Probate & Letters of Administration

Helping executors obtain the grant and understand what comes next.

When someone dies and their estate needs to be accessed or transferred, a formal grant from the High Court is usually required. We advise executors and administrators on the process and prepare and file the application.

WHY IT MATTERS

A family trust can protect assets from creditors, relationship property claims, and unintended outcomes — but only if it is properly established and properly run. The structure you set up today determines the protection you actually have.


A trust that was funded incorrectly, or has not been administered properly since it was set up, may offer far less protection than you think. This is one of the most common problems Polina encounters when reviewing existing trusts — the deed looks right, but the trust has been operated in a way that undermines it.


Polina advises on the full picture: what structure is right for your circumstances, how to establish it correctly, what needs to happen over time to maintain its effectiveness, and when an existing structure needs to be reviewed or restructured.

"A trust that has not been properly administered may offer far less protection than you think."

The deed is only the beginning. How the trust has been run  and how it has been funded determines whether the protection is real.

WHAT WE HELP WITH

Six areas of advice

Advise on whether a grant is needed

Deed drafting, settlor/trustee/beneficiary advice, resolution minutes, and guidance on funding the trust correctly from the outset.

Trust review

Reviewing existing trusts for structural issues, administration gaps, and changed circumstances. Many trusts have not been reviewed since they were set up — and circumstances change.

Asset protection planning

Advice on ownership structures to protect assets from creditors, claims, and other risks — including the interaction between trusts and relationship property.

Relationship property and trust interplay

Ensuring trust structures are robust when a relationship begins or ends. A trust that is not structured correctly may not protect assets under the Property (Relationships) Act.

Trust administration advice

Ongoing guidance for trustees on their obligations — resolutions, distributions, record-keeping, and the duties that apply to every trustee.

Trust restructuring

When circumstances change and the existing structure no longer fits — adding or removing trustees or beneficiaries, varying terms, or winding up.

WHO IT'S FOR

You might need this if...

You own a business

And want to separate personal assets from business risk.

You have significant assets

And want to protect them from potential creditors or future claims.

You're entering a new relationship

And want to ensure your existing assets are properly structured beforehand.

You have an existing trust

That has not been reviewed in several years, or you're not sure it is being run correctly.

You've inherited money or property

And want to hold it in a structure that protects it.

You have a blended family

And want to ensure assets pass to the right people.

You are a trustee

The structure may no longer be appropriate.

Your circumstances have changed

And the existing structure may no longer be appropriate.

HOW IT WORKS

Four stages

01

Initial consultation

Understand your circumstances, assets, goals, and any existing structures. No assumptions — every situation is different.

02

Advice on structure

What type of structure is appropriate, why, and what protection it actually provides in your specific circumstances.

03

Establishment

Deed drafting, trust document preparation, transfer of assets, and guidance on correct funding and administration from day one.

04

Ongoing

Trustees have ongoing obligations. Polina provides advice on resolutions, distributions, record-keeping, and reviews.

CLIENT EXPERIENCE

"Polina identified all the potential risks and engaged in extensive negotiations with my partner's lawyer for months until we reached an agreement that truly worked in my favour. Despite the other lawyer's focus on my partner's interests, Polina anticipated every detail and successfully secured key confirmations from the other side, which was no small feat. I have complete confidence in Polina for all legal matters related to property relations agreements and consider her an absolute weapon."


— Olga Safonova

Get the structure right — before you need it to work.

Asset protection planning works best before a problem arises. Polina advises on what structure is right for your circumstances and ensures it is established and administered correctly.