Estate Planning Lawyer NSW
Wills, Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship
Estate planning in NSW comes down to three documents. Your Will covers who gets what and who looks after your kids when you're gone. A Power of Attorney covers who manages your money and property if you can't. An Enduring Guardian covers who makes your health and lifestyle decisions if you can't. Together they protect you now and later. Better to plan than be blindsided.
Book a free 10-minute chatThe free chat covers how our process works and doesn't include legal advice.
Based in NSW and helping families plan their estates in the ACT, Queensland and Victoria too. See our Canberra page, or ask us about your state.
Top Rated Law Firm 2026, Wills & Estates, Coffs Harbour (Best Solicitors, based on Google reviews). 2025 Smokeball Australia Community Hero Award.
The three documents
What you need, and what each one does
These documents can only be signed while you have mental capacity, so sooner is easier on everyone.
Wills in NSW
"They'll just know" isn't a plan. A Will tells everyone what happens when you're gone:
- Who looks after your affairs?
- Who is guardian of your children under 18?
- Who gets your bank accounts, and who gets the vase you made in kindergarten?
- How old will your kids be when they inherit?
Your Will does nothing until you pass away, and you can change it any time you still have testamentary capacity (legal speak for while you still have your marbles). It must be signed and witnessed correctly to be enforceable in NSW. With no Will, NSW intestacy laws decide who gets what.
Wills in NSW · Step-by-step guide · Testamentary trust Wills
Powers of Attorney in NSW
A back-up plan for your bank account. Someone you trust deals with your money and property if you can't. There are two types:
- General Power of Attorney. Your attorney signs financial documents for you, but only while you have mental capacity. Handy when you're overseas.
- Enduring Power of Attorney. Your attorney can keep acting even if you lose mental capacity.
Enduring Guardianship in NSW
Who speaks up when you can't? Your guardian can agree to medical and dental treatment, life-extending measures, where you live and what personal services you receive, if you're partly or fully unable to decide. A medical practitioner decides when that point has been reached.
An advance care directive is where you write down the medical treatment you do and don't want, including at the end of life. It helps your enduring guardian make decisions that match your wishes, because they know what you would choose. In NSW, a clear and valid one is legally binding.
How it works
Your estate planning journey, step by step
Book a free 10-minute chat
Pick a time in our online calendar, send an email or give us a call.
Meet with us
Online from home, by phone or email, or in person at our Coffs Harbour office. We talk through your family, goals and options.
See our fixed fees
Our fees for preparing documents are fixed and published on our estate planning costs page.
Review your estate planning documents
We send your estate planning documents to you to review.
Sign
We give you your documents to sign, with clear instructions if you're signing remotely. Or you can come in and sign at our Coffs Harbour office. Guardian or attorney interstate? We can meet them on Teams.
Keep it safe
We store your originals in our fire-resistant safes for free and remind you to review.
Why choose Copeland Estates Legal for your Will and estate planning?
Your documents are prepared by an experienced solicitor who works only in estate planning and deceased estates. The whole life cycle. Unlike traditional law firms, we come to you, with no driving to a stuffy lawyer's office and waiting.
Estate planning and deceased estates only
You deal with an experienced solicitor who works only in this area of law, not a generalist who does a bit of everything.
Free safe custody
We keep your originals in our fire-resistant safes at no charge. We can provide certified copies and release your originals to you or, after your death, to your executor.
Free review reminders
Life changes. We remind you to review your documents so they keep up with your family.
Online or in person
Meeting online means no travel, so it's easier to fit into your busy schedule. Book a time in our online calendar.
Guardians signed on Teams
Is your Enduring Guardian interstate or overseas? We can meet them on Microsoft Teams to sign, so they don't need to pay for their own solicitor to witness it.
Fixed fees you can see
Our fees for preparing your documents are fixed and published on this website, so you know what to expect before you start.
Help for the people you leave behind
A letter of wishes and an estate planning booklet are included as part of our estate planning packages. They tell your executor, attorney or guardian who we are and where your originals are kept.
Questions
Estate planning questions we hear all the time
Do I need a Will?
If you don't have one, NSW intestacy laws decide who your beneficiaries are and what they receive. A Will lets you make those choices yourself, including who looks after your children.
Can I sort my Will online in NSW?
You can meet with us online from home. We give you your Will to sign, with clear instructions if you're remote, or you can sign at our Coffs Harbour office. It still has to be signed and witnessed correctly to be valid in NSW.
How much does a Will cost?
Our document preparation fees are fixed and listed on our estate planning costs page.
What's the difference between a Power of Attorney and an Enduring Guardian?
A Power of Attorney deals with your money and property. An Enduring Guardian makes health and lifestyle decisions. Most people need both, plus a Will.
What is a testamentary trust Will?
It's a Will that sets up a trust when you die, to hold what you leave for your beneficiaries. It isn't right for everyone, so we talk it through at your first meeting. Here's more on testamentary trust Wills in NSW.
Where should I keep my original Will?
We keep originals in our fire-resistant safes for free. Your family knows who to call, and we can release your documents to you or, after your death, to your executor.
How often should I review my Will?
Whenever life changes, such as a new baby, a separation, a new business or retirement. We also send you a reminder to review.
Is the first chat really free?
Yes. It's 10 minutes about how our process and documents work. We can't give legal advice on that call.
Ready to tick it off the list?
Whether you're making a Will or looking after a loved one's estate, we're here to help. Book a free 10-minute chat and let's work out your next step together.
Or call us on 1300 034 487
Written and reviewed by Delphine Copeland, Principal Solicitor. Last reviewed November 2026. General information only, as every family is different. Read how we use technology on our AI policy page.
Already have a Will? Life may have changed since you signed. Review or update your Will, Power of Attorney or Enduring Guardian.
Also helping families in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Sydney and Canberra. Looking after a loved one's estate? See our deceased estates lawyer page.
