Estate planning lawyers structure wills, testamentary trusts and succession for families and businesses.
firms
674
regions
16
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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
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(200)Google rating from 200 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
V.S. George Lawyers provides legal services in Bexley North, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(187)Google rating from 187 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
David William Brothers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Mona Vale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
P.J. Donnellan & Co provides legal services in Mona Vale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Queensland Probate provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(154)Google rating from 154 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Clarke hemmerling Lawyers provides legal services in Dulwich, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(148)Google rating from 148 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Robbins Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Elder Law & Aged Care · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Family Property Settlement · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(130)Google rating from 130 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
O'Shea & Dyer Solicitors Townsville provides legal services in Townsville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Personal Injury.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Norton Legal provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+7 morePlanning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Property & Conveyancing · Superannuation Death Benefits
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Levis Stace & Cooper provides legal services in Devonport, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Levis Stace & Cooper provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(106)Google rating from 106 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mercurio & Co. Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(105)Google rating from 105 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Navigate Law provides legal services in Mountain Creek, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(103)Google rating from 103 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Levis Stace & Cooper provides conveyancing services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(93)Google rating from 93 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
GA Lawyers provides legal services in Kingsgrove, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Family Law2 languages
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(92)Google rating from 92 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Satsias Andrew provides conveyancing services in Gungahlin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Eckermann Conveyancers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment2 languages
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Winn Legal provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(79)Google rating from 79 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Australian Probate Lawyers provides legal services in Nundah, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Elliott & Harvey Lawyers provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Heenan & Co provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(77)Google rating from 77 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Halyburton Legal provides legal services in Warners Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adelta Legal provides legal services in College Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship5 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, italian, spanish, french
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Susan Green Legal Practice provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Understand the next step
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.
