Lizia Lim
Principal
+61 3 8600 6008
llim@aitken.com.au
Lizia Lim
Areas of Law: Asia Advisory, Wills and Estates
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws (Honours) I Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) I Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice I Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates
Office Location: Melbourne
Experience
Lizia Lim is an Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates and a Doyle's Guide Recommended Lawyer in both Wills & Estates (Estate Planning) and Estate Litigation. She advises executors, beneficiaries, trustees, attorneys and families across all aspects of succession law, including estate planning, estate administration, estate disputes and guardianship matters.
Lizia is known for her practical, strategic and highly specialised advice in complex wills and estates matters. She works closely with clients to navigate sensitive family dynamics, significant asset structures and contested estate issues, providing clear guidance and tailored solutions at every stage.
While her practice is primarily focused on Victorian law, Lizia has extensive experience managing litigation and estate matters across New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. She regularly assists clients to resolve disputes through negotiation where appropriate, while also representing clients in complex Supreme Court and VCAT proceedings when litigation is required.
Wills & Estates Services in Melbourne
Lizia advises clients across all aspects of estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation and guardianship matters.
Estate Litigation
• Claims for further provision from estates pursuant to Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958, including claims by adult children, stepchildren, spouses and de facto partners
• Challenges to Will validity, including claims involving lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence
• Applications to remove executors
• Applications requiring inactive executors to prove a Will or renounce Probate
• Independent advice and representation for executors involved in disputes with co-executors
• Claims for superannuation death benefits
• Representation in superannuation disputes
• Applications for executor's commission
• Claims to recover money or assets misappropriated from an estate or a person with a disability
• Applications to recover land transferred by a deceased person where capacity or undue influence is in issue
Estate Planning
• Preparing Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Estate planning advice and bespoke succession strategies
• Advising in relation to large and complex estates
• Advising on blended families, second marriages and complex family circumstances
• Planning for beneficiaries with disabilities, bankruptcy concerns or family law issues
• Preparing loan agreements to beneficiaries
• Strategies to minimise the risk of future estate disputes and claims
Probate & Estate Administration
• Applications for Grants of Representation
• Complex Probate applications involving informal, unsigned, missing or copy Wills
• Interstate and foreign Probate reseals
• Estate administration and asset distribution
• Advice regarding executor duties and obligations
• Preparation of Deeds of Family Arrangement
• Advice regarding life interests and settled land
• Advice regarding insolvent estates
VCAT Guardianship & Administration
• Disputes involving powers of attorney
• Financial administration matters
• Guardianship applications
• Accommodation and care disputes
• Capacity-related proceedings before VCAT
Industry & Clients
Lizia advises a broad range of clients, including:
• Executors and administrators
• Beneficiaries
• Trustees
• Attorneys
• Individuals and families
• High-net-worth individuals
• Family business owners
• Blended families
• Vulnerable beneficiaries and persons with disabilities
• Professional advisers and fiduciaries
Experience Highlights
Executor · Complex Probate Application
Acted for Equity Trustees in an application for Probate of a Will that had been signed with only one attesting witness. The matter required careful consideration of the evidence surrounding the execution of the Will and the Court's discretion to grant Probate in unusual circumstances.
Re Rattle [2018] VSC 249
Trustee · Will Construction Application
Acted for Equity Trustees in Supreme Court proceedings concerning the construction of a Will where the sole beneficiary had murdered the deceased. The matter involved the application of the forfeiture rule and required the Court to determine the proper distribution of the estate.
Re Rattle (No 2); Equity Trustees Ltd v Halstead [2018] VSC 700
Adult Children · Family Provision Claim
Represented two adult daughters in a successful family provision claim seeking further provision from their late mother's estate. The matter involved detailed consideration of their financial circumstances and competing claims against the estate.
Sisson v Wharton & Young [2018] VCC 436
Independent Administrator · Complex Estate Dispute
Acted for an independent administrator in a significant family dispute involving two deceased estates, four family trusts and five family companies. The matter resulted in a scheme of family arrangement that equalised the benefits received by the deceased's three sons.
Hall v Hall & Ors [2018] VSC 692
Executor · Informal Will Application
Successfully defended an application for Probate of a completed solicitor's Will instruction form signed by the deceased. The matter required the Court to determine whether the document reflected the deceased's testamentary intentions.
Re Hancock; Rennie v The Whippet Association of Victoria Inc [2016] VSC 496
Estate · Family Provision Defence
Successfully defended a family provision claim brought by an adult daughter seeking provision from her father's estate. The matter involved consideration of the competing needs of beneficiaries and the deceased's testamentary intentions.
Ligeti v Ligeti [2016] VSC 448
Professional Involvement
Law Institute of Victoria
Lizia is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria and has served on the LIV Succession Law Committee, contributing to the development and advancement of succession law practice in Victoria.
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
Lizia is a member of STEP, the leading international professional body for practitioners specialising in inheritance, succession planning and trusts.
Asian Australian Lawyers Association
Lizia is a member of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association and supports professional development and diversity within the legal profession.
Victorian Women Lawyers
Lizia is a member of Victorian Women Lawyers and supports initiatives that promote and advance women within the legal profession.
Committee Involvement
Lizia has served on the LIV Succession Law Committee and the County Court Family Property List Users Group. Through these roles, she has contributed to professional discussions and developments in succession law and related areas of practice.
Awards & Recognition
• Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates (2014–Present)
• Doyle's Guide Recommended Lawyer – Estate Litigation (2017–2026)
• Doyle's Guide Leading Lawyer – Estate Litigation (2022)
• Doyle's Guide Recommended Lawyer – Wills & Estates (2017–2026)
