Plan Ahead Day at Miranda

The day will enable people to make or update their Will or Power of Attorney documents with expert help from NSW Trustee & Guardian.

Planning ahead involves spending time considering how your affairs would be managed and how you wish to be looked after if your circumstances changed. 

Sharon Bullen NSW Trustee & Guardian, Sydney branch, said the organisation had been making Wills, Powers of Attorney and administering estates for the people of NSW for more than 100 years and during this time has written more than one million Wills. 

“We really have seen many different situations and people in a range of family circumstances, so we are well experienced to help and offer advice on estate planning,’’ Bullen said.

‘‘NSW Trustee & Guardian can be appointed as the executor of your Will and as your attorney, under a Power of Attorney. 

‘‘By appointing NSW Trustee & Guardian as your independent executor and attorney you can be assured someone independent and impartial is acting on your behalf and it is an easy way of reducing the burden on family members.’’

Ms Bullen said without a Will, items of monetary and sentimental value may not be distributed as you may have wanted. 

‘‘It is also important your Will is kept up-to-date as your life circumstances change, for example, when you get married, purchase a business or property, get divorced, or have children,” she said.

“A Power of Attorney should also come hand-in-hand with a Will, as it allows you to appoint an attorney to manage financial and legal affairs such as paying bills and signing documents if you are unable to manage these affairs yourself or lose the mental capacity to make decisions for yourself in the future.”

Planning ahead is not just for older people she added.