Sympathetic professionals you can rely on when planning for your loved ones and end-of-life.
Thinking about how to look after your loved ones, or causes that matter to you, when you are gone is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
Equally, end-of-life planning and fulfilling a loved one’s wishes, can put a huge strain on friends and family as they navigate the ins and outs of Wills, estates and Powers of Attorney.
At Flood Chalmers Meade (FCM), we understand the sensitivities that surround planning for aged care, creating safeguards for life after you’re gone, and navigating the death of a loved one.
We pride ourselves on striking a balance between providing informative, solution-focused expertise as well as holding your hand throughout the journey.
Our Will services include:
- Single Wil: Standalone
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Single Will Full Suite
including Personal, Financial and Medical Power of Attorney - Couple Will: Standalone
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Couple Will Full Suite
including Personal, Financial and Medical Power of Attorney
- Pensioner Single Will: Standalone
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Pensioner Will Full Suite
including Personal, Financial and Medical Power of Attorney - Pensioner Double Will: Standalone
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Pensioner Double Will Full Suite
including Personal, Financial and Medical Power of Attorney
What is a Will exactly?
A Will is a legal document that comes into effect immediately upon death. If you pass away without a Will, your assets are distributed according to law, which may not align exactly with your wishes. It’s not always the case that your estate is automatically passed onto your surviving spouse or family member. That’s why it’s a good idea to dictate exactly what you wish to happen, should you pass away.
Wills are a safeguard to ensure your loved ones, or causes you are passionate about, are looked after, the way you intended, when you’re gone.
Why should I update my Will?
There are many moments in life that call for an update to your Will. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- A change in family situation
- A new or dissolved relationship
- Moving house
- Significant changes to your assets
- A change of heart
Our Will experts and estate litigation lawyers can help you navigate:
Probate and deceased estates
Should you be appointed as an Executor of a Will, you’re what is considered the legal representative of the person who has passed away. This is an important role, and a difficult one to navigate when you yourself are likely grieving.
If the deceased had property in Victoria, you’ll need to obtain a Grant of Probate from the Supreme Court of Victoria, which proves that a Will is valid and allows you to carry out the wishes within it.
If your loved one has not left behind a Will, their estate will be distributed in accordance with the law – which often involves seeking a Grant of Letters Administration, authorising the next of Kin to administer the estate. Our team are experts when it comes to navigating these matters carefully.
We’ll guide you through the process in a sympathetic, compassionate manner.
Powers of Attorney
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that appoints a person (‘Attorney’) to act on your behalf during your lifetime – not to be confused with a Will which is needed after death.
The various kinds of Powers of Attorney we can help you appoint include:
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Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial and Personal)
for managing financial, legal and lifestyle affairs including where you will live. -
Medical Power of Attorney
for making decisions on your behalf about your medical treatment if you are unable to do so. -
General Power of Attorney
for signing on your behalf for a specific task, for example signing documents for a real estate transaction. -
Company Power of Attorney
for authorising a person who is not a director to sign on behalf of a company.
Powers of Attorney
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that appoints a person (‘Attorney’) to act on your behalf during your lifetime – not to be confused with a Will which is needed after death.
The various kinds of Powers of Attorney we can help you appoint include:
-
Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial and Personal)
for managing financial, legal and lifestyle affairs including where you will live. -
Medical Power of Attorney
for making decisions on your behalf about your medical treatment if you are unable to do so. -
General Power of Attorney
for signing on your behalf for a specific task, for example signing documents for a real estate transaction. -
Company Power of Attorney
for authorising a person who is not a director to sign on behalf of a company.
Did you know our Wills, estates and powers of attorney lawyers can also:
- Discuss which Powers of Attorney make sense for your life
- Navigate paperwork to appoint Powers of Attorney
- Consider “every scenario” when it comes to writing a Will that will serve your loved ones in the best way possible
- Make sense of Retirement Village Contracts for your parents or grandparents.
We’ve worked tirelessly with retirement villages across Melbourne when it comes to Aged Care Contracts. Keilor East, Essendon, Niddrie and Maribyrnong based retirement villages have all welcomed our experts on-site to deliver presentations that help people understand their options in end-of-life care and legalities.