CLAIRE DUNNING ESTATE LAWYER

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Wills and Estate Planning Northcote

Dedicated to Making Your Executor & Estate Planning Journey Easy

As the Principal Solicitor for Estate Planning & Assets, Claire Dunning focuses on providing tailored solutions to your estate planning and probate needs. We work closely with your financial planners and accountants in the delivery of estate planning and probate services.

Claire prides herself on providing timely service & a personable service.

Contact Claire
Start the process to creating your will today
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Claire Dunning Estate Lawyers Melbourne

Claire Dunning
Principal Solicitor Estate Planning & Asset Protection
Rockwell Bates

Melbourne's Estate Planning & Asset Protection Lawyer

With over 20 years legal experience in wills, deceased estates & estate planning; Claire Dunning has worked closely with her clients to understand their needs and requirements for protecting their assets.  

Discussions around estate planning and asset protection are often sensitive, difficult and complex. In my role as Principal Solicitor I can guide clients through these complicated legal fields and give them the confidence they need to navigate their estate. 

Estate Planning and Succession Lawyers North Melbourne

Book a Free 15-Min Consultation with Claire Dunning

Contact Us

Working with you we aim to make the process simple, quick and efficient.

Whatever your situation, you can rely on Claire to provide you with reliable and objective advice on your matter by following this process

Start the process to creating your will today

1. Make an Appointment


Mobile appointments available for those who cannot travel

2. Understand Your Needs

Discuss your wishes, concerns & asset protection needs

3. Answer Questions & Provide a Quote

Run through anything you need to know about wills & estate planning

4. Provide
Guidance

We will provide guidance & advice on the next stage of the process

5. Give you Time to Consider the Information Provided


Review the draft with your family

6. Add any Further Information

We will adapt your will or estate planning to reflect
desired changes

7. Deliver Documents for Signing

Your final chance to make any changes and to approve

8. We Provide Final Information

We provide you with all finalised documents & required steps for your Will, Estate or Probate

Looking for Advice on Creating a Will?

With over 18 years legal experience in wills, deceased estates & estate planning; Claire has put together this detailed guide to help you understand the process. 

Remove the complication around estate planning and creating a will and download our helpful guide today. 

DOWNLOAD YOUR EBOOK
Advice for Creating a will Melbourne
I took advantage of Claire’s free consultation offer and was impressed by Claire’s knowledge and experience. I had not reviewed my will since my children were born and wanted to make sure that I had a will that was fair, protected their interests and was easy to administer. I thought our circumstances were simple and straightforward, but Claire walked me through different scenarios and we soon realised that I needed something a bit more thoughtful and comprehensive than my existing will. Claire also put in place Powers of Attorney, ready for the time that they will be needed. For peace of mind and confidence that your wishes will be executed and your family protected, I would highly recommend Claire Dunning. You will find her sensitive, practical and expert, and your needs met in a very timely manner.
Sheree ConwaySWAG Bookkeeping
It is my pleasure to recommend Claire Dunning of At Home Legal, as an outstanding firm for all estate needs. Claire offers an excellent service, and she brings unique skill set to the table. Claire and her team provides fantastic ongoing support, I have received sound, carefully considered advice at a time when I needed it the most. I would recommend Claire and her firm’s service to anyone wanting clear direction and honest, trustworthy advice.
Andrew CMelbourne
“Dealing with Claire is fantastic, She is very personable, easy to deal with and makes estate planning easy”
Financial Planner Melbourne, 2020
“Claire was able to deal with all of the complications and the concerns of the many beneficiaries had when I was acting as the sole executor of the estate”
Executor Assist CustomerMelbourne, 2020
Executors Assist Services Melbourne 2020

Dealing with a Deceased Estate?

Being named as the executor of an estate comes with a range of duties and obligations. The role of an executor or administrator is unpaid, time consuming, and a highly-involved job that will often exceed 6 months of your time.

Executors are personally liable for the administration of the estate. It is prudent to employ legal support to aid you often during a personal period of loss or grievance.

Feel comfortable knowing that you are able to navigate the complex language & processes behind Estate Planning and download our eBook today.

Download Our Informative Guide

Preparing Your Will
INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR LEGAL PRACTITIONER

To prepare your will we need to know specific information about you, your family and your assets. The information you provide will be kept confidential and only used for the purpose of preparing your will. We suggest you keep a copy of form as the information will assist your executor(s) to identify your beneficiaries, assets and records and some questions have been included for this reason. Please provide as many details as possible in this form and once submitted we can confirm if the fee and provide you with a draft Will for your consideration and request any missing details.
Please provide details of any former life partner(s) if you wish to include them in your will or you think that they may make a claim against your estate.
Your child(ren) To avoid issues that have arisen in some wills it is important that we know details of all of your children (if any) and even if estranged and whether they are your biological children, step-children, donor-conceived or adopted.
Guardian(s) You can specify in your will the person(s) who you prefer to be the guardian of any children who are minors at the time of your death.
Family documentation Identity documents: driver’s licence/passport Otherwise: birth certificate / marriage certificate / citizen certificates / divorce decree nisi
Specific gifts Please list any specific gift you wish to make and whether they are to take effect:
Specific gifts Please list any specific gift you wish to make and whether they are to take effect:
Balance (residuary) of your estate The residuary of your estate is everything remaining in your estate after specific gifts have been made and all debts paid. We need to know what assets you have to be able to properly advise you on the terms of your will and to understand how your residuary will be distributed after your death. Is there an age that the beneficiaries need to reach before they can inherit above 18 years old?
Who do you want the balance (residuary) of your estate to go to:
Financial details
Accountant
Financial institution account details
Location of accounting/financial records other than those held by your accountant
Details of any company you hold an office in
Details of any trust you have any involvement in
Please provide a copy of the last annual return for the trust to your solicitor
Details of any other business interests
Real estate details
Please provide a copy of your title otherwise we can conduct a title search of each property to confirm the exact nature of ownership of the land by you.
If you hold the land as a joint proprietor any interest will pass to the surviving joint proprietor regardless of the terms of your Will. If held as tenants in common your interest will pass according to the terms of your will.
Other assests
Debts and other liabilities (credit cards, loans, hire purchase etc)
Superannuation
Money from your superannuation will not usually form part of your estate unless you have nominated your estate (LPR) as beneficiary but even then, the nomination may not be binding. It is important to consider who is likely to receive your superannuation when considering how to gift your other assets in your will.
Life insurance policy
Usually the beneficiary named in your life insurance policy will receive any payout so the amount is not part of your estate.
Funeral preference
Give some consideration to your funeral arrangements to assist your loved ones to comply with your wishes. Loved ones may also need to know if you are a donor and details of any pre-arrangements.
Details of any pre-arrangements
Other comments/wishes
Is there anything else you would like to tell us which you think assists us to prepare your will?
Signature
Or electronic signature
I
agree that once my name is inserted this will be treated as an electronic signature in accordance with section 9 of the Electronic Transactions (Victoria) Act 1999 (Vic). Complete form and At Home Legal will contact you to confirm the fee