Life can be unpredictable, but your wishes don’t have to be. At TPIL Lawyers (TPIL), we help you take control of the future by ensuring your assets, health, and loved ones are protected — no matter what life throws your way. 

A legally sound Will helps to: 

• Ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. 

• Appoint guardians for your children. 

• Minimise family disputes. 

• Provide peace of mind for you and your family. 

Whether you’re starting a family, buying a home, or planning for retirement, our expert legal team ensures your estate is managed the way you intend. 

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that authorises someone to make decisions on your behalf relating to your finances, health, and personal matters — and continues to apply if you lose decision-making capacity. 

Life can be unpredictable. Whether due to illness, injury, or age, you may become unable to manage your own affairs. Having an Power of Attorney in place avoids the delays, costs, and stress that can come if no one is legally appointed to act on your behalf. 

It’s also a simple, flexible solution — ideal if you’re not yet ready to finalise your Will but want to have safeguards in place. 

With an Power of Attorney, you decide:  

• Who you appoint as your attorney(s) 

• Whether they act jointly or independently 

• What powers they have (financial, personal, or both) 

• When their authority begins (immediately or only if you lose capacity) 

• Any instructions or restrictions you’d like to include 

Yes — and in most situations, it’s better to have a Power of Attorney than to have nothing in place at all. 

A Power of Attorney protects you during your lifetime if you lose capacity. It allows someone you trust to make decisions about your finances, health, and lifestyle — which your Will can’t do, because a Will only takes effect after you die. 

Common reasons for a Power of Attorney: 

• You’re undergoing surgery or medical treatment and want someone to step in if needed 

• You’re travelling or living overseas for extended periods 

• You’ve had a recent health scare or diagnosis affecting capacity 

• You’re in aged care or hospital and want their affairs managed urgently 

• Your Will is more complex and needs further consideration or family discussion 

• Ageing family members  

A Will is just one part of an estate plan. It’s a legal document that sets out who will receive your assets after you die and who will be in charge of carrying out your wishes. 

An Estate Plan is a broader strategy that includes your Will, but also covers other important legal tools to manage your affairs during your life and after death. It can include: 

• Enduring Power of Attorney – lets someone act on your behalf if you can’t make decisions yourself 

• Advance Health Directive – outlines your medical wishes if you’re unable to communicate 

• Testamentary Trusts – trusts set up in your Will to help protect assets or provide for children or vulnerable beneficiaries 

• Superannuation and Life Insurance nominations – which aren’t automatically covered by your Will 

In short: 
A Will says what happens after you die. 
An Estate Plan protects you throughout your life and helps make things easier for your loved ones after you’re gone.  

An estate plan often includes a few important people you choose to help carry out your wishes: 

• Executor – This is the person who manages your estate after you pass away. They make sure your Will is followed, pay any debts, and distribute your assets to the right people. 

• Power of Attorney (EPOA) – This is someone you trust to make financial or personal (including health) decisions on your behalf if you’re ever unable to make them yourself. 

• Guardian – If you have children under 18, you can name someone to care for them if you pass away. 

• Trustee – If your estate plan includes a trust (like a testamentary trust), this person manages the trust according to your instructions, often to support children or vulnerable beneficiaries. 

• Beneficiaries – These are the people or organisations who will receive your assets or gifts from your estate. 

We can help you set up a Testamentary Trust—a special type of trust created in your Will to protect assets, control how they’re distributed, and offer potential tax benefits to your beneficiaries. Whether you want to provide long-term support for children, protect vulnerable beneficiaries, or simply have more control over how your estate is used, a testamentary trust can help ensure your legacy is handled exactly the way you intend.