Wills and Estates Lawyer Melbourne

Planning for the future or managing a loved one's estate can feel overwhelming, especially when you are unsure where to start or what the law requires. At Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers, we guide individuals and families through Wills, Estate Planning, Probate and Deceased Estate administration with clarity and care. 

Whether you are putting your first Will in place or working through a complex estate after losing someone close, a Wills and Estates lawyer in Melbourne who listens, explains the process in plain English, and gets the paperwork right the first time is what you need.

Principal Solicitor Patricia Sheedy (Trish) leads our team. She is an Accredited Property Law Specialist with wide-ranging knowledge of estate planning and management. Our Clyde North firm works with clients across Melbourne and the City of Casey corridor.

We deliver honest, fixed-fee advice backed by genuine values of equality, respect and integrity.

Wills, Estate Planning and Probate Services We Provide

Our team handles the full scope of Wills and Estates work for Melbourne clients. We take the time to understand your circumstances, family dynamics and long-term goals before drafting anything, because a good estate plan should reflect your wishes, not a template.

Services we offer include:

  • Drafting simple and complex Wills.

  • Estate planning tailored to your family, assets and business interests.

  • Estate Planning Health Check to make sure nothing is overlooked in your Estate Plan

  • Powers of Attorney (financial and personal).

  • Medical Treatment Decision Maker appointments.

  • Probate and Letters of Administration applications.

  • Deceased estate administration for executors and beneficiaries.

  • Will disputes and contested estate matters.

  • Applications by Personal Representative and Surviving Proprietor.

  • Testamentary trusts and business succession planning.

Estate Planning Lawyer Melbourne Families Trust

A thoughtful estate plan does more than record who gets what. It protects beneficiaries, manages tax implications, plans for incapacity, and helps avoid disputes in the future. Our estate planning lawyer Melbourne services cover Wills, Powers of Attorney, Medical Treatment Decision Makers, superannuation considerations, and advice for blended families, business owners and people with self-managed super funds.

We help you identify gaps in your Estate Plan that you may not have considered and structure arrangements to protect you when they are needed most.

Probate and Deceased Estate Administration

Losing someone is difficult enough without being buried in legal paperwork. If you have been named executor, we can help you apply for probate, identify and value assets, settle debts, distribute the estate and communicate with beneficiaries. Where there's no Will, we guide the surviving family through the Letters of Administration process in the Supreme Court of Victoria, keeping things moving while you focus on what matters most.

Why a Lawyer Rather Than a DIY Will Kit

Online Will kits are cheap, but they rarely hold up, especially when family circumstances are anything other than straightforward. Errors in execution, unclear wording, or outdated documents can leave your loved ones with a costly, stressful mess. We charge fixed fees upfront, so you receive proper legal advice at a price you know before we begin, not a surprise bill for your loved ones later on which is when problems always appear.

Why Choose Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers

We are a small firm, and that is intentional. Here's what that means for you when you choose us as your Wills and Estates lawyer in Melbourne:

  • Specialist leadership: Trish is one of roughly 75 Accredited Property Law Specialists in Victoria, with strong knowledge across estate planning and deceased estate matters.

  • Fixed-fee transparency: You will know the cost of your Will, Estate Plan or probate application before you commit, with no surprise invoices.

  • Honest advice: We tell you how it is, not what you want to hear; that's how we deliver genuine value.

  • Real person service: 75% of our clients return to us and 85% of new work comes from referrals, a reflection of how we treat people and the relationships we form with our clients.

  • Local knowledge: Based in Clyde North, we understand Melbourne and Casey families, property markets and local needs.

      Would you like more information?
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Common Questions About Wills and Estates in Melbourne

  • Costs vary based on complexity, but we quote a fixed fee upfront so there are no surprises. A properly drafted will costs a fraction of the cost your family may be faced with when dealing with an intestate estate (without a Will) or poorly drafted Will, later.

  • When a person dies intestate, legislation determines how the estate is distributed, regardless of what the deceased may have intended. A surviving family member typically applies for Letters of Administration through the Supreme Court, which our team can advise you on and prepare and lodge on your behalf.

  • The Court generally grants straightforward applications within a few weeks of filing. Complex estates, family disputes or missing documents can extend the timeline significantly. We respond to new enquiries within one business day and provide efficient services whilst keeping you updated at every stage.

  • Yes. Life changes and things happen, and your Will needs to be updated to reflect that. We recommend reviewing your estate plan after marriage, divorce, the arrival of a new child, buying property, or starting or selling a business.

  • An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) appoints someone to manage your financial and legal affairs if you lose capacity and can no longer make decisions. Without one, it is too late and your family may need to apply to VCAT for a guardianship or administration order. This is an expensive, slow process leaving you vulnerable at a crucial time. We recommend everyone have an EPOA alongside their Will as part of their Estate Plan.

  • A Medical Treatment Decision Maker (MTDM) is the person authorised to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. It's entirely separate from an Enduring Power of Attorney, which covers financial matters only. If you haven't formally appointed an MTDM, you could be left vulnerable with someone making decisions for your medical care that may not align with your wishes.

  • Yes. Buying property can significantly affect how your estate is distributed.Having an experienced lawyer review your Will and ownership structure will ensure your assets are distributed exactly how you want them to.The wrong ownership structure could see your property being distributed in a different way than how you wished.We recommend reviewing your estate plan any time you acquire or sell significant property or have any major life changes.

  • Generally, no. Superannuation does not form part of your estate and cannot be distributed by your Will. Instead, making a binding death benefit nomination to the trustee of your super fund is a safer way to ensure your nominated beneficiaries receive your super. Getting this wrong means your super may go to people you did not wish for it to go. We advise on how to align your super nominations with your estate plan.

Speak With a Melbourne Wills and Estates Lawyer Today

Whether you're ready to draft your first Will, update an existing estate plan, or apply for probate after losing a loved one, we're here to help you take the next step with confidence. Our team takes a calm, practical approach and stays committed to keeping advice honest, affordable and tailored to your situation.

Book an appointment with Trish and the team at Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers:

Our office offers on-site parking and wheelchair accessible entry, with appointments available Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. Get in touch today and find out why families across Melbourne and the City of Casey continue to choose us as their trusted Wills and estates lawyer.