We are excited to announce that Kate Williams and Todd Terzioski, in recognition of their hard work, dedication and superb client service, have been promoted to Senior Associates. Congratulations also to Kelly Owens (right), who has recently been admitted as a Lawyer and will now be joining the Wills & Estates team. Congratulations on these well-deserved achievements. We wish you all the success for the new roles. Read More
David Williams has retired from private practice, as of 30 Jun 2022. In 2006 Chessell Williams merged with Hicks & Oakley to become Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams. David retired as a Partner of Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams in June 2012, however remained as a Consultant, advising the wills and estates team. His expertise, particularly in the wills and estates area, is immense. Over the years he has been a mentor to many junior lawyers and to those who are now at a senior level, including Lachlan Vallance. Read More
We are delighted to announce that Tanya Briffa, Special Counsel and Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates, has joined Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams Lawyers. Read More
There is no legal requirement to make a Will. Each State has rules in place in the event you pass away without making a Will – these are called the laws of intestacy. When an individual dies without a Will they are considered to have died ‘intestate’ and their estate is dealt with under the laws of intestacy of the relevant jurisdiction in which their assets were situated. To outline, the intestacy provisions in the Administration and Probate Act 1958 set out a ‘default’ order in which family members will inherit your estate if you pass away without a Will. If there are no family members, then under the intestacy rules, an estate will be disposed of in the following order depending on the intestate's family circumstances:... Read More
Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams is excited to announce that Deborah Kliger, Senior Associate, has been named as a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2021 for Senior Associate of the Year – SME Law and Mentor of the Year. The Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards is the benchmark for excellence, recognising the outstanding women influencing the legal profession in Australia displaying key leadership qualities and providing a role model for future female leaders in law to aspire to. Read More
Wills and Estates law encompasses a complex range of legal issues. But as the lawyers working in the area know, the main challenges and rewards can often come from the broader circumstances of each dispute – the family relationships involved, the last wishes of a loved one about the property they owned and cared about. The ABC programme ‘Fisk’ has made popular some of the more ‘quirky’ aspects of this area of practice. Given the array of issues that can arise, there is great value in the knowledge of senior members of the profession who have ‘seen it all’ (or nearly). HOCW’s Wills and Estates team works closely with experienced barristers to ensure clients are well advised in estate litigation matters. Mr Stewart McNab has practised in the area of Wills and Estates for over 50 years. Stewart was generous enough to share his insights about Wills and Estates law with Natalie Talia, Senior Associate. Read More