The minefield of the Mutual Will
The concept of Mutual Wills is certainly not an easy one to understand. However, as blended families become more common, Mutual Wills are often used as an estate planning tool…
Make estate planning part of your new year resolution
This past holiday season, you may have had the opportunity to catch up and spend some time together with family, friends and loved ones. As we roll into a new…
Enduring Power of Attorney & Advance Health Directive forms – what’s new?
Changes to Queensland’s guardianship laws took effect on 30 November 2020. As part of those changes, new Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) and Advance Health Directive (AHD) forms have been introduced.…
4 myths when it comes to your superannuation
Considering your superannuation is an important undertaking when looking at your estate planning. To avoid unintended consequences, it is crucial that you understand how your superannuation death benefits will be…
A refresh on Powers of Attorney in Queensland
Having an Enduring Power of Attorney is equally as important as having a Will. Sometimes an Enduring Power of Attorney is referred to as a ‘living Will’. In Queensland, there are…
Blended families – Questions you should be asking
We regularly deal with clients whose life stories include divorce, separation and children from previous relationships. Estate planning for blended families can often pose significant estate planning risks and challenges.…
Executors and Trustees – Should you be Seeking Direction from the Court?
*I have used the words ‘executor’ and ‘trustee’ in this blog interchangeably. Being an executor or trustee can be a challenging role. You are tasked with not only dealing with…
Administering an estate during the COVID-19 pandemic
The death of a loved can be hard for everyone involved and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may add additional stress through this difficult time. There are many ways that COVID-19…
Capacity and Home-Made Wills: Why you should reconsider
In the wake of COVID-19, there is a lot more discussion about home-made Wills or Will kits. One of the questions that I am frequently asked is, “can we use…
Does marriage, divorce or separation affect my Will?
Whether it is the start of a relationship or the end, it is important to understand the effect marriage, divorce or separation can have on your Will. Your Will should reflect…
Executor’s commission – What it is, and how it works
One of the most common questions I am asked is, “do I get paid for being the executor?” Whilst the role of executor was once upon a time a voluntary…
7 common mistakes made by executors
An executor is a person who has been appointed in a Will to administer the will-maker’s estate and carry out the Will-maker’s wishes. They are often described as the deceased…