Practical guides for Victorian wills and letters-of-demand practices
I build online intake systems for small Victorian law firms, so I spend a lot of time in the Wills Act, LPLC risk notes and VLSB+C guidance. These guides pull the practical bits together in one place, answer first, with links to the sources so you can check them yourself.
How to witness a will remotely in Victoria: a section 8A run-sheet
Remote will signing has been permanent in Victoria since April 2021. Here is what section 8A of the Wills Act actually requires, who can be the special witness, and a step-by-step run-sheet for the video call.
Can a family member interpret will instructions? What Victorian lawyers should do instead
LPLC has seen undue influence and fraud by family members acting as interpreters. Here's a safer workflow for taking will instructions from clients with limited English in Victoria, with sources.
Can Victorian lawyers use AI to draft wills and letters of demand?
What the VLSB+C's December 2024 statement and the LIV's AI guidelines actually require, translated into a practical checklist for a small Victorian firm using AI for intake and first drafts.
Taking payment upfront for a fixed-fee will in Victoria: does it go to trust?
Money paid for legal costs before the work is done is trust money under the Uniform Law. Here is how that works for a $440 to $880 fixed-fee will, plus the $750 and $3,000 costs disclosure thresholds, with sources.
Letter of demand checklist for Victorian lawyers: what not to put in it
Three traps in a standard Victorian letter of demand: claiming legal costs with no contractual right (Rule 34), threatening action you won't take (ACCC/ASIC guideline), and the 6-year limitation period. A practical checklist with sources.
How small Victorian firms make fixed-fee wills profitable
Melbourne firms charge roughly $440 to $880 for a single will while online kits sell for about $160. Here's where the time goes on a fixed-fee will and the practical levers that bring it back, with sources.