Practice area

Estate Litigation & TFM Claims.

Resources on contesting a Will, family provision (TFM) claims under Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958 (Vic), and the negotiated alternatives that can resolve estate disputes.

All articles in estate litigation & tfm claims.

What Happens if a Beneficiary Cannot Be Found in Victoria?

An executor who cannot locate or identify a beneficiary cannot simply distribute the estate as though that person did not exist. This Victorian guide explains the reasonable searches expected of an executor, how to document them, the limits of the presumption of death, when a Benjamin order or other Supreme Court directions are needed, and how retention, insurance, payment into court and unclaimed-money procedures actually differ.

19 min readReviewed by JIM PARKE, Lawyer & Chartered Accountant
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Estate Administration Delays and Executor Liability

A practical Australian guide for executors, administrators and beneficiaries on delays in estate administration — the executor's year, reasonable vs unreasonable delays, personal liability risks, beneficiary remedies, applications to remove or replace executors, and managing complex estates, litigation, taxation and overseas assets.

18 min readReviewed by JIM PARKE, Lawyer & Chartered Accountant
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