Expertise

Wills & estate planning lawyers in Richmond & Melbourne.

Wills, powers of attorney, testamentary trusts, probate and estate disputes, designed around your family and your assets, and prepared by a lawyer every time. CMK Legal advises families across Richmond, Melbourne and Victoria.

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Lawyer-drafted, never a kit

Every document prepared and reviewed by a solicitor.

Blended families & trusts

Structures built for second marriages, businesses and trusts.

Secure original storage

We hold the signed original safely at no ongoing cost.

Fixed fees, quoted up front

Package pricing when wills and attorneys are done together.

Our wills & estates services.

Wills

A solicitor-drafted will built around your family, your property and your business interests.

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Powers of attorney

Enduring financial, personal and medical decision-maker appointments prepared and witnessed correctly.

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Testamentary trusts

Asset protection and tax flexibility for beneficiaries, built into the structure of your will.

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Probate & estate administration

We obtain the grant and administer the estate so your family does not have to.

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Contested wills & estate disputes

Family provision claims and estate disputes, resolved commercially wherever possible.

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Special disability trusts

Provide for a family member with a severe disability without affecting their pension.

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Superannuation death benefits

Binding nominations reviewed and aligned with your will, so your super goes where you intend.

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Dying without a will

What the intestacy formula decides, and the fixed-fee will that replaces it.

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Estate planning for young families

Guardianship, staged inheritances and protection for children under 18.

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How we help.

Map your assets and your family

Property, superannuation, business interests, trusts and jointly held assets, we identify what your will can and cannot control.

Recommend the right structure

A simple will, a testamentary trust, or protection for a vulnerable beneficiary. We set out the trade-offs honestly.

Draft and execute correctly

Documents prepared by a lawyer, signed and witnessed to Victorian requirements, then stored securely.

Support the family afterwards

Probate, administration and, where needed, defending or bringing a claim against the estate.

Wills and powers of attorney are quoted as a fixed fee, with a package discount when they are prepared together.

How your estate plan comes together.

  1. 01

    Initial consultation

    We talk through your family, your assets and what you want for each beneficiary.

  2. 02

    Asset and structure review

    Property, super, business and trust assets identified, including anything outside the estate.

  3. 03

    Strategy recommendation

    We recommend the documents and structures that fit, in plain English.

  4. 04

    Drafting

    Your will, powers of attorney and any trust terms are prepared by a lawyer.

  5. 05

    Review meeting

    We take you through the draft and adjust it until it reflects your intentions.

  6. 06

    Signing and storage

    Executed and witnessed correctly, stored securely, with a summary for your executor.

Transparent estate planning fees.

Fees depend on the complexity of your estate and whether testamentary trusts, powers of attorney and related documents are included. We quote a fixed fee in writing before any work starts.

Request a fixed-fee quote

FAQs

Wills & estates FAQs.

Still unsure? Call us on (03) 9008 7224 and speak to a lawyer, not a call centre.

How much does a will cost?
We quote a fixed fee before we start, with a discount when a will and powers of attorney are prepared together. More complex estates involving trusts, businesses or blended families are quoted after the initial consultation.
Is an online will kit good enough?
It can be, but most of the estate disputes we deal with involve homemade or kit wills that never accounted for a blended family, a business or an asset held in a trust or company. Every will we prepare is reviewed by a lawyer, for a fixed fee.
How often should I update my will?
After any marriage, separation, birth, death, property purchase or business change, and otherwise every three to five years.
Do you store the original will?
Yes. We store the signed original securely at no cost, and give you a copy plus a plain-English summary for your executor.
What happens if I die without a will?
Your estate is distributed under Victoria's intestacy rules, which may not reflect your wishes, and someone must apply for letters of administration before anything can be dealt with. It is slower, more expensive and far more likely to cause conflict.
Does my will cover superannuation?
Not automatically. Superannuation is generally paid by the fund trustee under a binding death benefit nomination rather than by your will. We review your nominations alongside your estate plan.
What is a testamentary trust and do I need one?
It is a trust created by your will that holds a beneficiary's inheritance rather than paying it out directly. It can protect assets and improve tax outcomes, particularly for minors, business owners and blended families, but it is not right for every estate.
How long does probate take in Victoria?
A straightforward grant usually takes six to twelve weeks from application, with administration of the estate taking several months after that depending on the assets and any claims.

Related services.

Property & conveyancing

Buying, selling and transferring property, including transfers from an estate.

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Business structuring

Succession for business owners, so your structure and your will work together.

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Estate litigation

Family provision claims and disputes about the validity of a will.

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Protect the people you love.

Book a consultation with a CMK Legal estate planning lawyer, or start your will online and we will take it from there.

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