Wills & Estate Lawyer Elimbah

Often it's less than people assume, especially if the policy hasn't been reviewed since the mortgage was taken out or increased. We ask what your current cover is before drafting, so the will and your insurance are working from the same picture. This is general information, not financial advice for your circumstances.

That depends entirely on whether there's enough life insurance, superannuation or other liquid funds to discharge the mortgage — a house alone doesn't pay off its own debt. It's the central question we work through for Elimbah families with a large loan and dependent children.

Not automatically — super generally sits outside your estate and is directed by the binding or non-binding nomination held with your fund, which may be outdated or absent. This is why we check your nominations as part of every Elimbah appointment, not just the will itself.

Whoever you name in your will, plus a substitute in case your first choice can't act. With half of Elimbah families raising children, this is usually the most important clause in the document, and we recommend actually discussing it with the people you're considering before naming them.

Then the Succession Act 1981 (Qld) decides under a fixed statutory order, starting with a spouse and children — but it says nothing about guardianship, and nothing about whether your mortgage and debts are actually covered. Given how many Elimbah households are carrying a large mortgage against dependent children, that's a significant gap to leave to the default rules.

It depends on the complexity of your estate — mortgage, insurance and super all need to be checked, which takes a little longer than a simple estate but is worth doing properly. The first consultation is free and confidential, and we quote the full fee before any drafting starts. Most straightforward wills are ready after one drafting appointment and a short signing visit.