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Pauline has extensive experience and expertise in advising on all aspects of estate planning, including testamentary trusts, asset protection, trust structuring, powers of attorney and superannuation. Pauline also has extensive experience in preparing complex Probate applications in various Australian jurisdictions, administering significant estates and defending estates against Part IV claims.

Pauline has acted for numerous high net-worth individuals and family groups, including family groups featuring in the Financial Review Rich List.

Specific experience examples:

• Drafting of complex Wills incorporating testamentary trusts, life interests, protective trusts, capital protected trusts and Special Disability Trusts.
• Preparation of and advice in relation to enduring powers of attorney in Victoria, including appointment of medical treatment decision maker and Advanced Health Care Directives.
• Preparation of enduring powers of attorney in various other Australian jurisdictions.
• Advice in relation to trust succession planning, including review of family trust deeds and implementing documentation for passing control upon death or incapacity.
• Advice in relation to business succession planning, including review of loan agreements, shareholders’ agreements, inter-family agreements, management agreements, corporate constitutions and advice in relation to the nomination of successor directors.
• Preparation, review and advice in relation to self-managed superannuation trust deeds and deeds of amendment.
• Advice in relation to the preparation of binding or non-binding death benefit nominations for retail, industry and self-managed superannuation funds.
• Advising and appearing at VCAT in relation to administration and guardianship matters.
• Applications for Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration in the Supreme Court of Victoria and applications for a Reseal of Grants made in other jurisdictions.
• Successfully overcoming issues of testamentary capacity and informality of Wills and Codicils.
• Acting in the administration of many multi-million dollar Estates comprising significant property and share portfolios. This has included acting in the Estate of a former Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the relative of a former Premier of Victoria.
• Preparation of complex Deeds of Family Arrangement and the provision of advice as to capital gains tax and stamp duty implications.
• Provision of complex advice involving construction of Wills, abatement, ademption, disclaimer of gifts and surrender of life interest.
• Acting in relation to proceedings issued to Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic).
• Advising financial institutions as to the powers under a Will and/or applicable State and Territory legislation of executor and trustees to borrow, offer trust property as security and/or provide guarantees and indemnities.