Susan Bonnici
Principal Lawyer
+61 3 8600 6017
sbonnici@aitken.com.au
Susan Bonnici
Areas of Law: Wills and Estates
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws | Bachelor of Arts | Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
Office Location: Melbourne
Experience
Susan is a Melbourne-based wills and estates lawyer and Principal Estate Planning Lawyer at Aitken Partners.
She advises individuals, families, business owners and trustees across estate planning, estate administration and succession planning matters. Admitted to practise in 2012, Susan has worked exclusively in wills, estates and trusts throughout her legal career.
She has extensive experience advising clients on estate planning strategies, probate and estate administration, trust structures, business succession planning and estate disputes. Susan is known for her practical, tailored and holistic approach to estate planning.
She understands that every client has unique personal, financial and family circumstances and works closely with clients to develop strategies that protect their assets, preserve family wealth and achieve their long-term objectives.
Susan has particular expertise in complex estate planning matters involving testamentary trusts, family trusts, business succession planning and asset protection strategies. She is especially passionate about assisting families of children and adults with disabilities, including establishing Special Disability Trusts and developing tailored succession plans to safeguard their future wellbeing and financial security.
She regularly advises clients on intergenerational wealth transfer, family trust succession and estate planning for vulnerable beneficiaries, helping families navigate complex decisions with confidence and certainty.
Drawing on both her professional experience and personal insight, Susan provides compassionate guidance and practical solutions to families navigating some of life's most important planning decisions.
Wills & Estates Services
Susan advises clients across a broad range of wills and estates matters.
Estate Planning & Succession Planning
• Wills and estate planning
• Complex estate planning strategies
• Testamentary Trust Wills
• Life Interests and Rights of Residence
• Protective Trusts
• Special Disability Trusts
• Blended family estate planning
• Asset protection strategies
• Succession planning for families and business owners
• Wealth preservation strategies
• Estate planning for vulnerable beneficiaries
• Planning to minimise the risk of future estate disputes
Trusts & Business Succession
• Family trust establishment
• Trust deed reviews and amendments
• Family trust succession planning
• Trustee advice and support
• Business succession planning
• Intergenerational wealth transfer strategies
• Succession planning for business owners and family enterprises
• Trust restructuring and governance advice
Powers of Attorney & Superannuation
• Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Appointments of Medical Treatment Decision Makers
• Binding Death Benefit Nominations
• Superannuation succession planning
• SMSF succession planning
• Advice regarding capacity and decision-making arrangements
Probate & Estate Administration
• Probate applications
• Letters of Administration
• Complex Probate applications
• Estate administration
• Executor advice and support
• Estate distribution matters
• Advice regarding executor duties and obligations
• Deeds of Family Arrangement
• Administration of testamentary trusts
Industries & Clients
Susan advises a broad range of clients, including:
• Individuals and families
• Business owners
• Professionals
• Trustees
• Executors and administrators
• Blended families
• Elderly clients
• Parents of children with disabilities
• High-net-worth individuals
Professional Involvement
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
Susan is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the global professional body for practitioners specialising in trusts, estates and succession planning.
Law Institute of Victoria
Susan is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the peak body representing the Victorian legal profession.