Stephen Wilson practices predominantly in the area of wills and estates, encompassing; estate planning and asset protection, applications for probate and letters of administration and complex estate litigation.
With a career spanning over 25 years, Stephen combines deep technical expertise with a straightforward, personable approach, ensuring his clients feel confident and informed at every stage of their legal journey.
Stephen Wilson holds the degrees of bachelor of laws and bachelor of Arts, from the University of Otago. He was admitted as a solicitor in NSW in 1998 and in the High Court of Australia in 2018.
Stephen focuses predominantly on Wills and Estates, where he assists clients in navigating the sensitive and often intricate requirements of:
Outside the office, Stephen enjoys reading, music and spending time with friends and family.
A Will is a legally binding document that clearly sets out how your assets—such as property, money, investments, and shares—will be distributed after your death. It allows you to decide who benefits from your estate, appoint a trusted executor to carry out your wishes, and make provisions for your children or other dependants. Having a properly drafted Will helps minimise disputes, ensures your estate is handled according to your intentions, and provides certainty and peace of mind for your loved ones.
For a Will to be legally valid, it must meet specific legal requirements. The Will must be made in writing, signed by the person making the Will (the testator), and witnessed by two independent adults. Importantly, the witnesses must not be beneficiaries under the Will, or married to a beneficiary, to avoid invalidating any gifts. Meeting these formal requirements helps ensure your Will is legally enforceable and reflects your true intentions.
If you pass away without a valid Will, you are considered to have died “intestate.” When this happens, state intestacy laws determine how your assets are distributed—not your personal wishes. These laws set a fixed order of inheritance, which may exclude people you intended to provide for, such as a partner, stepchildren, close friends, or charities.
Dying without a Will can also lead to:
Creating a legally valid Will ensures your assets are distributed according to your intentions and gives you control over who benefits from your estate.
Click here to contact Stephen Wilson now to have your will prepared right away.
An Executor is the person or people you formally appoint in your Will to administer your estate after you pass away. Their role includes locating and protecting assets, paying outstanding debts and taxes, dealing with probate requirements, and distributing the estate to beneficiaries in accordance with the Will and applicable law. Choosing a capable executor is critical to ensuring your estate is managed efficiently and your final wishes are carried out correctly.
Probate is a formal legal process administered by the Supreme Court that confirms a deceased person’s will is valid and legally binding. Once probate is granted, the executor named in the will is authorised to administer the estate, including collecting assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the estate to beneficiaries in accordance with the will.
Click here to contact Stephen Wilson now to have your will prepared right away.
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