Cogill Woods Legal Services offers a range of will-making services from simple to complex estate planning stategies. We can assist you with:

• Drafting & updating wills for single people, couples and blended families;
• Estate Planning including review of current structures and trusts;
• Testamentary Trusts;
• Superannuation nominations;
• Enduring and General Powers of Attorney and Advanced Health Directives.

Regular review of these documents is important to ensure your wishes are always current.

Estates
In the difficult time after the death of a loved one, we can assist with:

• Estate administration;
• Applying for Probate; 
• Letters of Administration (in the event that a will is deemed invalid or there is no will);
• Intestacy (no Will) claims;

If you have been left out of a will or wish to dispute it or you are an executor and someone brings a claim, then we have significant experience in the following areas:

• Contested estates including Family Provision Claims under the Succession Act;
• Defending those claims;
• Proof of wills in Solemn form including claims involving the capacity of the deceased;
• Claims for payment by a superannuation trustee by a dependant.

More information in relation to some of these areas is set out below.

Letters of Administration
In the some-what complicated event that a valid will has not been left, Cogill Woods Legal Services can assist you with applying for Letters of Administration to the Supreme Court of Queensland. In these circumstances, there is legislation that details how an estate may be distributed and by whom. The Supreme Court can appoint an Administrator to distribute the estate.

Family Provision claims
If as a child, spouse or dependant, you expected to be a beneficiary of a will but have not been provided for, you can make a claim against the distribution of any estate under the Succession Act. 

Probate
Cogill Woods Legal Services can help you apply to the Supreme Court for Probate in instances where there is a valid will and you have been nominated as Executor of that will. The Supreme Court can then grant probate which authorises you to distribute the deceased estate in accordance with the provisions of the will.

Arrange a consultation to discuss any aspect of the above with Damien Cogill.

Back to Areas of Practice

Back to Home