Estate planning lawyers structure wills, testamentary trusts and succession for families and businesses.
firms
674
regions
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For families with significant assets, blended families or business interests, an estate plan goes beyond a simple will. Testamentary trusts can offer tax benefits and asset protection for beneficiaries. Planning also covers super, insurance, family trusts and company control.
Why estate planning & testamentary trusts matters
Good estate planning protects beneficiaries, reduces tax and keeps family businesses and farms running through a transition.
The Australian context
Testamentary trusts can allow income to be distributed to minors at adult tax rates under Australian tax law. Planning also covers family trusts, company control and binding super nominations, which pass outside the will.
Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts lawyers near you
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Campbellfield, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nevaeh Lawyers provides legal services in Campbellfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Quirk Lawyers & Conveyancer provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Drink & Drug Driving+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Norwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
St Ives Law provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Belgrave, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Armstrong Ross provides legal services in Belgrave, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Wills & Estates Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+5 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas · Contested Wills & Family ProvisionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Diana Perla & Associates provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Elder Law & Aged Care · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albany, WA · Great Southern
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Graphite Legal provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosa Heads, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jodie Bruce Law provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moruya, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McMahon Vincent Lawyers provides legal services in Moruya, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mothers in Law Lawyers provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Debt Recovery · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Open Book Lawyers provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Devonport Cbd, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Temple-Smith Partners provides legal services in Devonport Cbd, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Woollahra, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Back Schwartz Vaughan Lawyers provides legal services in Woollahra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Liquor Licensing & Gaming.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warragul, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
bdlegal provides legal services in Warragul, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown & Associates Commercial Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Main Beach, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Eden Lawyers provides legal services in Main Beach, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
South Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ipswich Family Lawyers provides legal services in South Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Fraud & White Collar Crime
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Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
JV Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Strata & Body Corporate2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albany, WA · Great Southern
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Narpyn Law & Conveyancing provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Phillip, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
National Business Lawyers provides legal services in Phillip, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Riley Legal provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
A practical guide to estate planning & testamentary trusts
What to discuss at the first meeting
Explain what you want the plan to achieve, including family needs and business interests. A more complex structure should be justified by its purpose and ongoing administration, not chosen merely because it is available.
Clarify whether tax and financial advice are included or must be obtained separately before implementing the plan.
How the engagement may progress
01
List family members, property, debts, companies, trusts and superannuation. Identify where original documents are held and which assets are jointly owned.
02
Ask what each document or application would achieve. Confirm which state rules and asset-ownership arrangements need to be considered.
03
Agree on signing, storage and future reviews, or on the executor’s responsibilities for records and distributions. Identify changes that should prompt further advice.
Fees and the scope of work
Compare a simple-will quote with more involved planning or estate administration. Ask about searches, applications, valuations and coordination with an accountant.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Provide the date of death and any estate correspondence promptly. Ask about relevant deadlines before distributing assets, signing a release or assuming a dispute can wait.
Questions to ask a estate planning & testamentary trusts adviser
Why is this structure suitable for the objective?
What ongoing administration or specialist advice would be required?
Does the scope address assets outside my own name?
Who is the client if relatives attend together?
What information is needed before documents can be finalised?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is a testamentary trust?
A trust created by your will that takes effect on your death. It can protect beneficiaries and offer tax advantages for distributions to children.
How much does a will cost?
Many firms offer simple wills for a fixed fee. Wills involving trusts, blended families, business interests or overseas assets cost more because they need more planning.
Can I contest a will?
Close family members, and some others who depended on the person who died, can apply for a greater share if they were not adequately provided for. Strict time limits apply, often within months of the death, and they differ between states.
