Great Southern Wills

Great Southern Wills

Aged Care & Elder Law

AGED CARE & ELDER LAW • GENERAL LEGAL ADVICE
Albany, WA
Experience
4.9

Rating

2

Team

None

Since

Aged Care & Elder Law General Legal Advice Powers of Attorney & Guardianship Property Development & Planning
+61898001217
Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm

Great Southern Wills is an Albany-based law firm specializing exclusively in Wills & Estate Planning, Farm Succession, and Probate & Administration. Led by Bernadette and Paul Terry, the firm aims to...

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What is Great Southern Wills?

Great Southern Wills is a family-run law firm specializing exclusively in wills and estate planning for families, farmers, and businesses throughout the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, this boutique practice combines over 40 years of combined legal experience with a commitment to explaining complex legal matters in plain English. The firm operates as a Doyle's Guide Recommended practice, recognized as the only country practice on Western Australia's prestigious wills and estates law firms list for 2024.

What services does Great Southern Wills offer?

  • Wills and Estate Planning: Comprehensive will drafting services with tailored advice ensuring your hard-earned wealth transfers to your loved ones according to your wishes
  • Estate Planning Documentation: Creation of complete estate planning packages including Powers of Attorney, Enduring Guardianship, and Advanced Health Directives
  • Succession Planning: Strategic planning solutions for seamless generational wealth transfer and asset protection
  • Farming Succession Services: Specialized multi-generational farm succession planning addressing the unique challenges of agricultural estates
  • Business Succession Planning: Customized business transition strategies ensuring continuity and protecting business assets for future generations
  • Probate and Administration: Expert guidance through the probate process and estate administration following the loss of a loved one
  • Binding Death Benefit Nominations: Assistance with superannuation death benefit nominations ensuring retirement savings reach intended beneficiaries
  • Document Review Services: Regular three-year reviews ensuring estate planning documents remain current with changing life circumstances

Why choose Great Southern Wills as your lawyer?

Clients choose Great Southern Wills for their unique combination of specialized expertise and personalized service delivery. The firm maintains a perfect track record with no wills drafted by the practice ever being challenged, demonstrating their meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive planning approach. Their commitment to accessibility includes free one-hour initial consultations, fixed fee pricing structures, and flexible meeting options including home visits and virtual Zoom consultations. The practice distinguishes itself through its holistic approach to estate planning, ensuring all aspects of wealth transfer are properly addressed while building long-term relationships with clients through regular document reviews. As a small, family-operated firm, they provide genuine empathy, compassion, and care that larger corporate practices typically lack.

Who are the attorneys at Great Southern Wills?

The legal team at Great Southern Wills is led by Bernadette Terry (formerly Bernadette Duell), Principal Lawyer and Founder, who brings over 25 years of legal experience including 12 years with corporate law firms in Sydney before establishing her practice in Albany in 2012. Bernadette holds recognition as a Doyle's Guide Recommended Wills and Estates Lawyer for Western Australia (2024). Supporting her is Rino Daniele, Senior Lawyer specializing in wills and estate planning, who contributes to the firm's 40+ years of combined legal expertise. The practice is co-owned by Paul Terry, Business Manager and Deputy Mayor at the City of Albany, who assists with document signing and business operations.

How much does Great Southern Wills cost?

Great Southern Wills operates on a transparent fixed fee structure, eliminating billing surprises common with hourly-rate practices. The firm provides free initial one-hour consultations allowing clients to understand their estate planning needs without financial commitment. Their reasonable rates are specifically designed to be affordable for local families and farmers in the Great Southern region. Document drafting typically completes within 2-3 weeks from initial consultation, providing efficient service delivery alongside cost certainty.

Where is Great Southern Wills located?

Great Southern Wills is located at 12A Frederick House, 70-74 Frederick Street, Albany, WA 6330, serving clients throughout the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The firm provides flexible consultation options including office visits, home visits, and virtual Zoom meetings to accommodate client preferences and circumstances. Contact the office at (08) 9800 1217 or 0405 127 657 for direct consultations, or email admin@greatsouthernwills.com.au. Additional information and resources are available at https://greatsouthernwills.com.au.

Client Reviews

4.9

41 verified reviews

Adele M Anthony

Adele M Anthony

Verified Client
2 weeks ago

I highly recommend Bernadette Terry of Great Southern Wills for anyone in beautiful Albany, Western Australia, looking for expert estate planning assistance. As an estate planning lawyer based in Queensland, I am happy to refer my WA clients to Bernadette, knowing they will be in capable and caring hands. Her dedication, professionalism, and in-depth knowledge of wills and estates make her an outstanding choice. You can trust Bernadette to provide clear, comprehensive advice tailored to your unique circumstances. I couldn't recommend her more highly enough.

Dave Woolhead

Dave Woolhead

Verified Client
a month ago

We would highly recommend Great Southern Wills , they were fantastic to deal with and knew exactly what we needed and very helpful. Thank you so much for sorting out our wills .

julian vaughan

julian vaughan

Verified Client
a month ago

Very professional if you're serious about getting a will done I highly recommended

Courtney Stenhouse

Courtney Stenhouse

Verified Client
2 months ago

I would highly recommend Great Southern Wills. A very professional unit, providing a fast and efficient service. Fantastic to deal with.

Tim

Tim

Verified Client
2 months ago

My wife and I finally got around to doing our wills and Bernadette was fantastic to work with. She listened to our situation and desires, answered all our questions and helped us to understand some common pitfalls. If you want someone who is thoughtful and thorough to help get your will sorted then we highly recommend Bernadette and Great Southern Wills. The peace of mind is worth it.

Chris Toovey

Chris Toovey

Verified Client
2 months ago

We highly recommend Bernadette when it comes to doing wills. Not only is Bernadette extremely knowledgeable but she explains everything in easy to understand terms. We had put off doing our wills for many years, dreading the process but Bernadette made the experience very easy. Thank you Bernadette, we very much appreciate your expertise.

David and Chris

Dean Castlehow

Dean Castlehow

Verified Client
2 months ago

Unfortunately this was not a great experience at all for us I won't be recommending this business. Maybe some more understanding and sensitivity would go along way towards people experiencing high amounts of stress and illness. Feeling deflated and quite devastated. Also out of pocket and nothing achieved. Natalie Castlehow and family

Jacqui Pieper

Jacqui Pieper

Verified Client
5 months ago

Bernadette and everyone at Great Southern Wills are the absolute best at doing Wills and Estate Planning and we are very impressed with all that they have done for us. Highly recommend this firm for all your needs.

Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary

Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary

Verified Client
8 months ago

I am incredibly grateful to Great Southern Wills for their exceptional support and guidance during a very challenging time. From the outset, they asked the hard questions that made me deeply consider my decisions and the reasons behind them. Their thorough approach ensured that every aspect of my will was carefully thought out and that there would be no grounds for contesting it.

A special thank you to Bernadette, who took the time to understand my situation with love and patience. She helped me sift through my heartache and ensured that I made the right decisions. Her personal touch and dedication were invaluable, and after months of agonizing, I was able to walk out knowing that I had made the right decision.

Thank you, Great Southern Wills, for your unwavering support and for making this difficult process a little easier

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Verified Client
8 months ago

Great Southern Wills are an absolute pleasure to deal with, extremely professional and thorough. A great experience. Thankyou

Elaine Nickoll

Elaine Nickoll

Verified Client
9 months ago

I found Great Southern Wills very professional in the way they assist me in making my will.Nino explained the setting out of my will in a way I was able to understand and helped me making my will to my wishes.Thank you Elaine Nickoll

Ronald Richards

Ronald Richards

Verified Client
11 months ago

Expert advice for our family. We came away relaxed that our wills are aligned to protect our wishes.

Brad & Sue Donaldson

Brad & Sue Donaldson

Verified Client
11 months ago

We recently had our wills and other estate planning documents prepared by Great Southern Wills and were delighted with the service we received. Rino Daniele was a pleasure to deal with ... he was thorough, respectful, attentive to our needs and explained everything very clearly to us. Big shout out to Verity at the front desk, too, who was friendly, warm and welcoming, and made us feel at ease as soon as we walked in. Great service overall and highly recommended.

Kathryn Richardson

Kathryn Richardson

Verified Client
11 months ago

A very professional visit, Bernadette had a good understanding of our business structure and how best to deal with our wishes when we die.

Fanny Mcdonald

Fanny Mcdonald

Verified Client
a year ago

Bernadette was professional and at the same time relatable as we put on paper our Will's. We left our meeting very satisfied that the job had been done well.

Neville Tutt

Neville Tutt

Verified Client
a year ago

An excellent experience with Great Southern Wills over the last few weeks. Bernadette was extremely helpfully in all aspects involved in a complex will planning. Extremely helpfull and came up with some great ideas. Many thanks and have a great holiday Bernadette. I would highly recommend Great Southern Wills.

Ray Toomey

Ray Toomey

Verified Client
a year ago

We were very satisfied with the service provided. It was efficient, comprehensive and addressed all our concerns. All the staff were pleasant and understanding and we would highly recommend them.

Camilla Carron

Camilla Carron

Verified Client
a year ago

Bernadette from GSW was a delight to work with. Thorough, detailed, so well versed in her craft & patient with all our questions we left the process having learned so much and so grateful for all her input. I can't recommend her & her team highly enough.

Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts

Verified Client
a year ago

Bernadette was very helpful, she explained everything in lamens terms which was exactly what I needed. I thoroughly recommend their services.

Linda Cordon

Linda Cordon

Verified Client
a year ago

Very professional and thorough. Everything was carefully explained in detail. I would recommend this business.

Harv L

Harv L

Verified Client
a year ago

Warm, friendly, understanding and with a high level of empathy, the whole process was a pleasant one, given that as customers we were dealing with issues that usually have the potential to be very emotional. All staff were understanding and in the end, it didn’t seem to be the end of something, rather a beginning of another stage of life. Thank you to all concerned.

Ops Manager

Ops Manager

Verified Client
a year ago

Great Southern Wills made our estate planning stress free and we are now confident that all eventualities are covered. Bernadette is knowledgeable, professional and understanding, we highly recommend Great Southern Wills' services.

Carolyn Thompson

Carolyn Thompson

Verified Client
a year ago

Bernadette helped my father understand how his original will may cause grief for his executors and beneficiaries and reshaped it so that his wishes could be easily executed when the time comes. Thanks Bernadette.

Dionne Freeman De-Botte

Dionne Freeman De-Botte

Verified Client
a year ago

We are new to this but we were led through the process with simple explanation with language we understood Very efficient company , would highly recommend .

Emma Matson

Emma Matson

Verified Client
a year ago

Exceptional service from Bernadette and the team at Great Southern Wills. They made the whole process so easy and always greeted us with a smile. They have so much knowledge and provided us with really helpful information in regards to our wills.

Michael Ryan

Michael Ryan

Verified Client
a year ago

Okay so if you are like me a Will is something you put off ,How Many times i thought i must update my Will .Look after my Family ,Wife Children and Grand Children .. So my wife and i made the Decision to visit GREAT SOUTHERN WILLS . A Great choice they are very easy to talk too and after a few very Thorough and Professional Meetings . We now have peace of mind and a very well Prepared Will ,Knowing things are in place for now and the years ahead. Can highly Recommend Great Southern Wills

Kirsty Rayner

Kirsty Rayner

Verified Client
a year ago

Highly recommend lawyer Bernadette for Wills and Probate in Albany. Bernadette is extremely knowledgeable, passionate and personable.

Dean Weeden

Dean Weeden

Verified Client
2 years ago

Bernadette and The Great Southern Wills team came to my rescue by sorting out all financial affairs I needed to attend to, after the sudden passing of my wife. They were all extremely helpful and professional, and very compassionate. I would recommend their services to anyone needing help with organizing a legal will and/or helping with attaining letters of administration for a deceased estate. If you don't have a legal will yet, I would recommend not putting it off any longer and make an appointment at Great Southern Wills, they will look after you. Thankyou Bernadette Thankyou Great Southern Wills Your services were most appreciated.

Gaynor Clarke

Gaynor Clarke

Verified Client
2 years ago

We thought writing our wills would be a simple affair but after talking in depth with Bernadette we realised that there was so much more to consider. With her guidance and genuine care we now feel totally comfortable that our wishes will be followed without question. A thoroughly rewarding process - thankyou.

Jane James

Jane James

Verified Client
2 years ago

We had a great experience with Bernadette. She listened intently to the rather complex story of our family, and then devised a most suitable will, which should leave everyone happy. She has a strong history of no disputed wills, and this reflects her care, and her knowledge of the system.

theresa sciascia

theresa sciascia

Verified Client
2 years ago

Very professional and knowledgeable, Rino and Bernadette guided us with help and understanding which made us feel comfortable, as well as their friendly staff, we highly recommend great southern Wills, thankyou for peace of mind🙏

Khalia Brown

Khalia Brown

Verified Client
2 years ago

I would have no issue recommending Great Southern Wills to anyone looking to create or update a will. We recently had the pleasure of dealing with Bernadette. Bernadette was efficient, friendly and importantly for us, she is very knowledgeable when it comes to farming families.

petertomo1

petertomo1

Verified Client
2 years ago

Bernadette is fantastic. Her knowledge oozes out every visit and her great explanations are superb. Highly recommedned you get your wills in order no matter your age and you won't go wrong if you see Bernadette at Great Southern Wills. Peace of mind is worth every cent.

Sally Arnatt

Sally Arnatt

Verified Client
3 years ago

Fantastic team that gets the job done. I will recommend Great Southern Wills to everyone.

Nick Boucher

Nick Boucher

Verified Client
3 years ago

A massive thankyou to Bernadette and her team at Great Southern Wills. Their level of professionalism, care and attention to detail is second to none. From our initial meeting and right the way through the entire process their approach towards our estate planning instilled the confidence that my wife and I had made the right decision in utilising the services provided by Great Southern Wills.

Thankyou Bernadette and Team.

Leanne Tomlinson

Leanne Tomlinson

Verified Client
3 years ago

From the first communication, Bernadette and her team were efficient and professional. I found Bernadette to be extremely knowledgeable and attentive, really listening to what I wanted. I would recommend Great Southern Wills to anyone who wants personalised service from people who really care about their clients. Thank you, Lee.

Daniel Strickland

Daniel Strickland

Verified Client
3 years ago

Superb. I can’t recommend Bernadette and the team enough. In organising wills for my parents, both of whom have serious health issues, Bernadette and Rachael were attentive, compassionate and competent. We were nervous about the process but Bernadette immediately made us feel calm and at ease. Really wonderful to experience a values- driven, down to earth legal firm, at prices that are affordable for normal people!

Sebastien Venaille

Sebastien Venaille

Verified Client
3 years ago

Was always daunted by the process of making a Will but Bernadette was amazing. She made the whole thing easy and accessible. Bernadette very clearly enjoys what she does and is very good at it. Better yet she was friendly and efficient. I have no problem recommending anyone to this business.

Phil Shilcock

Phil Shilcock

Verified Client
3 years ago

"Peace of Mind" When dealing with wills thats what we are really after. After our first visit to Bernadette my Mum and i left feeling much more relaxed about her setup and future. Mum then told me the next day she has just had her best nights sleep in a long time. Thanks Bernadette. I can thoroughly recommend Bernadette and her team!!

karin luhn

karin luhn

Verified Client
3 years ago

Bernadette helped us to understand what a will is all about. She is a very approachable person and professional at the same time. We are very happy with her work and trust, that she will be of assistance to anybody; we certainly recommend Bernadette. Karin and Reinhard Luhn

Ben Davis

Ben Davis

Verified Client
3 years ago

Fabulous service and understanding people. Totally getting all my friends to talk to these guys!

Contact Information

Great Southern Wills

12A/70-74 Frederick St, Albany WA 6330

Albany WA

Phone

+61898001217

Office Hours

Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm

By appointment available

Languages

English

Payment Methods

Cash, Card, EFTPOS

Payment plans available

Client Ratings

4.9

Based on 41 reviews

5 star
90%
4 star
7%
3 star
2%
2 star
1%
1 star
0%

Areas of Practice

Aged Care & Elder Law

General Legal Advice

Powers of Attorney & Guardianship

Property Development & Planning

Need Legal Assistance?

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