Wills & Estates, Rockingham & Jurien Bay, Western AustraliaYou don't have to navigate this alone.
When someone you love passes away, the last thing you need is paperwork. Michelle can take that off your plate entirely.
Where to start
When someone dies, their estate, everything they owned, needs to be properly administered before it can be distributed to the people they've left behind. The process depends on whether they had a valid will.
Michelle can guide you through every step, or take the process over completely so you can focus on what matters.
When there is a valid willProbate
Probate is an official court document that confirms a will is valid and gives the executor, the person named in the will, legal authority to manage and distribute the estate. Without it, banks and other institutions won't release the deceased's assets.
When there is no valid willLetters of Administration
If someone passes away without a valid will, or without naming an executor, Letters of Administration serves the same purpose as probate. It gives a chosen person, the administrator, official authority to manage and distribute the estate according to the law.
ONE LAWYER, START TO FINISH
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ONE WHO ACTUALLY PICKS UP THE PHONE
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SALTWATER LEGAL
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PLAIN ENGLISH
•
PROPER LAW
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ONE LAWYER, START TO FINISH • ONE WHO ACTUALLY PICKS UP THE PHONE • SALTWATER LEGAL • PLAIN ENGLISH • PROPER LAW •
How Michelle helps
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(01)
Initial meeting to review the will and understand the estate
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(02)
Collect information about assets: property, bank accounts, personal belongings
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(03)
Prepare and lodge court documents for Probate or Letters of Administration
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(04)
Once approved, manage the estate: paying debts, transferring property, distributing assets to beneficiaries
(What to expect along the way)Administering an estate is more
involved than most people expect. A few things worth knowing upfront:
Time
If everything is straightforward, the process typically takes three to six months from when the court grants Probate or Letters of Administration. It can take longer if property needs to be sold, assets are difficult to locate, or family members disagree.
Executor responsibilities
Executors are often surprised by how much work and responsibility is involved. Having a lawyer manage the process means you don't have to carry that alone.
Family disagreements
They happen more often than people expect. Michelle can help navigate these situations practically and sensitively.
Contested wills
If someone challenges the will, it can slow things down significantly. Michelle will let you know early if this is a risk.
You focus on your family. Michelle will handle the rest.
Let Michelle take it from here.