Estate planning is a strategy to ensure that your estate passes to your intended beneficiaries in the most tax efficient way and to minimise the potential risk of the will being challenged or a family provision claim being commenced. There are really two types of will. The first one is a very basic will which […]
Following the result of the historic same-sex marriage postal survey in November 2017, the Parliament of Australia passed legislation amending the interpretation of ‘marriage’ under section 5 of the Marriage Act 1961 to mean “the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”. Prior to this amendment, same-sex […]
Most people assume that the end of a relationship, divorce papers and, a property settlement marks the end of their legal obligations to that person. In the eyes of the law however, that is not always the case. Family/succession law has the ability to extend well beyond the end of a relationship giving a former […]
An Executor is responsible for: finding the will arranging for disposal of the body getting the death certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages ascertaining the deceased’s assets and liabilities assessing the value of the deceased’s assets obtaining probate if required paying the deceased’s debts, income tax, duties and funeral expenses distributing the […]
If you are approaching the age of 55 years you are probably in the midst of planning your retirement. One of the big decisions to make is where you will live. There are many options depending on what your lifestyle and finances will allow, but many people will consider moving to a retirement village. What […]
If a person wants to donate their organs after their death, it is important that family and friends know. The Australian Organ Donor Register is the only national register to record your decision about donating your organ tissue for transplant after you die. To register as an organ donor, visit donatelife.gov.au It’s important that you […]
Family trusts are a common vehicle for families to hold assets and/or conduct business. There a number of things to consider when establishing a family trust but one of the threshold questions is whether a company should be set up to be the trustee? The answer to this question will vary depending upon the circumstances, […]
“Deathbed Wills” are Wills that are created and executed when the Testator is already facing imminent death. Such Wills may sometimes be drafted in a rushed and hasty manner, especially where the Testator’s health is in very poor condition. However, if they meet all the requirements for a valid Will, they can still be considered […]
Two of the most common questions that clients ask when a loved one dies are; “Do I need to apply for Probate?” And “What is Probate?” When a person dies, they leave behind assets and liabilities that are collectively known as their “estate”. All estates must be dealt with by someone, usually the Executor appointed in […]
Wills creation may appear to be a straight forward process on a “standard-form” piece of paper. However, this is not the case. In a diverse world with many lifestyle options, it is not surprising that the Wills we leave are equally unique! Our Wills are one of the most important financial and personal planning documents […]
