National Crime When to use this page
This page is for situations where you need to act quickly. If any of the following apply, you should seek advice today:
Assets are being moved or hidden
You have reason to believe estate assets — money, property, investments — are being transferred, withdrawn, or concealed by an executor, attorney, or family member.
An executor is acting without authority
Someone is selling estate assets, accessing accounts, or distributing property without a grant of probate — or in breach of their duties.
An elderly person is being pressured right now
You are concerned that an elderly relative is being isolated, pressured to change their will, or having their assets misused by a carer, family member, or new acquaintance.
Probate fraud is suspected
You believe a grant of probate was obtained through false information, a later will has been concealed, or the court has been misled about the estate.
A distribution is imminent and it is wrong
An executor is about to distribute the estate in a way that is unlawful, unfair, or based on a will you believe is invalid — and once assets are gone, recovery is far harder.
You have received court documents
You have been served with a summons, statement of claim, or caveat in relation to an estate dispute and time is running to respond.
If assets are at immediate risk
Do not wait for email. Call now for urgent advice about your options — including possible urgent court applications.
+18392109187Available during business hours AEST. Leave a message for after-hours callback.
Immediate next steps
If you are in an urgent situation, here is what to do — in order:
Stay calm
Do not confront the suspected wrongdoer. Do not accuse. Do not threaten legal action. Get advice first.
Document
Write down everything you know: dates, amounts, names, conversations. Take screenshots. Save emails.
Secure
If you have access to relevant documents — wills, bank statements, correspondence — keep copies in a safe place.
Call us
Speak with a lawyer who understands estate disputes. We will tell you honestly what can be done and how quickly.
Act
If urgent court protection is needed — caveats, freezing orders, injunctions — we move fast.
Do not do these things
In urgent estate situations, certain actions can make your position significantly worse — sometimes irreversibly. Do not do any of the following without legal advice:
- Do not confront or accuse the suspected wrongdoer. Alerting someone that you are onto them can cause them to move faster to hide or dissipate assets. Get advice before taking any steps that might tip them off.
- Do not send angry emails, texts, or letters. Anything you write can be used against you later — in negotiations, in mediation, or in court. Emotional communications can damage your credibility and your legal position.
- Do not sign any document without understanding it. If you are asked to sign a release, a renunciation, a settlement agreement, or any legal document related to the estate — do not sign it until a lawyer has reviewed it and explained its effect.
- Do not take estate assets into your own hands. Even if you believe you are entitled to them, taking assets without authority is unlawful and can seriously damage your position in any later dispute — including potential criminal exposure.
- Do not destroy or alter documents. Do not delete emails, throw away papers, or modify any document that may be relevant to the dispute. Destruction of evidence can have serious legal consequences, including adverse inferences drawn by the court.
- Do not assume there is nothing you can do. Courts have significant powers to protect estate assets — including freezing orders, caveats, and urgent injunctions. The key is to act before assets are gone. Time is your most critical resource.
- Do not wait to see what happens. In urgent situations, watching and waiting is usually the worst option. Assets can be transferred, spent, or hidden in a matter of hours or days. Once gone, recovery is far more difficult and expensive — and sometimes impossible.
The most common mistake in urgent estate disputes
People often confront the suspected wrongdoer, accuse them, and give them notice — and then the assets disappear overnight. The single most important rule in urgent estate protection is: get legal advice before you act. The law provides mechanisms to protect assets, but they work best when deployed without warning to the other side.
Documents to gather now
While you wait to speak with a lawyer, gather whatever you can from this list. You do not need everything — even one or two items can be helpful:
- The will (any version you have — the latest, earlier versions, copies, drafts)
- Death certificate (if available)
- Grant of probate or letters of administration (if granted)
- Bank statements for the deceased's accounts (especially the 6-12 months before and after death)
- Property title searches or rates notices for real estate
- Power of attorney or enduring power of attorney documents
- Correspondence with the executor, solicitor, or other parties
- Medical records or assessments (particularly near the time of any will changes)
- Solicitor file notes or correspondence about will instructions
- Text messages, emails, or social media messages relating to the estate or the deceased's intentions
- Your own notes — dates, conversations, amounts, names, and what you observed
- Any court documents you have received
- Photographs of assets, documents, or anything else relevant (do not rely on memory)
Do not alert anyone that you are gathering documents
If you suspect someone of wrongdoing, gathering documents quietly is important. Do not ask the suspected person for copies — they may destroy or alter documents. If you already have access to documents, copy them now and store them securely. If you do not have access, we can advise on legal mechanisms to obtain them.
Urgent enquiry form
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+18392109187Don't wait until it's too late
Estate assets can be transferred, withdrawn, or hidden quickly — sometimes in a single day. Once gone, recovery is far more difficult, expensive, and sometimes impossible. The sooner you act, the more options are available to protect your interests.