In a recent case the Supreme Court had to determine if a handwritten note constituted the Will of the Deceased. Broadly, the background was: The Deceased died, survived only by one child – her daughter; The Deceased and her daughter were very close for many years but...Read More
When Sally’s husband Mike died unexpectedly, Sally’s world was instantly turned upside down. Apart from the devastating personal loss, Sally was confronted with dealing with Mike’s estate – which included the family home and some bank accounts. Mike also had a...Read More
Discretionary family trusts aren’t just for the super wealthy. They are a common asset protection and tax minimisation tool for thousands of Australian families. They often include a long list of potential beneficiaries. It’s probably fair to say, over the years...Read More
I recently did some DIY at home, painting my daughter’s bedroom. The result was okay (as long as you don’t look too closely). Unfortunately, when it comes to DIY Wills, people do look closely. A Queensland Case from late 2023, Re Chambers, is yet another example of...Read More
With the aging population, it is more common to assist clients in their 80’s or 90’s with a new Will. It is not uncommon to receive instructions from older clients to skip their children as beneficiaries and make the grandchildren beneficiaries instead. Recently, the...Read More
