Wills and Estate Lawyers Sydney
Our Experience
Carneys Legal has over six decades of experience guiding clients through the complexities of wills, estates and probate disputes. As such, we have a deep understanding of the full spectrum of estate matters, including estate planning, probate, estate administration, contested estates, will disputes, and family provision matters, enabling us to provide clients with effective and efficient advice every step of the way.
Just as importantly, we understand the emotional toll that comes with dealing with the estate of a loved one. As such, we work quickly and diligently to ensure that your estate planning or dispute is handled promptly and fairly. In doing so, we’re able to ensure that your woes are not exacerbated by ongoing legalities and family tension. Whether managing probate applications or resolving estate disputes, we aim to minimise stress and reach a resolution as efficiently as possible.
Organising your affairs with our wills and estate lawyers in Sydney will ensure that your wishes are honoured and no one is left in the cold. Without proper planning, the process can become far more stressful for loved ones, and decisions about your estate may end up in the hands of a court or tribunal unfamiliar with your intentions and the people you wished to provide for.
Taking early advice from our estate planning and will dispute lawyers saves both time and emotional strain for your family. It’s a simple process now, making for a much more straightforward process later.
Get in touch today to book a free 30-minute phone consultation.
Testimonials
Our Work
Our Services
Wills and Estates Planning
What is a Will?
A will is a legal document that sets out how a person’s estate will be distributed after their passing, often requiring advice from experienced wills and estate lawyers. Because this area of law is often complex and nuanced, careful drafting is essential. At Carneys’, we’ve refined our approach over decades to ensure every will we prepare is clear, valid, and comprehensive. This attention to detail helps prevent the kinds of issues that can arise from an invalid will, such as family tension, costly litigation, and unnecessary stress. At Carneys, when we make a will, we make it well.
Why Create a Will?
Creating a will offers clarity, control, and peace of mind. It ensures that your intentions are respected and that your loved ones are cared for according to your wishes. A well-prepared will allows you to:
- To clearly and specifically determine how your estate is to be distributed
- To appoint future guardians and trustees for the care of your children
- To simplify the process for those you desire to inherit your assets
- To appoint an executor to manage your estate affairs
- To simplify the probate process and avoid potential legal challenges or disputes.
- To reduce taxation costs in relation to your estate.
Is making a Will difficult?
Is Making a Will Difficult?
Probate
When a person passes away, it is often necessary to obtain probate from the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Carneys’ probate lawyers assist clients every day in obtaining a grant of probate and administering the deceased person’s assets. Our experienced probate lawyers Sydney assist executors and beneficiaries at every stage of the process. In more complex cases – such as where there is a probate dispute concerning the grant of probate – we provide clients with expert advice and strategic advocacy to achieve the best possible outcome.
Wills and Estates Disputes
What if I Need To Dispute a Will?
Sadly, there are instances when you feel as though provision has not been made for you in the division of an estate. This can often be a painful process to navigate on your own, and conversations are often fraught with volatility and emotion.
Our family provision claim lawyers will be able to clearly articulate your claim, which gives you the best opportunity to negotiate a settlement or, if necessary, persuasively argue your case in Court. Carneys’ will help you find a scenario that is equitable and fair. Our long history of navigating through such cases makes us among the most experienced will dispute lawyers in Sydney.
Financial Management and Guardianship
Our Lawyers
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Highly experienced in Estate Disputes and drafting and executing estate documents
Nathan Wrench
PARTNER
Experienced in Estate Disputes and drafting and executing estate documents
Stephen Titus
special counsel
Experienced in drafting and executing estate documents
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team for over 25 years
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Master of Laws
London School of Economics and Political Science
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation
- t. (02) 8226 5555
- e. acarney@carneys.com.au
Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London).
In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.
Arthur’s areas of practice include:
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
- Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
- Property Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Class Actions
- Insurance and Common Law Litigation
- Wills and Succession Act Disputes
- Mediation
- Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.
In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.
Nathan Wrench
PARTNER
Specialises in Property and Civil Dispute Matters. Experienced in Commercial Transactions
Nathan Wrench
Partner
Nathan leads the Property practice group.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Science (Psychology)
University of New South Wales
Law Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 99315
College of Law
- strata disputes;
- contractual disputes;
- conveyancing;
- mortgage law (lenders and debtors);
- business law (purchase and sale of business);
- construction law;
- wills, probate and estate administration; and
- commercial litigation.
Stephen Titus
Special Counsel
Specialises in Commercial Litigation and Commercial Work
Stephen Titus
Partner
Stephen has been qualified for over 30 years and specializes in commercial litigation and commercial work.
QUALIFICATIONS
SAB 1978 –University of Sydney
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation
Stephen’s practice includes a broad equity and commercial practice acting for Plaintiffs and Defendants in courts and tribunals where he often appears as advocate and otherwise engages very good counsel to act for clients.
Stephen’s areas of practice include:
- Building & Strata Disputes
- Representing solicitors & barristers in consumer and disciplinary allegations and complaints by the Law Society, Bar Association and Legal Services Commissioner and in Tribunal proceedings against practitioners
- Contractual Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Insolvency & Debt Recovery
- Supreme Court Equity Actions
- Probate, Wills & Succession Act Disputes
- Professional Negligence Actions
- Defamation
- Commercial Advice and Drafting
- Common Law and Insurance Claims
- Acting for Councils in Debt Recovery and advice on commercial arrangements and disputes
Stephen will think outside of the square and consider alternatives to litigation with cost effective strategies. His strengths include focusing on the issues and evidence required, gathering that evidence, working with appropriate counsel, considering settlement or getting the best result from the litigation. Stephen joined Carney Lawyers in 2002. In October 2004 he was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. He is a past Member of the Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee and Litigation Law and Practice Committee.
Stephen Titus
special counsel
Stephen has been qualified for over 30 years and specializes in commercial litigation and commercial work.
QUALIFICATIONS
SAB 1978 –University of Sydney
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation
Stephen’s practice includes a broad equity and commercial practice acting for Plaintiffs and Defendants in courts and tribunals where he often appears as advocate and otherwise engages very good counsel to act for clients.
Stephen’s areas of practice include:
- Building & Strata Disputes
- Representing solicitors & barristers in consumer and disciplinary allegations and complaints by the Law Society, Bar Association and Legal Services Commissioner and in Tribunal proceedings against practitioners
- Contractual Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Insolvency & Debt Recovery
- Supreme Court Equity Actions
- Probate, Wills & Succession Act Disputes
- Professional Negligence Actions
- Defamation
- Commercial Advice and Drafting
- Common Law and Insurance Claims
- Acting for Councils in Debt Recovery and advice on commercial arrangements and disputes
Stephen will think outside of the square and consider alternatives to litigation with cost effective strategies. His strengths include focusing on the issues and evidence required, gathering that evidence, working with appropriate counsel, considering settlement or getting the best result from the litigation. Stephen joined Carney Lawyers in 2002. In October 2004 he was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. He is a past Member of the Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee and Litigation Law and Practice Committee.
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team for over 25 years
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Master of Laws
London School of Economics and Political Science
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation
- t. (02) 8226 5555
- e. acarney@carneys.com.au
Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London).
In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.
Arthur’s areas of practice include:
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
- Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
- Property Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Class Actions
- Insurance and Common Law Litigation
- Wills and Succession Act Disputes
- Mediation
- Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.
In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.
Nathan Wrench
PARTNER
Nathan leads the Property practice group.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Science (Psychology)
University of New South Wales
Law Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 99315
Nathan acts for clients in a range of property and civil dispute matters including:
- strata disputes;
- contractual disputes;
- conveyancing;
- mortgage law (lenders and debtors);
- business law (purchase and sale of business);
- construction law;
- wills, probate and estate administration; and
- commercial litigation.
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