Susan Bonnici
Principal Lawyer
+61 3 8600 6017
sbonnici@aitken.com.au
Susan Bonnici
Areas of Law: Wills and Estates
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws | Bachelor of Arts | Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
Susan is the Principal Lawyer for Estate Planning at Aitken Partners.
Susan was admitted to practice in 2012 and has worked exclusively in estates and trusts since that time. She has spent most of that time advising clients on their Estate Planning, but also has a wealth of experience dealing with Probate, Estate and Trust Administration and Estate Disputes.
The aspect that Susan most loves about working in Estate Planning is that every client she sees is unique. Different stages of life bring different priorities. There are always varying types of assets and liabilities to take into account. And the family dynamics involved are specific and often complicated. Susan enjoys working through these considerations with her clients, then preparing tailored and holistic solutions to achieve their Estate Planning objectives.
Susan is skilled at reviewing and preparing all types of Estate Planning documentation including:
- Simple Wills
- Complex Wills incorporating various types of trusts, such as Testamentary Discretionary Trusts, Life Interests, Rights of Residence, Protective Trusts and Special Disability Trusts
- Enduring Powers of Attorney
- Binding Death Benefit Nominations for superannuation funds
- Family Trust Deed review and amendments
- Establishing Family Trusts and Special Disability Trusts
She is also very experienced at preparing applications for Probate and Letters of Administration.
Susan has a passion for assisting families of children with disabilities to prepare for their future well-being. As the mother of a child with a disability, Susan has a personal connection with this subject, and has formed very strong connections with clients who are also in this position. Estate planning in these contexts can be extremely emotional and complex. Susan has made it a priority to educate parents of children with disabilities about the steps that they can take now to ensure their children’s financial security is protected long into the future.
Memberships:
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
- Law Institute of Victoria