Wills & Estates Lawyers in Townsville, Mount Isa & North Queensland

Protecting Your Legacy With Care and Clarity

Planning for the future can be emotional, deeply personal – and legally complex. Whether you’re drafting a will, need comprehensive estate planning, or facing estate administration, Cohen Legal offers compassionate and expert support tailored to families and individuals in Townsville, Mount Isa, and beyond.

Whether you’re planning for the future, administering a loved one’s estate, or facing a dispute over a will, we offer clarity and support every step of the way.

Why Thoughtful Wille & Estate Planning Matters

Your legacy, and the people you care about, deserve clarity and protection.  An effective estate plan establishes your final wishes clearly and minimises distress for loved ones in difficult times. Without proper planning, you’re at risk of:

• Unintended beneficiaries or intestacy rules overriding your wishes
• Family conflict, disputes, or delays during estate administration
• Tax, debt, or legal complications that reduce an estate’s value
• Mismanaged executorship or issues with guardianship of dependents

Whether you’re planning for the future or managing an estate, the legal and emotional dimensions can feel overwhelming.  At Cohen Legal, we guide you through these sensitive matters with clarity, empathy, and respect—so your estate reflects your intent and benefits those you care about most.

Need legal help with wills, estate planning, or estate administration? Cohen Legal advises North Queensland families with compassionate, clear expertise.

Estate Planning — Beyond the Will

Estate planning at Cohen Legal goes deeper than a simple will. Our team works with you to understand your unique family dynamics, asset structure (from rural properties to small businesses), and long-term goals. We create bespoke documents that truly reflect your intentions, including simple wills, testamentary trusts, powers of attorney, advance health directives, letters of wishes, and business succession plans. Each document is tailored to your situation—informing your loved ones, protecting your legacy, and reducing stress for those you care about.

Advance Health Directives — Your Voice, Clearly Understood

Your health and treatment preferences matter—even if you can’t communicate them. An Advance Health Directive ensures your medical wishes are honoured when you cannot express them yourself. We help you craft this document with clarity and legal precision, blending careful language with compassionate understanding of your values.

Letters of Wishes — Guiding Executors with Insight

Though not legally binding, a Letter of Wishes helps executors understand the reasoning behind your decisions. Whether it’s a desire for sentimental heirlooms to go to specific family members, or guidance on ongoing guardianship for pets or children, this letter serves as a meaningful complement to your will and can reduce stress and misinterpretation during the administration process.

Family Provision Claims — Fairness Where It Matters Most

Feeling overlooked in a loved one’s will can be deeply hurtful. Under Queensland’s Succession Act 1981, eligible people may apply to the court for proper provision. We guide you through time-sensitive family provision claims with sensitivity, strategy, and legal know-how, bearing in mind the emotional context and legal framework.

Will Disputes — Advocacy with Dignity

Whether you’re challenging or responding to a contested will, we assist executors and beneficiaries with clarity and strength. From questions of testamentary capacity to allegations of undue influence, we tailor our approach to achieve fair outcomes—while preserving dignity and relationships where possible.

Capacity Matters — Protecting Rights & Respecting Intent

Capacity is fundamental to all estate documents. If you have doubts about a testator’s awareness when they made their will or power of attorney, Cohen Legal reviews circumstances, gathers necessary evidence, and advises on stepping forward appropriately—including possible statutory will applications.

Statutory Will Applications — When a Court Needs to Step In

If an individual lacks capacity to make a will themselves—due to dementia, disability, or age—a statutory will may be required. This highly specialised area requires legal care and precision. We guide families through court applications, evidence gathering, and tribunal engagement to ensure the testator’s intentions are honoured, even when they cannot advocate for themselves.

Guardianship Applications — Support When It’s Needed Most

When someone’s decision-making ability is substantially impaired, a guardian may need to be appointed to manage personal and health decisions. We assist families with Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) applications, ensuring the right person is appointed to act with care, responsibility, and legal authority.

Why Choose Cohen Legal?

OUR approach is personal, practical, and regionally grounded:

• Based in Townsville and supporting families across Mount Isa and North Queensland
• Sensitive to regional family dynamics, landholding traditions, and rural complexity
• Clear communication, plain-English guidance, and structured legal support
• Practical experience with estate planning, property holdings, and family businesses

When to Talk to a Wills & Estates Lawyer

Consider us when:

• You’ve purchased property, grown your assets, or welcomed dependents
• You’re a business owner or landholder managing generational change
• You’ve been appointed executor or offered a power of attorney role
• A dispute or confusion has arisen around an estate or will

A timely conversation now can avoid emotional, legal, and financial hardship later.