Maurice Buckley, C.T. Poole & Son

Solicitors

Serving Sydney for 140 Years

est. 1882

Our Accreditations

When seeking legal advice, it’s wise to consult with an accredited solicitor. Our team hold recognised credentials and always act with honesty and integrity.

On 4 April 2003, John became a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a worldwide body that unites lawyers, accountants and other professionals working in trust administration. He was accorded Honorary Accreditation in the area of Wills & Estates in October 2007.

Philip holds a BA LLB and a Diploma of Financial Planning.  In 2015, he was awarded a Masters of Law (Wills and Estates) from the College of Law.  He is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is also a Public Notary.  Philip was recognised as an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates in 2017.

Specialised Knowledge

John Poole receives many enquiries from other solicitors for assistance in preparing estate accounts and considering the issue of remuneration to executors and trustees by way of commission.

He has presented lectures on the “Importance of Accurate Estate Accounting and Entitlement of Executors to Commission” at meetings of solicitors for the purpose of continuing legal education.

John has also presented a number of other papers of say the preparation of wills and administration of estates of deceased persons where the deceased did not leave a will, including a lecture entitled “Where there is no will there may still be a way”.

On several occasions in recent years John has been asked to give expert evidence for use in court proceedings in the areas of will and estates.

Estate accounting accreditation work

The Law Society NSW offers accreditation in various areas of the practice of the law. One of the more recent areas is the specialty of Wills and Estates. John was invited to join the Law Society Committee for the establishment of the guidelines for accrediting solicitors in this area of the law.

His work on the committee spanned 10 years, and involved setting papers for the assessment of candidates for accreditation and then marking papers. During that time there were frequent questions about preparing accounts for the court and executors commission. John always set the papers on this area and marked them.

As well as contributing to the body of thought in this area of law, John learned a great deal from the discussions with the other members of the committee.

Executor's Commission

As an executor of an estate, you may be able to claim costs for your efforts. We’ll guide you in preparing and submitting your application, and take care of the accounts and statements you’ll need.

Trusts and Superannuation

A family trust can offer good asset protection benefits against creditors.  Also, the trustee can usually distribute the income of the trust to the beneficiaries tax effectively.

Accredited Specialists Wills & Estates Law