NSW Wills Boutique Clears 4-Month Backlog in 6 Weeks
A 4-lawyer wills and estates boutique on the Sydney North Shore cleared a 4-month wills drafting backlog in 6 weeks using Quillio. The firm drafts under the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) and handles a high volume of testamentary trust wills, enduring powers of attorney, and appointments of enduring guardian.
What they were trying to solve
The boutique had grown its referral base faster than its drafting capacity. Clients were waiting 16-18 weeks for a complex testamentary trust will to be drafted and executed, and the principal was under partner-level workload on supervision alone. Turning down new client work was eroding the referral network.
Why Quillio
Quillio was configured with the firm's testamentary trust precedent, SMSF-aware estate planning patterns, and the firm's standard enduring power of attorney and appointment of enduring guardian templates. The firm's two paralegals now draft from intake notes and the lawyers review the substantive structuring.
Implementation
A 2-week pilot on 12 wills confirmed the output matched the firm's precedent style. The firm then worked through the backlog over 6 weeks while maintaining new intake.
Measurable outcomes
118 matters worked through in 6 weeks without overtime
From instructions to executable draft under the Succession Act 2006 (NSW)
From engagement to first-draft will ready for client meeting
Same team now handles more new intake each month
EPOA and appointment of enduring guardian now drafted in the initial meeting
"We'd been apologising to clients about the waitlist for over a year. Clearing the backlog in six weeks meant we could go back to our referrers and tell them we're open for work again. The quality of the drafts is the same — the turnaround has just changed completely."
How it works in practice
Testamentary trust will drafting under the Succession Act 2006 (NSW), enduring power of attorney, appointment of enduring guardian, and estate planning structuring.
What they avoided
Turning away referral work or hiring a mid-level drafter the firm was not confident it could keep busy through quieter periods.
Case study FAQs
How does Quillio handle testamentary trusts?
Quillio drafts the testamentary trust clauses from the practitioner's structural decisions — discretionary vs fixed, appointor, trustee, distribution patterns. The tax and structuring advice remains with the lawyer.
What about SMSF considerations in estate planning?
Quillio flags superannuation death benefit nominations and SMSF trust deed issues for the lawyer's review. The superannuation advice itself remains a lawyer decision.
Does it draft enduring powers of attorney under the NSW Powers of Attorney Act?
Yes — under the Powers of Attorney Act 2003 (NSW), including prescribed form requirements and commencement conditions.
Can paralegals draft unsupervised?
The paralegals draft from intake notes; the lawyers review and take instructions before the will is executed. Supervision obligations are met and audited.
How does it handle family provision risk?
Quillio flags potential family provision claimants under the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) Part 3.2 and suggests where the will may need explanatory statements.
Run the same pilot.
Wills and estates practices with a drafting backlog should trial Quillio for two weeks. Start a free trial — no credit card.
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