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
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Murfett Legal provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Insolvency & Restructuring.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: italian
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Litigation and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCommercial Litigation · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Finch Legal provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Papas Solicitors provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Proctor Graham Lawyers provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Carswell and Company Maryborough provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & GuardianshipFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coast & Country Legal (Incorporating Tim Williams Property Lawyers) provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Springfield Central, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LadyBird Wills & Estates provides legal services in Springfield Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+5 morePlanning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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Coburg North, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Le Kal Lawyers provides legal services in Coburg North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SALBRIDGE LAWYERS PTY LTD provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
TED Legal provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Sports & Entertainment Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Sports & Entertainment Law · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bespoke Legal Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Medical Negligence.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Balmain, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
D’Arcy Sloman Peacock Lawyers Balmain provides legal services in Balmain, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Underwood, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stokes Lawyers provides legal services in Underwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ACE LEGAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toongabbie, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(29)Google rating from 29 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Papantoniou Blake Lawyers provides legal services in Toongabbie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary TrustsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warragul, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(28)Google rating from 28 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Armour provides legal services in Warragul, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(28)Google rating from 28 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bryant McKinnon Lawyers provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coorparoo, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(28)Google rating from 28 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Grasso Searles Romano provides legal services in Coorparoo, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Debt Recovery · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment2 languages
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.
