It’s great to have documents in place which deal with everything in respect to your death but what about if you were still alive but become incapacitated and could no longer make decisions for yourself as a result of an accident, stroke or other medical condition?
We chat with you about the appropriate documents that need to be put in place just in case you can no longer make decisions for yourself some time in the future. We are sure you appreciate this is particularly important if you operate your own business.
By putting in place an Enduring Power of Attorney, it allows you to appoint someone to make legal, financial and personal decisions on your behalf in the event that you become incapacitated.
Whilst the Appointment of Medical Decision Maker allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you can no longer make them yourself.
Finally, the Advance Care Directive allows you to specify your medical wishes together with what medical treatment you do/do not consent to in the event that your Medical Treatment Decision Maker had to make medical decisions on your behalf.
A well-documented, comprehensive Estate Plan encompasses a number of documents to take care of you in the event of you becoming incapacitated and upon your death, giving your loved ones peace of mind knowing that all is in place.
THE ESTATE PLAN PROCESS
We offer our clients a number of options to assist in putting your Estate Plan in place.
FACE TO FACE CONSULTATION AT OUR OFFICE
We meet with you to discuss what is important to you, what you would like to put in place and explain the process going forward to ensure your Estate Plan is put in place in a timely manner.
ZOOM CONSULTATION
We chat with you by zoom to discuss what is important to you, what you would like to put in place and explain the process going forward to ensure your Estate Plan is put in place in a timely manner. Please note that we do have availability to do limited zoom consultations at evenings as we know this sometimes suits you best, so if this is your preference please kindly let us know.
COMPLETION OF OUR ESTATE PLANNING FACT SHEET
You may complete our Estate Planning Fact Sheet below which allows you to tell us what is important to you and what you would like to put in place. Subsequent to receiving this we will arrange a time convenient to you to call you or for a zoom meeting if you prefer to go through your answers to make sure we have covered everything that’s important to you.
HOW TO BOOK A CONSULTATION
Wills and Estate Planning Consultations can be booked by contacting Suzy or Sarah at our office on 9879 0734 or by email to admin@madisonsloanlawyers.com.au
OUR PACKAGES
We offer clients a number of estate planning packages dependent upon their circumstances and these can be found in the Our Cost tab on our website, or by clicking the button below.
What People Are Saying
“Melisa was fabulous. We needed a good Estate Planner to have Wills prepared for a blended family with several different variables and did not know where to start. Melisa set us straight easily - her manner is both delicate and humorous and I would definitely recommend.”
— Carol
“ When Melisa completed our family Will, she was extremely thorough and compassionate. We were not aware of all the areas that needed to be considered with young kids and a business. She made us feel informed and in control. Feels great knowing that should anything happen to us, our kids, business and employees are in good hands. ”
— Dianne
Chat with me
If you would like to have a complimentary 15 minute enquiry call.
Click below to set up a time to chat with me to see how we can assist you.