Why a Will is crucial for a Sole Director and Shareholder
Do you operate a small business in the form of a sole director/shareholder company? Are you responsible for the overall operation of the company, including generating and operating the business,…
Tenants in Common vs Joint Tenancy
Understanding the difference between joint tenants and tenants in common is important if you are looking at your estate planning. If a Willmaker understands the difference, then they can make…
Family Provision Applications – Not a Fleeting Process
There’s no doubt that being left out of a Will, no matter how big or small the estate is, can result in high emotions. Recently, Bob Hawke passed, and it…
What are digital assets?
Digital assets include your online accounts, electronic banking information, hard storage devices, smartphones, online subscriptions/memberships, social networking accounts etc., that contain data, which can be personal or financial. One of the most…
Probate caveats – Should you be filing a probate caveat?
A probate caveat is a document that can be filed in the Court, which indicates there may be a challenge to the validity of the Will. Once the probate caveat…
An Enduring Power of Attorney – Just as Important as your Will
Without a doubt, having an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is just as important as having a Will. It is not uncommon for us to see a family in dispute…
Superannuation Death Benefit Claim – What You Need to Know
Upon death, superannuation is considered a trust asset, it is not an asset of a deceased’s estate. In many cases, the funds that make up the deceased’s superannuation will not…
Who is considered a spouse or de facto spouse?
We are frequently asked by clients what the requirements are to be considered a spouse, or a de facto spouse in relation to a deceased estate. This is important because…
Deceased lost or unclaimed superannuation
We receive a number of enquiries from various people trying to locate a loved one’s superannuation. Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule to locating a deceased’s superannuation. What…
Attorneys and Binding Death Benefit Nominations
When looking at a client’s estate plan, one of the important issues we address is whether they have a Binding Death Benefit Nomination. However, until the recent decision in Re…
Superannuation and your Will – What you need to know
Superannuation is one of the most important investment strategies for many of us, and in some cases, it is the only means of financial support in retirement. However, there is…
Your Will – what should you be telling your solicitor?
I recently met with a client, to receive her instructions to draft her Will and Enduring Powers of Attorney. I noticed early on in our appointment that I was receiving…