Services provided by public trustee NSW to seniors.

• Jurisdiction: Australia
• Author: Whitehead, Peter
• Date: 01 January 2003

There are many ages, stages and situations in life that act as natural milestones; points at which it is wise to take stock of goals and achievements, and re-evaluate plans for the future.

At each of these stages people are faced with a changed set of circumstances or responsibilities. Knowing what to do in each situation, and what action to take, is not always easy. Public Trustee NSW is a self-funded government enterprise providing personal trustee services in NSW. A range of services building personal estate management plans caters for all clients but as we know, many of these plans only come to effect for elderly people. Products and services include: will making, estate administration, trust management, funeral bond and private client services (power of attorney).

Aging creates particular urgency for having a current will. Particular issues for seniors include reviewing a will regularly to ensure beneficiaries still survive, exploring options for trusts for grandchildren, and properly managing later life relationships: life estates and mutual wills may be appropriate options. Reviewing a will frequently also allows for...