Sally Richmond
Property & Estates Lawyer
Joining our Turramurra practice in early 2022, Sally Richmond is a skilled Property and Estates solicitor who brings a wide range of experiences to Owen Hodge Lawyers. Her…
Learn MoreOur Expertise
Wills & Estates
Protect your future and your family with trusted estate planning advice.
How can we help?
Many Australians delay their estate planning until it’s too late — leaving loved ones without clear direction and opening the door to unnecessary legal and financial complications.
At Owen Hodge Lawyers, our experienced Wills and estate lawyers in Sydney can help you take control of your future and protect your family. Whether you need to draft a Will, apply for probate, appoint a Power of Attorney, or contest a Will, we provide clear, cost-effective legal advice to ensure your wishes are legally upheld.
Estate Planning
Estate planning provides certainty and peace of mind, ensuring your family is protected after your death and your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
Learn MoreLast Will & Testament
Your legal Will is a declaration by which you enforce your wishes to distribute your assets upon death. Our lawyers ensure it is valid, clear and legally binding.
Learn MoreContesting A Will
If you believe a Will does not adequately provide for you or has been improperly made, our estate lawyers can guide you through the process of contesting it.
Learn MoreDeceased Estate
When someone passes away, their property and financial assets must be distributed to beneficiaries. Our lawyers guide families through this process with care.
Learn MoreElder Law
Our specialist elder law team provides advice to protect the rights, dignity and financial interests of older Australians and their families.
Learn MoreWills & Estates Team
Kristy-Lee Burns
Partner, Commercial & Family Law Specialist
Kristy-Lee Burns is a skilled Family and Commercial Lawyer who joined Owen Hodge Lawyers in 2018. Kristy has trial experience in various complex family law matters involving trusts…
Learn MoreJulia Scully
Solicitor
Julia is an experienced solicitor who brings warmth, professionalism and a genuine passion for helping people to her work in wills and estates. Having commenced her career in…
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Andrew Stojanovic
Senior Associate
Andrew was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2014 and is also on the Register of Practitioners of the High Court…
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Palisha Manandhar
Associate
Palisha Manandhar brings dedicated expertise in Estate Planning, Property, Leasing, Commercial matters and Family Law to our team. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Western Sydney…
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Louise Young
Paralegal
Louise Young is an experienced paralegal with over 21 years of experience in probate and estate administration matters. She has been with Owen Hodge since 2005. Louise also…
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
The cost of making a Will with a lawyer largely depends on your personal circumstances. While a DIY Will may seem cost-effective, engaging a lawyer helps ensure the document is legally valid and error-free. Effective estate planning provides certainty and peace of mind, ensuring your family is protected after your death.
A Will is a legal document setting out how your assets are distributed after death. Estate planning is broader, often involving Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Care Directives. Estate administration is the legal process of managing and distributing the estate, typically taking 6–12 months.
Probate is the legal process of proving a Will is valid before the executor can manage and distribute the estate. If there is no Will or the executor is unable to act, Letters of Administration may be required instead. Whether you need a grant depends on the nature and value of the assets involved.
Executors and administrators are responsible for identifying and collecting estate assets, lodging final tax returns, paying debts and taxes, distributing the estate to beneficiaries, and keeping thorough records. They can be held personally liable if they fail to fulfil their duties properly.
If someone dies intestate, their estate is distributed under a formula in the Succession Act 2006 (NSW). A close relative usually applies for Letters of Administration to manage the estate. This process can be complex, so legal guidance is often necessary.
There is no inheritance tax in Australia. However, the estate may need to pay final income tax (including a date of death return), capital gains tax on sold assets, and ongoing tax on estate income during administration. Our estate lawyers can advise on your specific situation.
A beneficiary is someone named in a Will to receive part of the deceased estate. Eligible persons can contest a Will by lodging a family provision claim, usually within 12 months of the date of death.
There is no formal "reading of the Will" in Australia. The executor typically reads the Will and begins administering the estate soon after death — usually within 12 months.
Our Will and estate lawyers can also advise and assist you with Powers of Attorney and Guardianship appointments, as well as Advance Care Directives. These documents ensure someone you trust can make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity.
You should bring the original Will (if available), the death certificate or funeral invoice, asset and liability details (bank accounts, property, shares, superannuation), ID for the executor(s), and contact details for beneficiaries.
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by clients
across Sydney
M
Owen Hodge – particularly Alice Holman and Christine Vrahas, with the help of co-partner James Kelly – were efficacious, pragmatic and most reassuring in the eighteen months we went into battle in a probate case….
P
I would like to send a big thank you to the team at Owen Hodge Lawyer Hurstville for their collective effort to resolve my late Wife’s estate dispute and all before Christmas.
DR
Many thanks to Christine Vrahas, Alice Holman, and James Kelly for all the time and support that was given leading up to the settlement of my Aunts estate.
MF
I was always informed and reassured that the outcome of my case would be best for myself but most importantly moving forward with my children and my life. Kristy-Lee has extensive experience and knowledge in…
GM
James, Louise and the entire Estate Planning team, we have been very impressed with your firms professionalism and the way in which you’ve handled our matter. We have enjoyed working with Louise and your team.…
SN
Will definitely recommend Owen Hodge lawyers to those who need guidance and expert advice. I worked with the Immigration team and they are very professional, honest and straight to the point….
LT
“I won my case at the Guardianship Tribunal yesterday.. After discussions with my mother, we agreed that it would be in my aunt’s best interest to have the Public Guardian take over as I just…
M
Owen Hodge – particularly Alice Holman and Christine Vrahas, with the help of co-partner James Kelly – were efficacious, pragmatic and most reassuring in the eighteen months we went into battle in a probate case….
P
I would like to send a big thank you to the team at Owen Hodge Lawyer Hurstville for their collective effort to resolve my late Wife’s estate dispute and all before Christmas.
DR
Many thanks to Christine Vrahas, Alice Holman, and James Kelly for all the time and support that was given leading up to the settlement of my Aunts estate.
MF
I was always informed and reassured that the outcome of my case would be best for myself but most importantly moving forward with my children and my life. Kristy-Lee has extensive experience and knowledge in…
GM
James, Louise and the entire Estate Planning team, we have been very impressed with your firms professionalism and the way in which you’ve handled our matter. We have enjoyed working with Louise and your team.…
SN
Will definitely recommend Owen Hodge lawyers to those who need guidance and expert advice. I worked with the Immigration team and they are very professional, honest and straight to the point….
LT
“I won my case at the Guardianship Tribunal yesterday.. After discussions with my mother, we agreed that it would be in my aunt’s best interest to have the Public Guardian take over as I just…
A Smarter, Flexible Way to Fund Your Estate Administration Matter
Managing a deceased estate and the probate process often means covering more than just legal fees. Executors can face costs like insurance, property maintenance, and other expenses — often out of their own pocket, with reimbursement to come later. They may even want to improve assets prior to sale.
Through our partnership with JustFund, eligible Executors and Beneficiaries can access flexible funding to cover these expenses as well as legal fees, with no repayments until probate is finalised. This helps ease financial pressure while ensuring the estate is preserved. Contact us for more information, or visit JustFund.com.au.
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