Recent surveys indicate that over half of Australians do not have a Will. Of these people, 40% had no idea what happens if they die before creating a Will. Many people thought they were “too … [Read more...]
Your Right to Plan for the Future
The passing of a family member is never an easy time, but it can be made even more difficult in the event of disputes over last wishes, funeral arrangements and finances. It is important for your … [Read more...]
What to do if you’ve been left out of a Will
We often don’t talk about it with our parents or step-parents, but we tend to make assumptions about what is in a Will. This is particularly true of blended families. So, what do you do if your … [Read more...]
New Year’s Resolutions
As lawyers, there is an interesting legal question about whether or not New Year’s Resolutions are binding. The answer is they are not. Greg Martin, who lectures in Contracts at Western Sydney … [Read more...]
Should I get a Testamentary Trust?
A testamentary trust is one of the buzzwords of 2018. Everybody wants one, but quite simply, not everybody needs one. Our senior solicitor, Greg Martin, explains: People set up testamentary trusts … [Read more...]
New Types of Property and Quirky Estate Laws
When flamboyant US businesswoman Leona Helmsley, known as the Queen of Mean, died in 2008, she left a legacy of $12 million to Trouble, her Maltese Terrier. She didn’t have a lot of friends. Under … [Read more...]
RESPECT – Aretha Franklin’s Will
The amazingly talented Aretha Franklin died recently, and there has been much talk about some of the goings-on that occurred at her funeral. Though in the public eye for much of her life, Aretha … [Read more...]
Estate Planning – Couples and the Age Pension
As we grow older, we need to think about our estate and how we would like it to be distributed when we die. However, it is also important to consider how the bequest itself could impact our spouse’s … [Read more...]
Digital Assets and Protecting Them in your Will
In a digital era we all engage and devote significant time to our online presence, creating a broad range of digital assets. Have you thought about what happens with this information when you … [Read more...]
Blended Families and Second Marriages
Going through a relationship breakup is horrible. Committing to somebody new afterwards is also hard, particularly when children and blended families are involved. It is essential that you obtain … [Read more...]