Clare Sutherland
Special Counsel
Wills & Estates
Clare joined the Firm with 20 years prior experience in Wills and Estates at city and suburban firms. Clare has been a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist since 2016 and completed an Applied Masters in Wills & Estates in 2018.
She has also been an active member of the Law Institute of Victoria Succession Law Committee since 2014 and the Elder Law Committee since 2020.
Clare regularly presents to the public and other professionals on Wills and Estates.
Legal area of expertise
- Preparation of all estate planning documents including:
- Wills (simple and Testamentary Trust);
- Powers of Attorney, Appointments of Medical Treatment Decision Makers, Advance Care Directives and Restrictive Practices Substitute Decision Maker documents;
- Binding Death Benefit Nominations (including for Self-Managed Superannuation Funds);
- Special Disability Trusts.
- Planning for disabled or special needs beneficiaries and blended families;
- Complex succession planning advice for high net-worth clients, trusts and businesses;
- All applications for grants of representation (Probate and Letters of Administration) including complex applications;
- Reseals of foreign grants of representation;
- Estate administration including complex and disputed estates;
- Family provision claims for plaintiffs and defendant estates;
- Estate disputes including Will validity claims, caveat disputes, removal of executors, action to recovery estate property, rectification applications and executor commission applications;
- Superannuation death benefit applications and disputes; and
- VCAT matters including applications for appointment of an administrator, guardian or both and contested matters involving Powers of Attorney.
Extra work / interests
- Through her involvement with the LIV Succession Law Committee and Elder Law Committee Clare is involved in law reform and advocacy.
- Outside of work Clare loves to be outdoors in the garden or anywhere in the mountains.
1300 363 314
clare.sunderland@danahermoulton.com.auQualifications
- LLB (Hons)
- Applied Masters (Wills & Estates)
- Accredited Specialist (Wills & Estates)
