National Crime Who refers to us
We receive referrals from a wide range of professionals who encounter estate and probate concerns in the course of their work. These include:
Accountants & Tax Agents
You may notice unusual transactions, unexplained withdrawals from estate or elder accounts, discrepancies between declared assets and what you understand the estate to contain, or pressure on elderly clients to make financial decisions that seem inconsistent with their long-term wishes.
Financial Advisers & Planners
You may observe sudden changes to estate planning instructions, new beneficiaries being introduced late in life, or a client being accompanied to meetings by a person who appears to speak for them. These are potential indicators of coercion or undue influence.
Aged Care Providers & Case Managers
You are on the front line of elder care. You may observe family members isolating a resident, restricting visits, or making financial decisions that appear to benefit the visitor rather than the resident. These are red flags for elder financial abuse.
Solicitors (Non-Litigation)
If you practice in conveyancing, family law, or general commercial law and encounter an estate or probate dispute, we are happy to accept your referral. We do not compete with your ongoing work — we focus on the dispute and return the client to you for other matters.
What to send
When you refer a client to us, the information you can provide — subject to your client's consent and your professional obligations — helps us assess the matter efficiently. The following is useful but not required:
- A brief summary of what you have observed — the timeline, the people involved, and the specific concern.
- The state where the estate is (or will be) administered — NSW or Queensland — or where the older person resides.
- Whether the person has passed away or is still living — this determines the relevant legal pathway (probate versus protective/tribunal proceedings).
- Any documents you can share with consent — for example, a copy of the will (if you hold one), recent account statements, correspondence that raises concern, or enduring power of attorney documents.
- Your assessment of urgency — are assets at immediate risk, or is this a matter where investigation can proceed at a measured pace?
We are always happy to receive a telephone call first so that we can discuss the matter before anything is put in writing. Call +18392109187 and ask to speak with a lawyer about a referral.
How referrals are handled
We take referrals seriously — both our obligation to the client and our relationship with you as the referring professional.
1. Prompt acknowledgment
We acknowledge every referral within one business day. If the matter is urgent, we aim to respond within hours.
2. Direct client contact
We contact the client directly — with their consent — to arrange a confidential discussion. We do not require you to be the intermediary.
3. Honest assessment
We provide a frank assessment of whether there is a legal pathway worth pursuing. If we do not believe we can help, we say so — and we may be able to suggest an alternative referral.
4. Keeping you informed
With the client's consent, we keep you informed of material developments. You remain the client's trusted adviser — we handle the litigation.
5. Returning the client
Once the dispute is resolved, the client returns to you for their ongoing accounting, financial planning, or care needs. We do not retain clients beyond the scope of the dispute.
6. No referral fees
We do not pay referral fees or commissions. Our relationship with referrers is based on mutual professional respect and a shared commitment to the client's best interests.
Why refer to us?
- We only do estate disputes. There is no risk that we will absorb your client into a broader general practice. We focus on the dispute and then step back.
- We understand the professional context. We work regularly with accountants, financial planners, and aged care professionals. We know how to communicate in language that your client — and you — will understand.
- We respect your client relationship. We do not market other legal services to referred clients. We do not approach your other clients. Our role is limited to the specific estate or probate matter you have identified.
- NSW and Queensland coverage. Our practice spans both states, so if you have clients with estates or assets in either jurisdiction, we can handle the matter.
Make a referral or discuss a potential matter
If you have a client whose situation raises estate or probate concerns, we welcome your call. We can discuss the matter in principle before any information is shared — to help you determine whether a referral is appropriate.