Introducing Our
Wills & Estates Team
Over 30 years, Paul has built a reputation as one of the most effective Commercial and Property lawyers on the Central Coast.
Paul is sought after to act in substantial property and commercial transactions. Paul has extensive experience in commercial and business advice, leasing, finance, property transactions, estate planning, hotel and motel transfer, liquor licensing, trusts and litigation. He represents clients locally, nationally and internationally.
Paul was founding past president of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past Deputy Chairman and former Director of Central Coast Area Health Service, past Chairman of the Woy Woy Peninsula Catholic Parish Council, former Director of Loreto Normanhurst, former Chairman of the Central Coast Local Health District and a former Director of SCG Cricket.
Currently, Paul is a Director of Bluewave Living Aged Care Facility, Deputy Chairman of Employment and Training Australia Limited and honorary solicitor to a number of local sporting and social clubs. Paul is an active member of the business community and a director of a number of private investment companies.
In 2015, Paul was named Gosford Council’s Citizen of the Year for his dedication and passionate advocacy to ensure the Central Coast community has the best possible public health services.
Paul joined Tonkin Drysdale Partners in 1991 after a 5 years association with Herbert Smith & W. B. Phillips in Sydney. Paul was admitted to the partnership in 1992 on the same day as retirement of his father, the late Philip Tonkin who founded our firm in 1958.
Paul and his wife Anne-Maree have four adult children and his time away from the office is usually spent with his family enjoying a variety of sporting interests.
Paul is a leading family lawyer on the Central Coast, a nationally accredited mediator and an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Paul has been admitted as a solicitor for over 25 years and practised on the Central Coast for the last 20 years.
Paul is well regarded for his expertise in complex family law matters, including difficult parenting disputes and risk cases. As well as working within the court system, Paul has extensive experience in resolving family law matters outside the court system and encourages the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution processes in his practice. Paul’s sensible approach to matters sees many favourable settlements for his clients prior to needing to commence Court proceedings.
Paul also assists clients with estate planning, conveyancing and leases.
Paul is currently a Director of Peninsula Villages, as well as a past President of the Rotary Club of Umina Beach, past Vice Chairman of the Central Coast Small Business Networking Group and an active member of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church.
Dominic is a third-generation partner at Tonkin Drysdale Partners. He leads our Civil Litigation team and is sought after to act in wills and estate disputes.
Dominic also has significant experience in Employment Law, Commercial Law, Personal Injury Law, Environment and Planning Law, and other civil disputes. Dominic is well regarded for estate planning, and residential and commercial conveyancing services.
Dominic conducts matters in the NSW Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Federal Court, District Court, Federal Circuit and Family Court, Fair Work Commission, Personal Injury Commission, Land and Environment Court, NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Local Court.
Dominic’s grandfather Philip founded the firm in 1958 and his father Paul is a current Partner.
Dominic is a Director of SCG Cricket and honorary solicitor to a number of local sporting and registered clubs.
Away from the office, Dominic enjoys time with his wife Megan and their young family at the Coast’s great beaches, cafes and restaurants, or keenly supporting one of his many sporting interests. Dominic is a member of the Australian Lawyers Cricket Council and represented the successful Australian team at the 2019 Lawyers Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
One of the most experienced litigators on the Central Coast, Darrell Pannowitz has been with Tonkin Drysdale Partners since 1988.
With 32 years’ experience as a solicitor and over 47 years’ experience in NSW Courts, Darrell provided expert advice and representation in all Federal and State Courts and Tribunals. He has particular expertise in wills and estates disputes and personal injury. Darrell has also assisted clients with estate planning, residential and commercial conveyancing, and commercial transactions.
In 2015, Darrell was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Umina. In 2017 he was honoured with the prestigious Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President’s Award.
James is a part of Tonkin Drysdale Partners’ Commercial Law and Property and Conveyancing Law teams.
James brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, with previous experience in mid-tier law firms in Newcastle and Sydney. During his time at those firms, James developed a strong ability to provide his clients with proactive, practical and outcome-driven legal advice to assist his clients in achieving their objectives.
Outside of work, you’ll likely find James hiking in one of the many national parks that surround the Central Coast.
After a career as a neuroscientist, Aaron retrained as a lawyer and specialises in Commercial Law and Wills and Estates.
Aaron regularly appears and conducts matters in the Supreme Court, Local Court and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in contested commercial and estate disputes and guardianship matters.
Aaron brings a wealth of experience in evaluating and solving complex problems, and considerable commercial skills having served on a number of boards including as Director of Member Services for Surf Lifesaving Central Coast, and the independent University of Sydney Ethics Board.
Aaron is respected as a community leader, strong advocate for people with disabilities and youth, and is a previous recipient of the Gosford City Council Australia Day Volunteer of the Year Award for his work in these areas.
Outside the office, Aaron and his wife enjoy spending time with their two daughters, competing in IRONMAN triathlon, and surf life saving.
If you’re looking for a wills and estates lawyer, Tonkin Drysdale Partners can help. Planning your Estate properly, with guidance from an experienced lawyer is very important. Without this clear legal advice there may be potentially serious implications for you and your loved ones.
There are many milestones in your life, such as marriage, the birth of your children, house purchases or separation and divorce that will affect the way you want your assets distributed in the event of your death. Our team of Wills and Estates lawyers can help preserve and enhance the value of your estate, avoiding adverse consequences for intended beneficiaries.
A Will is just one part of the process of documenting, implementing and achieving these objectives. Crucial estate planning decisions are now often made in the choice of financial products such as superannuation and insurance, and any ownership structures chosen for business and investment assets, to ensure the protection of assets and the minimisation of tax. Estate planning needs to be compatible with a person’s wealth accumulation, asset protection, retirement, care, business and business succession plans.
Contested Estates Lawyers
Our Estates Lawyers also provide expert advice and representation in Contested Estates, with decades of experience acting for both Executors and Claimants in Will and Estate disputes.
Will Disputes
To dispute a Will is to challenge the validity of the Will. This may be on the basis that the maker of the Will lacked testamentary capacity at the time they made the Will, or the maker of the Will was under “undue influence” when they made the Will, or the Will has been forged.
Estate Disputes
To make a claim on an Estate is to apply to the Court for an order that you be provided for out of the Estate or if you have received something under the deceased’s Will, to apply for an order that you receive more.
Our experience in this field of law enables us to quickly tell whether you have a viable claim. We will then provide you with practical and realistic advice regarding your claim and what you can expect if you want to proceed.
If you require advice in the Wills and Estates area, our team of experts would be delighted to help. Contact our team of Wills and Estates Lawyers today.
Our Wills and Legal Services include:
- Preparing Wills
- Powers of Attorney
- Appointments of Enduring Guardians
- Estate Planning and Asset Protection
- Applying for Grants of Probate
- Applying for Letters of Administration (where a person dies intestate, i.e. without a valid Will)
- Testamentary Trusts
- Will disputes
- Estate disputes
Recent Wills and Legal Services News
Blog article: Where to begin when you’re tasked with finalising an estate
Blog Article: Contesting estates: lessons from recent trends
Get In Touch.
For expert legal advice, contact TDP today.
