1300 209 997

Wills & Estate Lawyer Scarborough

Just the two of you, an outright-owned home, and no children. Intestacy law wasn't written with you in mind.

Scarborough has the highest share of outright home ownership on the peninsula — 38.0% at the 2021 Census — and couples without children are the dominant household type at 52.4%, against a median age of 53, tied for the oldest locality we cover. That's a specific and common estate-planning gap: without children, Queensland's intestacy rules send an estate to a spouse first, then outward to parents, siblings, nieces and nephews — a formula that may bear no resemblance to what you'd actually choose. A wills and estate lawyer Scarborough couples turn to makes sure the will, not the default rules, decides. The first conversation is free.

Or call 1300 209 997 — Redcliffe office, Tue–Fri 9am–5pm

  • 30+ years in Queensland estate law
  • TEP-accredited principal
  • Free first consultation
  • Fee quoted before drafting
Book your free first consultation Call 1300 209 997

Where there are no children, the will has to do all the work that a spouse and kids would otherwise do automatically. That means naming exactly who inherits if you both pass away close together, choosing an executor without an adult child to fall back on, and deciding — often for the first time — where your estate actually goes: siblings, nieces and nephews, a charity, or someone else entirely. We find Scarborough couples have usually thought about this more than they expect, once asked directly.

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Local knowledge

Why this matters where you live

Common Problems & Solutions

"We're a couple without children — what happens if we both die at once?"

CauseWithout clear provisions for a simultaneous or close-together death, the order in which each partner's estate is deemed to pass can create real complications.

Our solutionWe include a specific clause addressing this scenario in every Scarborough will where it's relevant, naming who inherits either way.

Learn about wills for couples without children →

"Who should be executor without an adult child to rely on?"

CauseWithout an obvious next-of-kin, choosing an executor feels harder than it needs to, so it's often left undecided.

Our solutionWe help you weigh the practical realities — a sibling, a close friend, or a professional executor — and recommend naming a substitute as well.

Learn about choosing an executor without adult children →

"Can we leave something to a charity instead of family?"

CauseWithout wording the gift specifically, a charitable bequest can be ambiguous about the amount, the share, or the exact organisation intended.

Our solutionWe structure a gift to a charity alongside or instead of family provisions, with wording specific enough to avoid disputes later.

Learn about including a charitable gift →

Haven't decided who inherits yet? Book a free consultation or call 1300 209 997

Local Area Insights: Scarborough

  • 38.0%dwellings owned outright — highest on the peninsulaSource: ABS 2021 Census
  • 52.4%couples without childrenSource: ABS 2021 Census
  • 53median ageSource: ABS 2021 Census

Local context

Scarborough occupies the peninsula's northern tip — 9,178 residents, median age 53, tied with Woody Point as the oldest locality on this site. Housing tenure leans firmly toward ownership, with couples without children leading the family mix decisively.

Common challenges

Without children, the statutory intestacy order under the Succession Act 1981 (Qld) does most of the deciding if there's no will: a surviving spouse generally takes everything, but without a spouse, the estate moves outward to parents, then siblings, then nieces and nephews — regardless of how close those relationships actually are.

Why it matters

For Scarborough's large share of childless couples, a will is the only way to make sure that formula doesn't decide something this important on your behalf, whether that means providing for each other, for siblings, or for a cause you care about.

Our approach

We treat the beneficiary decision as the first conversation, not an afterthought — who inherits, and in what order if you both pass away close together — then build the rest of the will around it.

Common Problems & Solutions

"We're a couple without children — what happens if we both die at once?"

CauseWithout clear provisions for a simultaneous or close-together death, the order in which each partner's estate is deemed to pass can create real complications.

Our solutionWe include a specific clause addressing this scenario in every Scarborough will where it's relevant, naming who inherits either way.

Learn about wills for couples without children →

"Who should be executor without an adult child to rely on?"

CauseWithout an obvious next-of-kin, choosing an executor feels harder than it needs to, so it's often left undecided.

Our solutionWe help you weigh the practical realities — a sibling, a close friend, or a professional executor — and recommend naming a substitute as well.

Learn about choosing an executor without adult children →

"Can we leave something to a charity instead of family?"

CauseWithout wording the gift specifically, a charitable bequest can be ambiguous about the amount, the share, or the exact organisation intended.

Our solutionWe structure a gift to a charity alongside or instead of family provisions, with wording specific enough to avoid disputes later.

Learn about including a charitable gift →

Haven't decided who inherits yet? Book a free consultation or call 1300 209 997

Common situations

What we are asked about most

Wills and Estate Services for Scarborough

Why it happens

Enduring powers of attorney and probate are covered here as general Queensland law only. Nothing above is personal legal or financial advice.

Why it matters

Scarborough, and How to Reach Us

Scarborough sits at the very tip of the Redcliffe peninsula, in the City of Moreton Bay, its headland giving it some of the best water views on the bay. Like Woody Point it has long been a favoured retirement address, and its Census profile — the highest rate of outright ownership and a large majority of childless couples — reflects decades as a settled, established community rather than a growth suburb. Today it's home to 9,178 people with a median age of 53.

Business
Catton Roderick Lawyers
Office
Level 1, 133 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe QLD 4020
Hours
Tuesday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
Also at
Unit 3, 9 East Street, Caboolture QLD 4510 (Mon–Fri 9–5) · Regatta 1 Business Centre, 2 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya QLD 4575 (by appointment)
Serving
Scarborough, Margate, Woody Point, Clontarf and the wider Redcliffe peninsula

We don't have a Scarborough office. Clients here are seen at our Redcliffe office, a short drive away.

How we help

Scarborough Wills: Common Questions

Why it happens
Why it matters
How we help

Why it happens
Why it matters
How we help

Why it happens
Why it matters
How we help

Why it happens
Why it matters
How we help

Why it happens
Why it matters
How we help
What we offer

How we can act for you

Wills and Estate Services for Scarborough

Bespoke will drafting for couples without children

A will that says exactly who inherits, rather than leaving it to the intestacy rules' fixed order — siblings, nieces and nephews, a charity, whoever you choose.

Learn more about our will drafting →
Locally

Best for: childless couples

Estate planning for a single major asset

Where the outright-owned home is most of the estate, we work through distribution clearly, including simultaneous-death scenarios.

Learn more about estate planning →
Locally

Best for: outright-owned homes

Executor selection, with written guidance

Choosing between a sibling, a friend or a professional executor when there's no adult child to default to — we help you weigh it properly.

Learn more about executor support →
Locally

Best for: couples without adult children

Family provision claims (Queensland)

Advice on how Queensland law treats claims by a spouse or dependant — relevant even without children, in blended or re-partnered situations.

Learn more about family provision claims →
Locally

Best for: blended or re-partnered couples

Locally

Locally

Enduring powers of attorney and probate are covered here as general Queensland law only. Nothing above is personal legal or financial advice.

Credentials

Who would be acting for you

Why Scarborough Residents Choose Catton Roderick

Our Redcliffe office is a short drive from Scarborough at the peninsula's northern tip, and appointments are scheduled with enough time to work through the estate properly. The work is handled personally by the firm's principal, Dr Darren Catton — a Doctorate of Juridical Science from QUT, the TEP designation for specialist trust and estate practitioners, a seat on the Queensland Law Society's Property Law committee, and, on the firm's account, more than 30 years practising Queensland estate law.

  • Childless-couple estates given full attention, not treated as a simpler version of a family will.
  • Outright-owned property planned properly, including what happens if both of you pass away close together.
  • Free, confidential first consultation, full fee quoted before any drafting starts.
  • Executor choice worked through carefully, where there's no adult child to default to.
  • Written executor guidance so whoever you appoint understands exactly what's involved.
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
Scope of work

What is covered

  • Bespoke will drafting for couples without children
  • Estate planning for a single major asset
  • Executor selection, with written guidance
  • Family provision claims (Queensland)

Scarborough, and How to Reach Us

Scarborough sits at the very tip of the Redcliffe peninsula, in the City of Moreton Bay, its headland giving it some of the best water views on the bay. Like Woody Point it has long been a favoured retirement address, and its Census profile — the highest rate of outright ownership and a large majority of childless couples — reflects decades as a settled, established community rather than a growth suburb. Today it's home to 9,178 people with a median age of 53.

Business
Catton Roderick Lawyers
Office
Level 1, 133 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe QLD 4020
Hours
Tuesday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
Also at
Unit 3, 9 East Street, Caboolture QLD 4510 (Mon–Fri 9–5) · Regatta 1 Business Centre, 2 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya QLD 4575 (by appointment)
Serving
Scarborough, Margate, Woody Point, Clontarf and the wider Redcliffe peninsula

We don't have a Scarborough office. Clients here are seen at our Redcliffe office, a short drive away.

Where to find us

Serving Scarborough

Birtinya

Regatta 1 Business Centre, 2 Innovation Pkwy, Birtinya QLD 4575

By appointment only

1300 209 997

Caboolture

Unit 3, 9 East Street, Caboolture QLD 4510

Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm

1300 209 997

Redcliffe

Level 1, 133 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe QLD 4020

Tuesday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm

07 3284 9666

Catton Roderick Lawyers

Wills & Estate Lawyer · appointments cover Scarborough and the wider Redcliffe area

Phone
1300 209 997
Email
info@cattonroderick.com.au
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Scarborough Wills: Common Questions

We're a couple with no children. Do we even need separate wills?

Yes — a will is an individual document, and there's no joint will in Queensland practice. Couples usually make mirror wills leaving everything to each other first, then naming who inherits if you die close together or at the same time.

What happens if we both die at the same time, or close together?

Without clear provisions, this can create real complications about whose estate passes to whom first. We include a specific clause addressing this scenario in every Scarborough will where it's relevant, naming who inherits if survivorship can't be established.

Who should we appoint as executor if we don't have adult children?

Common choices are a sibling, a close friend, or a professional executor. We help you weigh the practical realities — likely to outlive you, willing, organised — and recommend naming a substitute as well.

Can we leave money to a charity instead of family?

Yes, and it's common where there's no direct descendant. We can help you structure a gift to a charity alongside or instead of family provisions, and make sure the wording is specific enough to avoid disputes later.

What does a will cost?

It depends on your circumstances. The first consultation is free and confidential, and we quote the full fee before any work starts.

Next step

Wills and Estate Services Near Scarborough

We act as a wills and estate lawyer for Scarborough and the surrounding Redcliffe peninsula, all from the Redcliffe office:

Our Redcliffe office — address, hours and parking · Don't see your suburb? Contact us

Book your free first consultation
1300 209 997 info@cattonroderick.com.au
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Related pages

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Wills & Estate Lawyer in Redcliffe
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References

Sources

For more information about our professional legal services or a free quote, call our friendly team today on 1300 209 997.

Business information

Address: Unit 3, 9 East Street, Caboolture, QLD 4510

Phone: 1300 209 997

Business Hours

Caboolture – Mon to Fri - 9am to 5pm - Closed Sat, Sun,

Redcliffe – Tues to Fri – 9am to 5pm - Closed Sat, Sun, Mon

Sunshine Coast - By Appointment Only

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