Cooper Grace Ward - Estates Masterclass webinar series 2026

Estates masterclass webinar series 2026

Estate disputes involving incapacity, superannuation and administration delays are only becoming more common as our population ages.

Next in our popular estates series, we're tackling the everyday issues facing executors, trustees and their advisers – the issues that are turning up in real files right now.

Across four sessions, our estate administration and planning specialists, Scott Hay-Bartlem, Rebecca Edwards, Melinda Ranson, Sarah Camm, and Katelyn Gillert, will cover:

• incapacity issues and death

• choice of executor/trustee/attorney

• Division 296 considerations for estates

• estate administration timeframes.

You can register for individual webinars or for all four at a discounted rate of $600. 

The webinars will be recorded, with a link to the recording circulated to all registrants afterwards.

We hope you are able to join us.

Webinar one: Incapacity issues after death

Estate disputes involving incapacity and enduring powers of attorney (EPOAs) are growing with our ageing population.

In this webinar, Rebecca and Melinda will look at the difference between capacity issues tested during life (EPOA, financial decisions) and those tested after death (Will validity, transactions, gifts), covering:

• capacity/incapacity - what is it?

• Will validity

• gifts and transactions
• EPOA misuse 
• superannuation - capacity issues for making and changing BDBNs
• what advisers can do to protect themselves and help clients avoid these disputes 
• red flags and what to do.

Webinar two: How to decide who will be your decision-maker

Choosing the right attorney for your EPOA, or executor for your estate, is a crucial decision to ensure your wishes are carried out, but it’s a decision many people make by default. 

In this webinar, Scott and Sarah will discuss the qualities of a good attorney and executor, and what options are available where the appointment has not worked out, covering:

• decisions your attorneys and executors will be able to make, especially when it comes to your company, trust and business structures

• whether it is a good idea to appoint your beneficiaries as executors

• when it might be appropriate to appoint an independent or professional person to these roles

• whether advisers can take on these roles and charge for them, or provide their normal professional services

• who can investigate the conduct of attorneys and executors behaving badly.

Webinar three: Div 296 considerations for estates

In this webinar, Scott and Katelyn will discuss Division 296 considerations for estates, covering:

• who is responsible for any Div 296 liability after death, and how to make sure it does not change the asset distribution

• how Division 296 can impact the finalisation of estates

• what executors and advisers should be aware of and consider when administering an estate.

Webinar four: Estate administration timeframes - how long is a piece of string?

Regardless of complexity, the administration of a deceased estate is often a slow, time-consuming and document-heavy process. 

Every now and then, we might come across a ‘unicorn’: a file that is completed within around six months, but this is uncommon. In this webinar, Melinda and Sarah are here to help guide clients’ expectations, covering: 

• what a ‘normal’ administration timeline is, and the common issues that extend completion

• key dates to diarise, including litigation deadlines and tax-related timeframes

• where the ‘12-month rule’ comes from and what it actually means

• how advisers can assist in the efficient administration and distribution of the estate

• remedies available for beneficiaries who feel there has been unnecessary delay.

Scott Hay-Bartlem

Partner

View profile

Rebecca Edwards

Special Counsel

View profile

Melinda Ranson

Special Counsel

View profile

Sarah Camm

Senior Associate

View profile

Katelyn Gillert

Associate

View profile