Leading Wills, Estates & Succession Lawyers
Sunshine Coast
Here to help you plan for the future or assist in difficult times.
50 Years of Legal Expertise
Award-Winning Service
Trusted by Our Clients
Commercial Team of the Year Finalist - Australian Law Awards
Employer of Choice - Australasian Lawyers
Regional/Suburban Law Firm of the Year Finalist - Australian Law Awards
Queensland Solicitor of the Year Finalist - QLS Excellence in Law Awards
Regional Practitioner of the Year Finalist - QLS Excellence in Law Awards
Law Firm Leaders - Australasian Lawyers
Recent Law Awards
Our Succession Services
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With our Estate and Succession Planning services, we work closely with you, your accountants, financial planners and other trusted advisers, to understand your situation and the needs of your beneficiaries. With a clear picture of your needs, we help you determine the best way of passing your wealth onto your loved ones through an effective estate planning strategy.
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While end-of-life care and death may be uncomfortable to think about, having the necessary legal documents in place can help make this difficult life stage less distressing.
With a professionally prepared will, your estate can smoothly pass on to your beneficiaries with legal responsibility seamlessly transitioning to your executors.
Your Will comes into effect when you die. An Enduring Power of Attorney applies while you are alive and appoints a trusted person or persons to take care of your financial affairs and make health and personal decisions for you in the event that you lose capacity and can’t make those decisions for yourself.
Choosing a trusted person to be appointed under an Advance Health Directive can give you peace of mind that they will look out for your best interests regarding your medical treatment, home life and matters not covered under an Enduring Power of Attorney.
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Testamentary trusts are set up within a Will as a way to provide greater control and flexibility to your executors and beneficiaries regarding the distribution of an Estate and income on inheritances.
Testamentary discretionary trusts may provide:
A tax-effective solution for distributing the deceased estate and income earned on assets to beneficiaries through family trusts.
Asset protection from creditors and ex-spouses.
More choice and flexibility regarding how and when the assets are distributed.
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Many people don't realise that your superannuation is held in trust for you by your super fund trustee. You don't directly own your super account; therefore, it doesn't automatically form part of your estate. The trustee of your super fund is ultimately responsible for deciding where to pay your superannuation death benefit when you die.
You can provide different types of death benefit nominations to your super fund to detail where you would like them to pay your super death benefit. We help you understand the difference between the death benefit nominations, and help you put the right one in place.
It is essential to review your death benefit nominations periodically to make sure the right people are listed as your beneficiaries, and to ensure a nomination remains in place.
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Your Final Will and Testament might be the most important document you sign in your life. For this reason, it's essential to keep it safe. We provide document storage so you can rest assured your Will is in safe hands for when your loved ones need to access it.
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When a loved one passes away, managing their estate can be an overwhelming task. We can manage deceased estates on your behalf, so you can take some space to go through the grieving process without added stress.
We assist by:
Identifying whether your loved one left a Will.
Checking the validity of the Will and helping with interpretation and the transfer of assets and personal effects to ensure all beneficiaries receive their entitlements.
Obtaining a death certificate.
Advising whether the Will has effectively transferred all assets.
Carefully explaining and guiding you through your obligations as Executor.
Preparing an application for a Grant of Probate.
Ensuring all debts are settled and lifetime tax affairs are dealt with.
Identifying any risk of claims against the estate, or claims the estate could make against a third party.
Applying for Letters of Administration for the appropriate people if the Will is invalid or doesn't exist.
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It's an extremely difficult time when a loved one passes away. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for tension to be high and issues to arise between beneficiaries, administrators and executors.
We assist by:
Informing those involved of their rights and obligations so they are in a position to carry out the role they have been appointed.
Outlining time-critical components and deadlines.
Managing Estate Litigation and supporting beneficiaries to defend any claims.
Professionally navigating disputes in a systematic way.
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Probate is Supreme Court recognition of the last Will of the deceased and the Executors appointed by that Will. You may need a Grant of Probate before you can carry out your obligations as executor.
We advise you as to whether you should apply for Probate and help you make the application so you can focus on being with your loved ones.
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When someone dies intestate (without a valid Will) the administration of the deceased’s estate cannot begin until someone obtains Letters of Administration of the estate.
The Court Rules provide for who can apply for Letters of Administration (and in what order of priority).
We can help you apply for Letters of Administration if a loved one has died without making a Will.
Being there for you during your Succession matters.
Our Succession Team boasts experience, compassion and diligence. We help you plan for the future and assist you in difficult times.
How we help.
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Wills & Estate Planning
Providing the tools and strategies to safeguard your assets and pass them on to future generations.
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Probate & Estate Administration
We handle the paperwork and legal requirements so you can navigate the grieving process without additional stress.
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Estate Disputes
Expertly managing disputes and estate litigation and offering support to beneficiaries in defending against any claims.
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Testamentary Trusts
A testamentary trust can offer a great deal of flexibility, asset protection, and tax benefits for your beneficiaries.
Meet our Succession Team
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Peter Griffin - Practice Group Leader
Peter Griffin is both a Partner of the law firm and a Lawyer, heading up our Succession team. He has worked within the Legal Industry for over 30 years and enjoys helping clients with both their estate planning and estate administration matters.
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Ashleigh Finzel - Lawyer
Ashleigh Finzel has proficiency in various legal domains throughout her career and thrives in the dynamic realm of Succession Law at Bradley & Bray, where she works closely with Peter Griffin.
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Debbie Davis - Senior Paralegal | Practice Manager
Debbie Davis has worked with our firm for 40 years and boasts impressive industry and firm knowledge across our practice areas. As an incredible long-standing member of our team, Debbie is our resident ‘go-to’ person in the firm.
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Colleen Finnerty - Succession Paralegal
Colleen Finnerty is a succession paralegal at Bradley & Bray Lawyers bringing over 30 years of experience working in Australian, British and American law firms. She genuinely enjoys helping people and takes pride in going the extra mile for clients and her team.
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Mhorag Griffin - Administration Assistant
Mhorag Griffin brings a unique blend of skills and dedication to the team. Having run her own successful business and worked for major retail companies, she has honed her ability to deliver exceptional customer service within a collaborative team environment.
Recent Awards.
Our Practice Areas
Commercial & Business Law
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Commercial deals require commercially-minded expertise. Our team of leading Sunshine Coast Commercial Lawyers has been advising on commercial legal matters for a wide range of businesses for over 50 years. Our Commercial Team is trusted with our clients' most valuable assets. We understand the importance of your business, so we are honoured to be considered as your trusted business & commercial lawyers.
Real Estate Law
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If you're looking for a Real Estate Lawyer, look no further. Residential and Commercial Real Estate is our domain. From assisting first home buyers to advising on large scale land development, our Sunshine Coast property lawyers go above and beyond when delivering legal services. Working with the Bradley & Bray Property Law Team will ensure you have the support and protection you need to go through the real estate transaction process effortlessly.
Succession Law
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Succession and Estate Planning to let your legacy live on. Taking control of you and your family's affairs with the Estate Lawyers you will have for life. From wills & estate planning to deceased estate administration, we support you through any succession matter you may encounter. Utilising the knowledge of many years of practice, together with a proactive approach to handling Succession matters, our team can help you plan for the future or assist in difficult times.
We’re here to help.
Level 1, 15 Ann Street, Nambour Qld 4560
PO Box 243, Nambour Qld 4560
24/7 Online Tools.
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