1. STEP Qld Branch
GPO Box 2275
BRISBANE Q 4001
qldbranch@step.org
PRESS RELEASE - 22 JULY 2011
STEP is pleased to announce a Guidance Note on Disputed Wills has now been approved and
published by the Queensland Law Society (QLS).
It is located on the QLS Ethics website at:
http://ethics.qls.com.au/news/qls-centre-lawyers-ethics-releases-guidance-disputed-wills.html
The Guidance Note directs practitioners as to their ethical obligations in the face of a challenge
to the validity of a will. It provides instructions and recommendations to solicitors who find
themselves in the unfortunate situation of facing a challenge to a will they (or someone in their
firm) may have drawn.
The framework of the Guidance Note is derived from a similar note published by the Law Society
of England and Wales and approved by the Court of Appeal in Larke v Nugus (2000) WTLR
1033.
The QLS note was drafted by QLS Ethics Officer Stafford Shepherd (a member of STEP) and
approved by the Succession Law Section and the Ethics Committee. Step urges all members to
refer to and comply with the guidance note, when faced with a will challenge.
STEP is grateful to the QLS for providing a useful and practical tool for the assistance of
Queensland solicitors.
Yours faithfully
STEP – Qld Branch
Caite Brewer – Chair
qldbranch@step.org