NH Legal is a client-focused law firm built on decades of local and international legal experience. We provide clear, honest advice and deliver results with professionalism, empathy, and integrity. From wills and estates to family and civil matters, we’re here to guide you through life’s legal challenges—one step at a time.
At NH Legal, we believe that good legal advice should be clear, accessible, and rooted in real-world understanding. Our practice is led by Principal Solicitor Neil Hartley, who brings over 30 years of diverse legal experience to every matter we handle. Neil’s career has included roles as a senior prosecutor in South Africa’s District Courts and a forensic auditor investigating government corruption—work that demanded integrity, attention to detail, and a commitment to justice.
Since moving into private practice in Australia, Neil has spent more than a decade supporting clients throughout Nowra and the surrounding region. NH Legal was founded on the principle that legal services should be both effective and affordable. That’s why we make use of Legal Aid resources wherever possible, and why we offer free simple wills and no-charge initial consultations for the matters we take on.
We’re selective about the work we do—not because we’re exclusive, but because we believe in doing things well. By focusing on areas of law where we have deep knowledge and strong systems, we’re able to offer high-quality legal services that are efficient, timely, and grounded in practical outcomes.
Above all, we value our clients. We take the time to understand your situation, keep you informed, and provide honest advice—even when it’s difficult. Whether you need assistance with estate planning, family law, immigration, or civil litigation, NH Legal is here to guide you with experience, professionalism, and care.
We’re not just your legal representatives—we’re your legal partners.
With over three decades of legal experience, Principal Solicitor Neil Hartley has worked as a senior prosecutor and forensic auditor, tackling high-level corruption cases. He has brought that same expertise and dedication to private legal practice in the Nowra area for the past 14 years
Our practice is built on transparency, accessibility, and efficiency. We are selective in what we take on and will always be up front and honest with you about the merits of your matter. Our services are cost-efficient because of the way our practice is structured.
Understanding wills, estates, and legal documents can be complex, but we’re here to help. Our FAQ section covers common concerns about wills, estate planning, probate, and legal guardianship. Whether you’re drafting a will, managing an estate, or need guidance on Powers of Attorney, we provide clear and practical answers to help you make informed decisions.
Many people make mistakes in these wills, thinking they have a valid will. We will check it free of charge.
It depends on many things, and there are ways to reduce the possibility of a contest of your will, but it all depends on your circumstances. A will can also only be contested by certain groups of people.
A contested will involves a legislated process and rules, and a person seeking further provision, or some provision from a will where that person feels they have not been treated fairly by the testator. To challenge a will means to dispute its legality or authenticity, to say the will is invalid. It is a common law process. One will can involve both processes.
No. But if it’s a major asset it would be best to change your will. But be careful of divesting assets to deny an heir or legatee. This can backfire badly.
Avoid doing this, as it invites litigation and risks the validity of the will. It is however possible for such a person to make a valid will.
Probate is the process of proving the will so that the assets of the estate can be distributed. Probate is generally only required where the will leaves assets belonging solely to the testator, to another person, and they are over a certain amount in value. A spouse dying and leaving all their jointly owned assets to their surviving spouse does generally not require probate. If there is a jointly owned house, a notice of death transferring the property to the surviving spouse is advised, but this is not probate.
No, because the Succession Act sets out who receives the deceased’s property on their death if a person does not have one (“intestate succession”). But a will gives a person the last say in deciding who receives what in their estate, and this is an important right to exercise, and it can also prevent squabbles. The process of asset distribution is also simpler, quicker and more cost-efficient if a deceased has a valid will
Strangely, no. This means that the scope for fraud involving a will, especially when the original is kept by the testator, is greatly increased.
A POA concerns money and property, such as a bank account, a contract, or a house. EG is about one’s personal choices and circumstances, especially when one is not able to make that choice, and the power to do so is transferred to an appointee. The powers inherent in both of these documents end when a person dies. The will then governs the situation.
Yes. The Guardianship Act states that a person’s spouse is their lawful guardian, and parents are the lawful guardians of their child. The problem arises when these people cannot exercise their lawful powers, because of death, sickness, loss of mental capacity, or revocation of parental responsibility by a court. In an aging society, this is far more common than most people think.
Regarding the POA, the situation often arises that an aging person needs somebody to sign documents or perform transactions on a bank account on their behalf, due to incapacity in one form or another. Also, if a couple own a house jointly, and one of them becomes mentally incapable, the other will need to approach the Guardianship Tribunal (NCAT) to seek permission to deal with their own house, unless they have a valid POA.