ESTATE PLANNING

We understand that estate planning can be a daunting concept and one that many Australians put off until too late. Ensuring your estate is properly managed is a vital part of your whole financial plan as it guarantees that your wishes for your assets are correctly managed once you can no longer continue to govern them yourself. Our accessible and complete approach to your estate planning ensures all estate and non-estate assets are considered maximising the assets passed on to your beneficiaries. Most importantly it provides peace of mind to you knowing your assets will go exactly where you want them to.   

WE ASSIST WITH ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR ESTATE PLAN INCLUDING:

HAVE YOU ASKED YOURSELF:

  • What will happen to your children should you pass away or are no longer able to care for them?
  • What will happen to your assets once you no longer have the capacity to oversee them?
  • What do you want your legacy to be?
  • Do you have the right documents in place to make sure your wishes are carried out?

Our team have a wealth of experience and knowledge across the entire estate planning process and share the responsibility of achieving your objectives and wishes.

OUR ESTATE PLANNING TEAM
Lana Black

Senior Associate Commercial & Estate Planning

Lana Black is a Senior Associate at Osborn Law.

With a Masters in Wills and Estates and over a decade’s experience specialising in this area, Lana heads up our Wills and Estates team.

Lana’s practice is primarily focused on estate planning and commercial structuring arrangements, along with deceased estates.

Lana is passionate about providing practical advice to clients and looks to ensure her clients’ affairs are appropriately structured both in their lifetimes and after their death.

Lana believes effective estate planning is as much about preserving relationships among family members, as it is about transitioning wealth. Lana enjoys getting to know her clients on a personal level – understanding their family, their asset structure, business needs and their priorities. There is no onesizefitsall approach to this area and the strategies we use very much depend on the priorities of clients and the risks they are comfortable/uncomfortable with.

Lana also has extensive experience in the administration of deceased estates, including advising both executors and beneficiaries in a wide variety of estate matters such as family provision claims; questions of capacity; questions of informal wills; taxation; duties and responsibilities of executors/administrators; and general administration of estates.

Stemming from her background in wills and estates, Lana is responsible for dealing with the establishment, amendment and vesting of trusts for Osborn Law clients. Lana is also experienced in advising clients in relation to associated asset protection and structuring and works closely with Osborn Law’s commercial team when looking at clients’ commercial structuring arrangements and business succession planning.

Lana is a Committee Member for the Bean Counters Ball, an annual fundraiser held to support underprivileged youth and their education pathways. Lana is also regularly involved in other charity initiatives including managing Osborn Law’s involvement with Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s Wills Week and coordinating our Red Nose Day fundraising.

Lana is a member of Newcastle Law Society, Hunter Young Professionals and Hunter Business Women’s Network.

Tim Osborn

Solicitor Director Commercial & Corporate

Tim Osborn holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business from the University of Newcastle and has been qualified as a solicitor since 2004.

Tim was previously employed as Associate in charge of the business and corporate team at a large Newcastle law firm where he concentrated on commercial transaction work and commercial litigation before founding Osborn Law in January 2011.

Tim regularly advises clients and their financial and accounting advisors on:

  • All manner of supply/procurement contracts in the building, mining and hospitality sectors
  • Software and other Intellectual Property and asset licensing
  • mergers, acquisitions and disposals
  • Corporations Act issues
  • Business and asset structuring (including asset protection)
  • Distribution and agency arrangements
  • Franchising
  • Commercial property
  • Commercial and residential lending (and security)

He further assists clients in making certain they have adequate tools in place to ensure their dealings with customers and suppliers do not expose them to undue business risk. This includes advising on and preparing credit application forms, general terms of trade, director’s guarantees and providing advice on general commercial debt recovery methods.

Tim prides himself on providing accurate, relevant, timely, and above all, practical advice to his clients.

Tim is an Honorary Commander in the Hunter Defence Support Network (HDSN) which was formed in 2015 as a single-purpose community support and advocacy group focused on improving the lifestyle of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families whilst posted to the Hunter Region.

He is a member of the Camp Quality Newcastle MotoCyc committee responsible for organising the annual fundraiser motorbike ride through country NSW combining his passion for motorbike riding and supporting great local charities.

Tim is also a former Director on the Board of NUSport (2008-2018), an incorporated body of the University of Newcastle which is responsible for the development of sport and fitness through services, facilities and activities, along with being a member of their Finance and Infrastructure Committees.

When not in the office, Tim loves spending time with his family, being outside and being active. Tim is a keen dirt bike rider and four wheel driver, and enjoys the bush and camping.

Erin Cowen

Legal Secretary Wills & Estate Planning

Erin has more than 20 years’ experience in the legal industry having started her career as a young trainee completing Certificate III then Certificate IV in Business Administration. Since this time, she supported teams in a variety of firms of different sizes before finding her niche within Estate Planning.

Erin is compassionate and understands the importance of assisting clients at what can be a difficult time in their lives.

She is an absolute pocket rocket – a real doer committed to ensuring our clients and team are supported – and all done with a smile.

When not in the office you will find Erin spending time with her family including enjoying a nice meal and bottle of wine with partner Ryan along with exploring our local beautiful bush trails.