Hartwell Legal can help
Whether you need help with estate planning, a Will, powers of attorney, a deceased estate, trust succession or any related litigation matter, Hartwell Legal has the expertise and experience to meet your needs.
We will do our utmost to make the experience positive and hassle-free.
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Estate Planning
Estate Planning is the process of planning for incapacity and death across all aspects of family life and assets. Estate planning is very personal and specific to the client’s unique circumstances. Hartwell Legal ensures that your unique needs and wishes are reflected in your Estate Plan.
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Wills
Hartwell Legal takes a comprehensive and holistic approach when creating a Will. We look at all of the assets owned or controlled by the family, as well as the personal situations of the people involved. We then advise about the best way to structure the Will to suit your family’s unique needs.
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Deceased Estates
The affairs of a person who has died are known as ‘deceased estates’. When lawyers refer to ‘deceased estates’, this term covers everything that needs to be done to lay the person to rest, wind up their affairs and distribute their assets.
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Trusts
Trusts are stand-alone entities that have their own legal personalities. Trusts continue to exist even after the incapacity or death of the key people. At Hartwell Legal, we ensure that these documents are drafted to comply with and complement existing documentation
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Administration & Trustee Services
Katerina accepts appointments as an independent attorney, executor, administrator and trustee. She has been appointed to act as administrator for persons without capacity by the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal, as well as by the Supreme Court of Victoria in deceased estates. She also acts as executor and attorney on authority from several clients at any one time.
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Disputes, Mediation & Litigation
Unfortunately, sometimes issues arise about someone’s Will or power of attorney. At Hartwell Legal, we work through the issues with the aggrieved person or the person coming under attack and resolve them in the most practical, cost-efficient and timely manner. This includes whether it is valid or fair, or whether an estate, a trust or someone’s affairs have been properly managed.
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Powers of Attorney & Incapacity Disputes
Powers of attorney are documents you can sign now to appoint the person of your choice to make decisions for you if you lose capacity as a result of an illness, injury or accident. Powers of attorney operate for the period of incapacity. There are three main types of powers of attorney - medical, personal and financial.
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Limited & Unusual Grants of Representation
Sometimes it is necessary for an executor or administrator to obtain a limited grant of representation. This is where the executor or administrator has to urgently deal with an estate asset and cannot wait for a general grant of representation, where a grant is required for the purpose of representing an estate in litigation, or where an executor or administrator goes missing, is incapacitated (e.g. has dementia) or is a minor.
Not sure where to start?
We understand that these processes can be confusing and overwhelming. Our staff are happy to answer any questions you might have and find the solution that is right for you.