Authoritative, plain-language guides on executor duties, beneficiary rights, undue influence, elder financial abuse, and probate disputes. Written for people navigating complex estate issues across New South Wales and Queensland.
Start here for the most commonly sought information on estate and probate disputes.
What executors can and cannot do, common traps, when to seek legal advice, and how NSW and Queensland law differ on executor obligations.
Read the guide →What beneficiaries may ask for, what they cannot assume, disputes with executors, and when to challenge the will instead of waiting.
Read the guide →Persuasion vs coercion, case-pattern examples, evidence requirements, the high proof burden under Briginshaw, and state-specific notes.
Read the guide →What probate is, when it is required, how long it takes in NSW and QLD, and what happens when there is no will (intestacy).
From initial review and evidence gathering through negotiation, mediation, and court proceedings. What to expect at each stage.
Undue influence, lack of capacity, fraud, forgery, suspicious circumstances, and want of knowledge and approval — plus the evidence each requires.
The most complete guide on this site to proving coercion in will-making, with case patterns, evidence checklists, and state-by-state analysis.
For executors and beneficiaries upholding a will. Evidence of capacity, proper execution, independent advice, and the presumption of validity.
Your duties, what you can and cannot do, common traps, state differences, and when to seek professional advice.
What constitutes misconduct, how beneficiaries can seek removal, and what the court considers when deciding whether to replace an executor.
Curated information for executors administering estates in NSW and Queensland, from probate applications to beneficiary disputes.
What information you can request, when executor delay becomes actionable, and the difference between challenging a will and asserting beneficiary rights.
Your entitlement to accounts, information, and transparency. What to do when an executor refuses to communicate.
Information and guidance for beneficiaries concerned about delay, non-disclosure, or suspicious estate administration.
Signs and red flags, before-death steps, after-death estate disputes, POA overlap, and service contacts including 1800 ELDERHelp.
How abuse manifests in estate planning, warning signs, reporting pathways, and the intersection with POA misuse.
How POA misuse depletes estates, tribunal pathways in NCAT and QCAT, and how POA abuse intersects with will disputes.
Succession Act 2006, probate timelines, caveat procedure, family provision claims under Chapter 3, NCAT for POA disputes.
Six-month expectation, court processing times, requisition responses, and what happens when probate is contested.
Succession Act 1981, s 10(2) signature rule, s 24 lost will presumption, Criminal Code s 488 forgery penalty, QCAT for EPOA.
How QCAT handles enduring power of attorney disputes, review of attorney conduct, and the role of the Public Guardian.
What documents to gather, how to preserve evidence, the importance of solicitor files, medical records, and financial statements.
A scannable checklist of critical documents for any estate dispute — from wills and codicils to bank statements and medical records.
Red flags, immediate steps, what not to do, and documents to gather when you suspect fraud in an estate.
Warning signs, evidence checklist, and protective steps when you suspect coercion in will-making.
What to do in the first days and weeks after being appointed executor — securing assets, locating the will, and communicating with beneficiaries.
Steps to take when you are a beneficiary and something feels wrong — from information requests to legal action.
Recognise the signs of elder coercion in estate planning — isolation, dependency, rapid will changes, and controlling behaviour.
The questions and topics our readers search for most often.
These guides provide general information. For advice tailored to your circumstances — especially if you are concerned about a will, executor conduct, or elder abuse — speak with a specialist estate disputes lawyer.
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