Due to changes in the traditional family group and a generally more litigious society, it is more important than ever to consider all aspects of planning and structuring your estate. Plastiras Lawyers provide a number of specialist services in this area.

Enduring Power of Attorney
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a simple document that grants authority to another person to make decisions on your behalf should you be incapacitated. It is important to organise your affairs for unexpected events and this is an easy first step towards greater security.

Your will
A properly drafted will is the most important tool in ensuring:

•  your assets are distributed after your death as you intended
•  the assets you pass on will not be subject to outside
   claims from divorce or bankruptcy
•  future disputes among beneficiaries are minimised
•  your estate is administered quickly and at minimum cost

We assist our clients think through what they’d like to achieve with their wealth and identify circumstances which may trigger disputes or affect the distribution of their assets to the next generation.

The extent of your estate, family arrangements, dependencies, investments, insurance, superannuation, land and other belongings are all considered before drafting and making recommendations as to the appropriate terms and structure of the will.

Estate Litigation
In recent years changes in the law have greatly widened the potential for claims to be made against people's estates and for wills to be contested. As outlined above, careful planning and drafting should prevent this, but in the event that there is a dispute over an estate, our litigation and dispute resolution team can either advise what you may be entitled to or work to protect your entitlement against a claim.

Administration of estates
Properly finalising a deceased estate can be a complicated process at a time of emotional stress. The executors (appointed in the will) have the duty of gathering in all the property of the deceased, paying any debts owing and then distributing the estate.

Plastiras Lawyers can assist the executors/personal representative with this process by determining:

•  the beneficiaries of the estate and whether they have any
   urgent financial needs
•  the assets and liabilities of the estate and what needs to be
   done to secure them (grant of probate, letters of
   administration, possible creditors etc.)
•  income tax requirements and whether there are returns to be
   attended to
•  the final distribution of the estate to beneficiaries

Throughout this process we will keep you fully informed so that at all times you know what expenses are being incurred and understand what is happening to the deceased’s estate.

Asset Protection Strategies
Our estates team appreciate that one of the main concerns for our clients is the protection of their assets. If you have worked extremely hard to create wealth over your lifetime, you need to ensure that the value of your estate is going to be protected under all circumstances.

Plastiras Lawyers are experienced in utilising a number of instruments to preserve and protect your wealth including:
• testamentary trusts
• family discretionary trusts
• unit trusts
• company and partnership structuring
• superannuation and self managed super funds
• various agreements such as shareholder, partnership and
  participation agreements