Estate Planning Insights
Estate Planning Guides for Melbourne & Victorian Families
Expert legal guidance on testamentary trusts, SMSF estate planning, asset protection, and wealth preservation strategies for Australian families.
Is a Testamentary Trust Worth the Cost? A Numbers-Based Guide for Australian Families
A testamentary trust Will costs more than a simple Will — but for estates above $500,000, the tax savings and asset protection can return multiples of that investment. We break down the actual numbers, from setup fees to 20-year projections.
Read Article →SMSF and Testamentary Trusts: How to Avoid the 17% Death Benefits Tax in Victoria
Your superannuation doesn't automatically form part of your Will. Without a proper BDBN and testamentary trust strategy, your adult children could lose up to 17% of the taxable component to the ATO. Learn how the superannuation testamentary trust mechanism works.
Read Article →Protecting Your Children's Inheritance in a Blended Family: A Victoria Guide
In blended families, standard mutual Wills create a dangerous gap: the surviving spouse can simply re-write their Will and disinherit your children. Learn how testamentary trusts, life interest trusts, and binding death benefit nominations protect every branch of the family.
Read Article →Testamentary Trust vs Family Trust: Which One Do You Actually Need?
Many high-net-worth clients already have a family trust and wonder whether they also need a testamentary trust. The answer for most is yes — and the tax difference for minor beneficiaries under s102AG alone can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Read Article →Estate Planning for Business Owners in Victoria: Protecting What You've Built
Your business is likely your most valuable asset — but without proper succession planning, it could die with you. From shareholder agreements and key person insurance to family trust appointor succession and SMSF alignment, here is what every Victorian business owner needs in place.
Read Article →What Happens When You Lose Mental Capacity? Enduring Powers of Attorney in Victoria Explained
Your Will does nothing while you are alive. If you lose mental capacity without a valid enduring power of attorney, VCAT must appoint an administrator to manage your affairs — a costly, slow process that strips control from your family.
Read Article →The Bloodline Trust: How to Keep Inheritance Within Your Family Across Generations
A bloodline trust restricts inherited wealth to your lineal descendants only — it cannot pass to a son-in-law or daughter-in-law through divorce or a child's death. For families with multi-generational wealth, this is the ultimate protection structure.
Read Article →Special Disability Trusts in Victoria: Protecting a Vulnerable Child's Inheritance Without Losing Their Centrelink Benefits
A special disability trust can shelter up to $832,750 in assets from the Centrelink means test while preserving your child's pension eligibility. Here is how SDTs work, who qualifies, and how they integrate with your testamentary trust Will.
Read Article →How the 2025–26 Super Tax Changes Affect Your Estate Plan in Victoria
Division 296 passed Parliament on 10 March 2026 — adding a new tax layer for super balances over $3M. Combined with the existing 17% death benefits tax, high-balance SMSF members now face a compounding estate planning problem that demands urgent review.
Read Article →Estate Planning for High-Net-Worth Professionals in Victoria: Doctors, Lawyers, and Executives
Doctors, lawyers, and senior executives earning $500K+ face unique estate planning risks — from professional liability exposure and complex entity structures to practice succession and large SMSF balances. A comprehensive guide to the complete estate planning stack.
Read Article →ATO Draft TD 2026/D1: Your Family Home and Testamentary Trust
The ATO's draft ruling could remove the CGT main residence exemption for family homes held through testamentary trusts. What Melbourne families with testamentary trust Wills need to know — and do — now.
Read Article →Ready to Protect Your Family's Wealth?
Our Principal Lawyer will assess your estate, family structure, and objectives — then recommend the right level of protection. Fixed fees, no obligation.
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