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, Deputy Chairman and Director of Central Coast Area Health Service, past Chairman of the Woy Woy Peninsula Catholic Parish Council and former Director of Loreto Normanhurst.
Currently, Paul is Chairman of Central Coast Local Health District, a Director of Bluewave Living Aged Care Facility, Deputy Chairman of Employment and Training Australia Limited, a Director of SCG Cricket 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 20 years and practiced 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 the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Umina Beach and a past vice chairman of the Central Coast Small Business Networking Group. He is an active member of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church and a member of the P&F Executive at Star of the Sea Primary School.
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 provides expert, experienced advice and representation in all Federal and State Courts and Tribunals. He has particular expertise in will/estate disputes and personal injury.
Darrell also assists 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.
Darrell lives with his wife Sharon at East Gosford. He is passionate about care for our elders and is an Honorary Director of Peninsula Village at Umina Beach, President of the Umina Beach Men’s Shed, and honorary solicitor to a number of clubs and charities on the Central Coast.
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.