The Solicitor’s Role in Australia’s $3.5 Trillion Legacy Opportunity
Australia is now entering a period of historic intergenerational wealth transfer. Over $3.5 trillion is expected to pass between generations in the coming years.
Yet, today, fewer than 1 in 10 wills include a charitable gift. With Include a Charity Week underway, it is the right time to ask:
What is the role of solicitors in helping Australians reflect their values, both for family and community, in their wills?
Beyond Prompting: What Clients Expect
UK evidence shows that when solicitors mention the option of a charitable bequest, the likelihood of one being included triples.
More importantly, many clients, especially affluent ones, want to balance family priorities with social impact:
Among UK millionaires, half include a charitable gift in their will, rising to 75% for estates over £5 million.
Even those with children still maintain philanthropic interests, showing that bequests are not a niche concern.
This trend is emerging in Australia and solicitors are central to meeting it.
The Role of Solicitors: Professional and Principled
This is not about charity fundraising. It is about trusted estate planning:
Solicitors provide impartial advice, protecting client autonomy and intent.
They offer the expertise to ensure bequests are clearly expressed, legally secure, and aligned with estate planning principles.
This professionalism is what makes charitable bequests a clear, trusted option for clients.
Benefits for Legal Practice
Client trust: Clients value comprehensive guidance that reflects their values.
Relevance: Affluent clients expect philanthropy to be part of estate conversations.
Leadership: Offering advice on charitable bequests positions your firm as forward-thinking.
Collaboration: Working together elevates practice standards and expectations.
Introducing The Planned Giving Platform
To support this evolution, The Planned Giving Platform is being established as a network for wills and estates solicitors in Victoria and New South Wales. Its focus is to:
Provide ethical support and resources to build practice confidence.
Create a straightforward way for clients wishing to include a charitable gift in their will to proceed.
Elevate the role of solicitors in advancing legacy giving.
Promote collaboration between legal practices, charities, and sector partners.
Early members will help shape the direction of this platform.
Conclusion: Leading Bequest Conversations in Australia
Bequests should reflect more than assets. They should reflect values.
Solicitors stand at the intersection of family, values and community. Your ethical leadership can help Australians ensure both family wishes and social impact are upheld through their final acts.
Are you a wills and estates solicitor in VIC or NSW? Interested in joining a professional network focused on supporting thoughtful, values-driven estate practice? Let’s discuss how your firm could be part of this important movement. Contact me for more information
