Wills & Estate Planning
Estate planning is a vital step in securing your future and the well-being of your loved ones. It’s about making informed decisions that will help ensure your wishes are respected and that your family is provided for. We offer personalised guidance to create an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances and goals. Take action today to ensure your legacy lives on. Partner with us for thoughtful estate planning that offers peace of mind and protection for those you hold dear.
Estate Planning Services
Protect Your Legacy. Secure Their Future.
Estate Planning for Real Life
A Will is more than a legal document; it’s a gift of clarity for your loved ones. At Saracino Legal, we move past the complex "legalese" to provide straightforward, robust estate planning. Based in Lilydale and serving all of Victoria, we help you protect your assets and ensure your wishes are honored.
Our Estate Services include:
Wills & Testamentary Trusts From simple Wills for new homeowners to more complex structures, we ensure your assets are distributed exactly as you intend.
Enduring Powers of Attorney (Financial & Personal) Ensure that if life takes an unexpected turn, the person you trust most has the legal authority to manage your affairs and look after your interests.
Medical Treatment Decision Makers Clearly appoint the person you want making medical decisions on your behalf, providing peace of town for you and your family.
Letter of Wishes Provide further clarity on why your will has been drafted the way it has. Explain your reasoning, and help ensure that no ambiguity exists when it matters most, like when an interested party decides to challenge a will.
Estate Planning on Your Terms
We offer total flexibility for our clients:
Online Consultations: Meet via Zoom or Phone from anywhere in the state.
Mobile Service: For clients in the Lilydale and Yarra Ranges area, we can arrange to meet in the comfort of your own home.
Fixed-Fee Transparency: No "billable hours." You’ll receive a fixed-fee quote upfront so you can plan with certainty.
Frequently Asked Questions.
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A Will isn’t just about money. It’s about appointing executors to handle your affairs, nominating guardians for minor children, and ensuring your sentimental items go to the right people. It prevents unnecessary legal costs and stress for your family later.
We will discuss the best way to structure your will, including potential asset protection and tax benefits via the use of a testamentary trust if appropriate to your specific circumstances. Let us help you craft your will with precision.
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Yes. A property purchase is a significant change in your "Estate." It’s the perfect time to ensure your Will reflects your new asset and that your spouse or beneficiaries are protected.
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We can handle the instructions and drafting via video or phone. In Victoria, there are specific requirements for the physical signing and witnessing of Wills.
We will guide you through this process to ensure your documents are 100% legally valid. -
ItemIf you die without a valid Will (known as dying "Intestate"), your assets are distributed according to a strict legal formula set by Victorian law.
This often means your estate may not go to the people you intended, and it can create significant administrative delays and legal costs for your grieving family.
Having a Will ensures you make those decisions, not the government. -
An Executor is the person responsible for carrying out the instructions in your Will. They should be someone you trust implicitly—often a spouse, adult child, or close friend.
You can appoint up to four people, but we usually recommend one or two to keep the process efficient.
During our consultation, we can discuss whether your chosen Executor is the right fit for the role’s responsibilities. -
Yes, this is very common. For example, many people appoint their spouse or adult children as both their Executors and their primary beneficiaries.
There is no legal issue with this in Victoria, provided the Will is drafted and witnessed correctly to avoid any conflict of interest. -
Not automatically. In Australia, superannuation is held in a trust, so it doesn't always form part of your "Estate."
To ensure your super goes to the right person, you often need a Binding Death Benefit Nomination (BDBN) through your super fund.
We can review your current setup to ensure your Will and your Super work together seamlessly. -
We recommend a quick review of your Will every 2 to 3 years, or whenever a major life event occurs.
In Victoria, certain events like marriage or divorce can actually revoke (cancel) parts of your Will entirely.
Other milestones like having children, the death of a named executor, or buying a new property are also critical times to ensure your documents are still up to date. -
Sometimes, more complicated legal issues call for a more thorough consideration of your individual circumstances, resulting in a more protracted legal process.
As a result, it is difficult to determine a fair fixed fee structure in all cases. With that in mind an hourly professional rate of $330 for matters that require this extra level of service may apply.
If applicable to your particular case, this will all be discussed during our initial consultation with you.
Our Process
Ready to Start? Here is Your 4-Step Checklist
To make our first consultation as productive as possible, it helps to have a rough idea of the following. Don't worry if you don't have all the details yet—that’s what we are here for!
Step 1 - Your "People"Step 2 - Your "Assets"Think about who you would like to appoint for the following roles:
Executors: The trusted person (or people) who will manage your estate.
Guardians: If you have minor children, who would you want to care for them?
Attorneys: The people you trust to make financial or medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot.
You don’t need a cent-by-cent balance sheet, but a general list is helpful:
Real estate.
Bank accounts, shares, or investments.
Superannuation and Life Insurance policies.
Business interests or family trusts..
Step 4 - Your QuestionsStep 3 - Your "Treasures"Write down any concerns you have—whether it’s about protecting a vulnerable beneficiary, excluding someone from a Will, or how to handle a complex family structure.
Are there specific items of sentimental value you want to leave to certain people? (e.g., family heirlooms, jewelry, or collections).