A will is a legal document that sets out how you wish your assets and property to be distributed after your death, and who you appoint to carry out those wishes (your executor). Without a valid, up-to-date will, your estate is distributed according to statutory intestacy rules — which may not reflect your intentions and can result in loved ones missing out on inheritances. A will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever make, and R+M Law makes the process straightforward and affordable.

While there is no strict legal requirement to use a lawyer to make a will, a lawyer ensures that: your will is valid under Australian law (correctly signed and witnessed); your wishes are expressed with legal precision so there is no ambiguity; complex assets (such as trusts, business interests, or superannuation) are properly addressed; and the document is unlikely to be successfully challenged. DIY wills are a common cause of estate disputes and invalidity. R+M Law offers fixed-fee will drafting with straightforward pricing.

 If you die without a valid will — known as dying intestate — your estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules of your state or territory. These rules follow a strict order of priority (typically spouse, then children, then other relatives) and cannot account for your personal wishes. People important to you who fall outside the statutory priority — such as a de facto partner of short duration, a stepchild, or a close friend — may receive nothing. Making a valid will is the only way to ensure your wishes are followed.

R+M Law offers transparent fixed-fee estate planning rates: Power of Attorney — $1,000 + GST; Straightforward Will — $1,500 + GST; Power of Attorney and Will package — $2,000 + GST. For couples with similar arrangements: Power of Attorney for both — $1,600 + GST; Wills for both — $2,400 + GST; combined package for couple — $3,200 + GST. Complex wills involving trusts, charitable gifts, or international assets are priced individually. All rates are subject to change — contact us for current pricing.

 An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document you sign while you have capacity that authorises a trusted person (your attorney) to manage your financial and legal affairs on your behalf if you later lose capacity — due to illness, injury, or dementia. Without one, your family may need to apply to a tribunal for authority to act on your behalf — a costly and time-consuming process. R+M Law can draft an Enduring Power of Attorney as part of a comprehensive estate plan, starting from $1,000 + GST.

Probate is the formal legal process by which the Supreme Court of the ACT or NSW recognises your will as valid and authorises your executor to administer your estate. Probate is typically required where the deceased held significant assets in their sole name — such as real property or large bank accounts — because financial institutions and the land registry will not release or transfer assets without it. R+M Law assists executors with the probate application process and the administration of estates.

In the ACT and NSW, divorce does not automatically revoke your entire will — but it does automatically revoke any gifts to your former spouse and their appointment as executor (unless the will shows a contrary intention). Separation without divorce has no automatic effect on your will. This means that if you separate but do not divorce, your former partner may still inherit under your existing will. R+M Law strongly recommends reviewing and updating your will and Powers of Attorney immediately after any significant change in your relationship.

Beyond wills and Powers of Attorney, R+M Law assists with: Testamentary Trusts (trusts created by a will for tax-effective distribution to beneficiaries); Enduring Guardianship (appointing someone to make personal/lifestyle decisions if you lose capacity); Advanced Health Care Directives; Binding Death Benefit Nominations for superannuation; Probate and Estate Administration; and Estate Litigation (disputes about the validity of a will or adequacy of a provision). Contact us on (02) 6225 7040 to discuss your estate planning needs.

You should review your will whenever a significant life event occurs, including: marriage (which revokes a prior will in most circumstances); separation or divorce; birth of a child or grandchild; death of a beneficiary or executor; a significant change in your assets or business interests; or a change of state or territory. As a general rule, review your will at least every 3–5 years. R+M Law makes the process of updating your will quick and cost-effective.