Scammell & Co. is one of South Australia’s leading providers of wills and estates services. We have built an enviable reputation for quality and thoroughness so you can trust us to take care of your needs no matter how complex they are. Having a will made by an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer provides peace of mind and ensures your final wishes are carried out, including what happens to your assets after you die.
“[my lawyer] provided a highly professional service and their estate planning expertise is second to none.”
Estate Planning ensures your beneficiaries obtain the maximum benefit from your assets at the minimum tax rate. Unlike standard wills, estate planning wills offer your beneficiaries the option to take their inheritance via a Testamentary Trust managed by one or more people called trustees.
A Testamentary Trust comes into effect upon the death of the will maker and is a separate structure that holds estate assets for beneficiaries. It is a tax-effective mechanism for passing assets through different generations and provides flexibility for beneficiaries as to how and when they take their inheritance.
You can establish a testamentary trust in your will and appoint anyone to be a trustee, including the executor of your estate or one of your beneficiaries. They will be responsible for distributing capital and income between your beneficiaries at any time and in any proportion.
A Power of Attorney is a document that gives a person the power to act on your behalf while you are alive in relation to your legal and financial affairs. Powers of Attorney cease upon your death, at which time your will comes into effect. There are two forms of Power of Attorney:
An Advance Care Directive sets out your wishes regarding future healthcare, accommodation and lifestyle decisions. It:
Our wills and estate planning lawyers can prepare these important documents for you.
One of the important things a person should have in place is a valid and up-to-date Will. Having a Will made by an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer provides peace of mind and ensures your final wishes are carried out, including what happens to your assets after you die.
Scammell & Co is one of South Australia’s leading providers of Wills & Estates services. We have established an enviable reputation for quality and thoroughness. No matter how simple or complex your estate planning needs are, our lawyers have the expertise to provide customised Wills and Estate Planning
Life consists of many stages and milestones and it is important that your Will reflects your changing circumstances. You need a new or updated Will if:
For your convenience Scammell & Co offers several options to get your Wills and Estate Planning needs underway. Initial consultations and follow-up appointments are available via:
Scammell & Co offers competitive fixed-fees for simple Wills, Powers of Attorney and Advance Care Directives with discounts offered on combinations of these. Discounts are also offered to Seniors Card and Concession Card holders.
Call or email us today to speak with our Wills & Estates team about your needs, or to book an appointment at an office convenient to you.
Disclaimer: Due to our competitive fixed-fee pricing structure for Wills, Powers of Attorney and Advance Care Directives, the FREE 30 minute offer for initial appointments does not apply.
In recent years there has been an uptake in home-made and online Wills. On the face of it they seem an inexpensive solution but it is very much a case of buyer beware. Low-cost Will options are often found to be low-quality and more expensive in the long-run. These types of Wills are also often found to be invalid for not meeting the requirements of the Wills Act and the Probate Rules. Moreover, they are the most probable cause for the massive increase in Inheritance Claims and contested Wills and Estates. Below is a table highlighting the differences between a Scammell & Co Will and a home-made or online Will:
You need to update your will when you:
If you make your own will, problems may arise when it comes to executing it if you forget to:
If you unexpectedly become ill or have an accident, you may become unable to make legal or financial decisions (temporarily or permanently). Making a Power of Attorney while you are of sound mind will avoid the expense and complications which may cause difficulties for your family.
An Advance Care Directive makes it easy for others to know what your wishes are when you are unable to make decisions about your future health care, end of life, living arrangements and other personal matters yourself. It gives you peace of mind to know that you have made your wishes clear and that they will be respected.
