Wills & Estates

In most legal proceedings in the civil jurisdiction, the principle that ‘costs follow the event’ applies – meaning the winning party will have their legal costs paid by the unsuccessful…

Time limits are set by legislation in many legal matters to ensure fairness to both sides of the dispute and to ensure that justice is done in a timely fashion….

It is not uncommon for family members to become estranged from one another for many different reasons. A falling out in a family not only takes a terrible emotional toll…

When a family member dies, those who expect to benefit from the deceased’s estate do not always receive what they expect. For various reasons, a person may not get the…

There are a number of reasons why the validity of a person’s Will may be challenged. Some of the most common reasons include: the person making the Will (called a “testator”)…

Many people have the ability to make their own Will and are able to make their own informed decisions about who they would like to gift their assets to upon…

The concept of interdependency was introduced into the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 in 2005 as a way to recognise, and allow for the payment of a deceased person’s superannuation…

Appointing an enduring power of attorney (EPOA) is becoming a more important and significant step for a person as the median age of Australia’s population rises and people live longer….

Deciding on living arrangements for elderly people is a question nearly all Australian families eventually have to face. Australians are living longer than ever before and at some stage, maintaining…

One of the most difficult considerations for parents who have a disabled child is how that child will be cared for once the parents pass. This consideration makes estate planning…

A report released on 12 March 2021 raises a number of serious issues and concerns regarding the fees, charges and practices of The Public Trustee. The Public Trustee is a…

A number of important changes came into effect on 30 November 2020 in relation to making an Enduring Power of Attorney (‘EPOA’), as part of reforms to Queensland’s guardianship laws….

Having a valid Will is a fundamental part of your Estate Plan. Before you consider the terms of your Will, it is important to understand: what assets you own or…

Many people think that dealing with their Estate will be a relatively easy and straightforward process and they do not see the need to consult a solicitor to make a…

When a Principal appoints an Attorney to act on their behalf, the Attorney has a broad range of powers to make decisions in relation to personal health matters and/or financial…

It is important for everyone to have a valid Will in place, no matter how insignificant an individual’s assets may be. Many people decide to draft their own Will or…

The most common form of litigation in relation to deceased estates is when a spouse, child or financial dependent of a deceased person makes a Family Provision Application (FPA), a…

When someone dies the person responsible for the multiple duties involved in administering and distributing his or her estate is known as a legal personal representative (LPR). This person is…