Talk through a family trust setup with a lawyer before the deed is put in place

A family trust consultation usually deals with the legal building blocks of the trust. That can include who will act as trustee, how beneficiaries are described, who holds practical control over appointments or changes, and what powers or restrictions should appear in the deed. If you are updating an existing trust, the discussion may also cover whether the current deed allows the change you want. The aim is to clarify the trust arrangement and translate those decisions into the right legal documents for the agreed setup or one defined amendment.

This service is often chosen when the client already knows they want a family trust and needs legal input on the trust structure itself. For example, you may want a new trust established for family asset holding, or you may need one specific change such as replacing a trustee or updating control provisions. If your matter involves several entities, major asset transfers, or wider restructuring questions, broader legal and accounting input may be more appropriate. This page is for a one-off consultation and the core trust documents, not an open-ended advisory engagement.

Yes, if the work is a defined update rather than a broad restructure. A lawyer can review the existing deed to see whether the proposed amendment is permitted and what documents may be needed to implement it properly. That matters because older deeds can contain narrow amendment powers, unusual appointment mechanics, or drafting that makes changes less straightforward than expected. If the trust has a long history, multiple prior amendments, or uncertainty about past steps, we may need to discuss a wider scope before proceeding.

No. This service deals with the legal structure and documentation for the family trust, but it does not include tax advice. That is important because trust decisions often have accounting and tax consequences, especially where distributions, asset ownership or related entities are involved. Many clients choose to coordinate legal work with their accountant so the trust deed reflects the structure they want from both a legal and tax perspective. If tax outcomes are central to your decision-making, it is sensible to get that advice alongside the legal work rather than after the documents are signed.

Once the advice has been given and the documents are finalised, the next step is usually execution and implementation. That may involve signing the deed correctly, putting trustee records in place, and making sure the trust is established or amended in line with the legal documents. We can explain those immediate next steps as part of the service. Ongoing trust administration, future changes over time, and continuing representation are not included in this fixed-fee, but additional work can be quoted separately if needed.

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