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Ilana Kacev

Principal

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Post Grad Diploma in Legal Practice, Accredited Specialist (Wills & Estates)

  • Private Clients
  • Private Client Services
  • Contested Estates and Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate and Estate Administration

Ilana is a Law Institute Wills & Estates Accredited Specialist. Ilana’s well rounded experience across all aspects of estate matters enables her to provide her clients with strategic and objective advice in relation to both estate planning and disputes.

Whether it be creating an estate plan, resolving an estate dispute or protecting those in vulnerable positions, Ilana is able to provide clear and straightforward advice by evaluating her client’s circumstances and identifying practical solutions to their problems. She regularly appears for her clients in the Supreme and County Courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and mediations.

Experience

  • Defending estates against Part IV claims and also acting for claimants in challenges against estates for further provision
  • Acting for beneficiaries in respect of estate and trust disputes
  • Successfully challenging and defending Will validity claims on the basis of lack of testamentary capacity and knowledge and approval
  • Negotiating and defending Executor commission applications
  • Appearing in VCAT in respect of administration disputes, seeking of accounts by administrators and appointments of guardians
  • Appearing at conciliations before the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal and overturning determinations made by superannuation trustees
  • Preparing complex Probate applications and effectively obtaining grants, overcoming issues relating to testamentary capacity and informal Wills and Codicils
  • Advising on asset protection strategies including superannuation death benefit nominations and property ownership
  • Preparing Testamentary Trust and complex Wills, Powers of Attorney and provided estate planning advice for high net worth individuals
  • Advising aged care providers in relation to recovery of debt from deceased estates and financial attorneys and/or administrators
  • Preparing section 15 applications to summon an executor to Court in order to either prove the Will or renounce their role as executor

Leadership

  • Member of STEP (the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners)
  • Russell Kennedy Women's Network committee member