Today our team of estate planning lawyers are attending The Salvation Army Gold Coast Temple at Southport in partnership with The Salvos to host another Community Wills Day. The Wills Day raises vital funds to support The Salvos and the integral work they do in our community, explains Wills and Estates Department Manager Donna Tolley.
Introduction
For over 16 years, we have proudly joined forces with The Salvation Army to deliver Community Wills Days across the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales. We attended our first Wills Day in 2005 in Tweed Heads with Legal Practice Director Jeff Garrett and Senior Associate Debbie Sage attending a modest number of attendees to take their instructions for their Wills. Fast forward to 2021, where we have already conducted Wills Days at our Kingscliff, Coolangatta, and Robina Town Centre offices for hundreds of clients, who have all donated to the Salvos for each Will done. Not only does the donation help a very worthy charity, it encourages people to have their Will done and to get their estate plan in order!
What is a Community Wills Day?
A Community Wills Day is a community service where our estate planning lawyers donate their time to draft and sign-up simple Wills for the community in return for a modest donation which goes directly to The Salvation Army. These events provide a wonderful way to support a charity you care about whilst also taking the opportunity to get your Will drafted by an experienced estate planning lawyer. Having an up-to-date Will ensures that you have documented your wishes in a legally binding way, and your assets will be distributed to who you want to benefit from your estate after you pass away.
Donations received by The Salvation Army at Community Wills Days go directly towards helping people in crisis.
The Salvation Army Community Wills Days take place throughout the year and are hosted at Attwood Marshall Lawyers Robina Town Centre, Coolangatta, and Kingscliff offices, as well as The Salvation Army’s Gold Coast Temple at 157 Wardoo Street, Southport.
Also located at the Gold Coast Temple site is Still Waters Refuge, which is where today’s donations will be distributed to support women and children who are faced with crisis and in need of safe and secure accommodation.
We are very proud to continue our long-standing partnership with The Salvation Army and enjoy taking this opportunity to connect with the community.
How can you support The Salvation Army?
If you are taking part in a Community Wills Day, you are already donating a modest gift directly to The Salvos simply by paying your booking fee. Your donation supports The Salvation Army and the important work they do in helping our community. In addition to your booking fee, as part of the Will-making process, you can also learn about how to make a bequest in your Will to The Salvation Army.
If you have made the generous decision to leave a gift in your Will to a charity, your estate planning lawyer will assist you in ensuring you use the appropriate wording in your Will to legalise your decision and document your wishes.
By leaving a gift to a charity in your Will, you are embracing the opportunity to give more than what you may be able to do during your lifetime. By including a charity in your Will, you are making a commitment that will help the charity continue to deliver the life-changing work they do in the future and when it is needed most. It is a wonderful way to leave a lasting legacy.
Why everyone should have a Will
A Will is one of the most important legal documents you can make to protect the assets you have worked so hard to acquire, and to ensure you provide for your family and other causes you may feel passionate about.
It doesn’t matter how much wealth you have or what your age or health status is, everyone over the age of 18 years of age should have an up-to-date and legally binding Will.
A Will is an extremely personal document and should reflect your wishes and intentions. Discussing your family dynamics and financial circumstances with an experienced estate planning lawyer can help you understand how to plan for the future and distribute your assets upon your death as you intend.
The process is quite simple and often people are surprised at how straightforward it is.
Attwood Marshall Lawyers – helping you preserve your wishes and plan for the future
As a leading estate planning law firm, we are proud to have one of the largest and most experienced Wills and Estates teams in Australia. Our lawyers practice exclusively in this complex area of law and are dedicated to helping people plan, preserve, and protect their wishes.
We are also one of the few law firms to have a dedicated team of lawyers ready to assist anyone who is transitioning to aged care. We aim to help you transition through the next chapter in your life with confidence and ensure that you make an informed decision about your aged care options. Attwood Marshall Lawyers Wills and Estates Senior Associate, Debbie Sage, is an Accredited Aged Care Professional, having completed the Aged Care Professional Program through Aged Care Steps. Debbie is able to share her understanding of what needs to be considered when making the move into aged care and how this may affect your estate plan.
As a community-focused law firm, we are excited to partner with The Salvation Army again this year and continue to support the vital work they do in saving lives and helping the community. Our lawyers love being part of Community Wills Days and taking the opportunity to speak to people about how best to preserve their wishes.
If you would like to find out more about our estate planning services, aged care services, or would like more information about how to include a gift to a charity in your Will, call 07 5506 8241, email dtolley@attwoodmarshall.com.au or phone 1800 621 071 any time.
You can have your Will drafted at any of our conveniently located offices at Robina Town Centre, Coolangatta, Kingscliff, Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne.
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