Wills, estates & succession for Northern Rivers families — from your first will to the family farm.
Simons George Legal helps families across the Northern Rivers get their affairs in order — whether that's a simple will, an update after a new baby or house purchase, a farm succession plan, or a complex estate involving trusts, businesses or blended families.
Simple wills to complex estates. We do it all — properly.
Most people we help have a straightforward will, a house, some super, and want to know their family is protected. Some have a farm, a business, a blended family, or assets in more than one state. Both matter equally — and both deserve careful, principal-led advice.
Wills & estate planning made simple.
If you've never made a will, or your existing one is out of date, we make the process easy and clear. Fixed fees, plain English, no jargon — and no rushing you into decisions.
- Straightforward wills for first-time clients
- Updating existing wills after life changes
- Enduring Powers of Attorney & guardianship
- Simple probate & estate administration
- Advance care directives
- Home visits for elderly or unwell clients
Deep capability when things are more involved.
Where a farm, a business, a family trust, a blended family or interstate assets are in play, we bring the experience needed to structure things properly and avoid disputes down the track.
- Multi-generational farm succession plans
- Family trust & company restructures
- Testamentary trust wills for tax & asset protection
- Blended family & second-marriage planning
- Business succession & shareholder agreements
- Family Provision claims & estate disputes
The value isn't the size of your estate — it's what happens to your family.
A DIY will kit or a five-minute online template might be fine for someone with nothing to lose. But most of us have more than we realise — a home, super, a partner, children, maybe a small business or an inheritance to come. Getting the paperwork right now saves your family months (sometimes years) of stress later.
Family Provision claims
NSW law allows spouses, children and dependants to challenge a will. Most claims are avoidable with proper drafting and structuring — regardless of how big or small the estate is. If you're the one challenging, eligible matters may qualify for our No Win, No Fee arrangement.
Blended families
Second marriages, adult step-children and property owned before a current relationship all need careful thought. Life-interest trusts and mutual wills protect everyone fairly.
Farms & family land
On-farm vs off-farm children, family trusts, CGT and stamp duty concessions — rural succession has its own rulebook, and getting it wrong can force a family sale.
Businesses & trusts
If your assets sit inside a family trust, company or SMSF, your will alone doesn't control them. Both documents need to line up.
Assets in multiple places
Property interstate or overseas can complicate an estate. In some cases one will covers everything; in others, separate wills are appropriate.
Powers of attorney & guardianship
Just as important as a will — often more urgent. These documents give trusted people the right to help you with financial and medical decisions if you can't.
Services for every stage & every situation.
Every matter starts with a conversation — no jargon, no pressure. From there we quote a fixed fee and get to work. Below is the full range of what we do across the Northern Rivers.
Straightforward Wills
A properly drafted, plain-English will that covers your home, super, savings and personal items — and names who cares for your children if needed.
- Individual & couples wills
- Executor selection & guidance
- Guardianship for minor children
Enduring Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Documents that let someone you trust handle your finances or make medical decisions if you become unable to do so. Just as essential as a will.
- Enduring Power of Attorney (financial)
- Enduring Guardianship (medical & lifestyle)
- Advance care directives
Probate & Estate Administration
Helping executors through the probate process after a loved one passes — including collecting assets, paying debts and distributing to beneficiaries.
- Grant of probate applications
- Letters of administration where no will exists
- Executor guidance & support
Testamentary Trust Wills
A will that creates a trust on your death, offering tax benefits for children and grandchildren and protection from creditors, divorce and disputes. Suited to any estate where asset protection matters.
- Individual or multi-beneficiary structures
- Optional bloodline & asset-protection clauses
- Integrated with your existing family trust
Farm Succession Plans
A complete written plan for family farms — who inherits what, when control transfers, how off-farm children are treated fairly, and how the plan is funded.
- Multi-generational family meeting facilitation
- Coordinated with your accountant & adviser
- Written succession deed all family members sign
Family Farm Transfers
Transferring farmland to the next generation during your lifetime — using NSW's primary production concessions and CGT small business rollovers where eligible.
- Stamp duty exemption applications
- CGT rollover coordination
- Life-interest & usufruct arrangements
Business & Trust Succession
Making sure your business, shares, SMSF and family trust pass to the right hands without triggering forced sale, dispute or unnecessary tax.
- Shareholder & buy-sell agreements
- SMSF succession & binding death benefit nominations
- Trust deed & appointor succession clauses
Blended Family Estate Planning
For second marriages and blended families, we design mutual wills, life-interest trusts and property agreements that protect both current partners and children from earlier relationships.
- Life-interest & right-of-residence trusts
- Mutual wills & binding contracts
- Prenuptial & postnuptial protections
Family Provision Claims & Estate Disputes
When a will is challenged — or needs to be challenged — we act quickly and confidentially. Most disputes settle at mediation without ever reaching court. Eligible inheritance dispute matters may be run on a No Win, No Fee basis after assessment.
- Estate defence for executors
- Claims by eligible persons under the Succession Act 2006
- Notional estate & mediation strategies
Rural Property & Contract Law
The transactional work that surrounds every rural property — sales, leases, water licence transfers, cane supply agreements and pre-nuptial protections.
- Sale & purchase of rural property
- Sharefarming & agistment deeds
- Binding Financial Agreements (Family Law)
Working with families across the Northern Rivers.
We help clients across all seven Northern Rivers local government areas. George travels to the region for larger matters and family meetings — planning sessions often happen at your home or property. Video conferencing is available for review meetings and family discussions.
Byron Shire
Byron Bay, Bangalow, Mullumbimby, Federal, Newrybar, Coorabell, Brunswick Heads.
Tweed Shire
Murwillumbah, Kingscliff, Pottsville, Tweed Heads — coast, cane country & hinterland.
Ballina Shire
Alstonville, Wollongbar, Lennox Head, Ballina — coast & macadamia plateau.
Lismore City
Lismore, Nimbin, Goonellabah, Bexhill — city & surrounding farming country.
Richmond Valley
Casino, Evans Head, Coraki, Broadwater — cattle, cane & coast.
Kyogle Council
Kyogle, Bonalbo, Woodenbong, Tabulam — cattle country & hinterland.
Clarence Valley
Grafton, Maclean, Yamba, Iluka — river towns, cane & the Clarence floodplain.
Hinterland villages
Nimbin, Uki, Chillingham, Dunoon, Eltham, Bentley, Modanville, Possum Creek.
A simple, structured process — no matter the size of the matter.
Free 30-min consult
Confidential discovery call with George. We identify what you need before any fee is quoted.
Fixed-fee quote
We quote a fixed fee up front so there are no surprises. Simple wills through to full succession plans.
Draft & review
You review clear, plain-English drafts. We meet again — in person, by phone or video — to refine.
Sign & store
Documents are executed, witnessed properly and stored securely. Copies to you and your family.
George Paltos — an approachable Sydney succession lawyer who understands the Northern Rivers.
George Paltos is the Principal of Simons George Legal and lectures Succession Law at the University of Sydney. His practice covers everything from first wills to complex farm and business succession — and he treats every matter as principal-led work, not something handed to a junior.
For Northern Rivers clients, George travels to the region regularly. Whether you're in Byron, Bangalow, on a cattle property near Casino or a macadamia orchard on the Ballina plateau — he'll come to you.
- 2025 Quality Business Awards — Best Estate Planning Lawyer, Waverley
- Succession Law lecturer, University of Sydney Law School
- Regular presenter to accountants & financial planners on estate matters
- Trusted by families, farmers & business owners across NSW
What Northern Rivers clients get
✓ Principal-led matter — you deal directly with George
✓ Fixed fees on most wills & estate plans
✓ On-site meetings across all seven LGAs
✓ Coordination with your accountant & adviser
✓ Secure digital storage of executed documents
✓ Free 30-minute confidential consultation
✓ Complete discretion & confidentiality
Northern Rivers estate planning — answered honestly.
The questions we're asked most often by families, farming clients and business owners across the region.
I've never made a will. Where do I start?
Book the free 30-minute consultation. George will ask a few simple questions about your family, your home, your super and anything else you own. From there he'll quote a fixed fee and walk you through the process. Most straightforward wills are drafted, reviewed and signed within two to three weeks.
I already have a will — does it need updating?
Wills should be reviewed every three to five years, and always after major life events: marriage, divorce, a new baby, a house purchase, or the death of a beneficiary. If any of those apply and it's been a while, book the free consult and we'll tell you honestly whether a small update is enough or a full refresh is warranted.
What is a testamentary trust and do I need one?
A testamentary trust is a trust created by your will that only comes into effect after your death. Assets pass into the trust rather than directly to beneficiaries, which can deliver significant income-tax savings for children and grandchildren, plus protection from divorce and creditors. It's not just for large estates — it's worth considering whenever asset protection or tax efficiency matters for the next generation.
My property is held in a family trust or company. Does my will control it?
No — a will does not directly control trust or company assets. What matters is who succeeds you as appointor, trustee director or shareholder. We review these documents alongside the will so both point in the same direction.
What happens if my will is challenged in NSW?
Under Chapter 3 of the NSW Succession Act 2006, eligible persons — spouses, de facto partners, children and dependants — can bring a Family Provision claim within 12 months of the grant of probate. Careful drafting during your lifetime dramatically reduces this risk.
I have children from a previous relationship. How do I protect them and my current partner?
Blended-family estate planning uses mutual wills, life-interest trusts (your partner has use of the property for life, then it passes to your children), right-of-residence arrangements and binding financial agreements. Done properly, these protect everyone without creating conflict.
Do I have to sell the farm to pay out my other children?
No, and that's usually the wrong answer. A well-structured succession plan uses life insurance, staged transfers, testamentary trusts and sometimes vendor finance from the on-farm child so off-farm children receive fair value without forcing a sale.
Can I transfer the farm to my son or daughter without paying stamp duty in NSW?
In NSW, transfer of primary production land between generations can be exempt from stamp duty under the intergenerational rural transfer concession, provided the land is used for primary production, the transferee is a defined family member, and they intend to continue the business. We prepare the application and coordinate with your accountant.
I have assets overseas or interstate. Does that matter?
Yes. Assets in different jurisdictions can require different legal treatment. Sometimes one Australian will covers everything; sometimes separate wills for each jurisdiction are appropriate. We work it out with you.
How do we protect an inheritance from a future divorce?
Binding Financial Agreements under the Family Law Act 1975 are the primary tool. Prepared before or during the relationship, they set out what happens to inherited or gifted assets on separation.
Do you actually come to Byron Bay or the farm, or do we travel to Sydney?
George travels to the Northern Rivers regularly for family meetings and larger matters. Initial calls happen by phone or video. Signing appointments can be arranged locally where needed. Clients don't need to leave home for standard succession work.
What areas do you cover in the Northern Rivers?
All seven local government areas: Byron Shire, Tweed Shire, Ballina Shire, Lismore City, Richmond Valley, Kyogle Council and Clarence Valley — including hinterland villages and rural land between Grafton and the Queensland border.
Start with an honest conversation — no pressure, no jargon.
Book a no-obligation call with George Paltos. Tell him about your family and what you're wanting to sort out. He'll tell you plainly what needs doing — and what doesn't.
Contesting a will or defending an estate? Eligible inheritance-dispute matters may be run on a No Win, No Fee basis after an initial assessment.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Simons George Legal — Level 23, Tower 1, Westfield, 520 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022. This page is general information only and does not constitute legal advice.