Tim Donlan

Tim Donlan is the Founding Partner of the firm he established in 2006, following experience in private legal practice and a period as South Australian manager of a national licensed professional trustee company. Before his legal career, Tim served as an aircraft technician with the Royal Australian Air Force. Tim brings extensive expertise in trusts and estate law, complemented by his work in family law matters. His ability to connect with clients and understand their concerns has made him a trusted advisor among many individuals and referral partners, including lawyers and barristers across South Australia and other jurisdictions. His practice focuses primarily on wills and estate planning, trusts, family business succession, contested estates, and family law. Tim assists clients with will preparation, ranging from straightforward documents to intricate testamentary trust arrangements. He also prepares powers of attorney and advanced care directives, frequently collaborating with clients’ financial advisors to ensure cohesive planning. Working closely with families and family businesses, Tim provides guidance on transferring control of business interests upon death or the departure of senior family members. He often engages with accountants and other advisers to craft solutions that all family parties understand and support. In addition to estate planning, Tim represents executors and claimants in contested estate disputes, including challenged wills. While he aims to resolve these matters through negotiation and settlement, he is an experienced litigator capable of managing court proceedings when necessary. His expertise has led to regular appointments by Judges of the Supreme Court of South Australia to independently administer deceased estates amid disputes between beneficiaries. Tim holds a particular interest in international estate planning and deceased estate administration. As a member of the international Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP), he holds the distinguished TEP qualification. His strong international connections facilitate referrals from lawyers and accountants worldwide and enable him to recommend trusted professionals in other jurisdictions. He is well-versed in handling estates with assets across multiple countries and navigating issues such as cross-border estate and inheritance taxation. He is also dedicated to assisting clients facing diminished capacity, including elderly individuals with cognitive challenges, ensuring they retain their rights. As a member of the STEP Mental Capacity Special Interest Group, Tim is adept at recognising and supporting clients experiencing cognitive impairment. Tim is a member of the Tax Institute of Australia and contributes the column Successful Succession to the Tax Institute Journal. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course, and his understanding of governance supports family business clients in establishment, management, and succession planning. His professional standing is recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Wills, Estates and Succession Planning Lawyer in South Australia, and he has been included in multiple editions of The Best Lawyers® in Australia for Trusts and Estates in Adelaide.