parents dilemma choosing guardians for children

Parents Dilemma Choosing Guardians for Children

parents dilemma choosing guardians for children

Choosing a person to care for your children is difficult. In fact, for many families, it’s the hardest part of planning their estate.

It’s not easy to think of anyone else, no matter how loving, raising your child.

The problem only gets harder if your child has a disability.

Yet, you can make a tremendous difference in your child’s life by planning ahead.

Details
what happens when a gift in a will has been lost

What happens when a gift in a Will has been lost?

what happens when a gift in a will has been lost

With Australians living longer than ever, their physical health is often declining slower than their mental capacity, requiring close family members to assume the role of agents and substitute decision makers for financial and legal matters, generally by way of an enduring power of attorney.

It is not surprising if you have never heard of ‘ademption’. Ademption is a legal term derived from a Latin word meaning ‘a taking away’.

Ademption occurs when property (either personal or real estate) gifted under a Will is no longer in the Will-maker’s (Testator’s) estate when they die.

Details
seven surprising reasons why australians are challenging wills and estates more than ever

Seven surprising reasons why Australians are challenging Wills and Estates more than ever

seven surprising reasons why australians are challenging wills and estates more than ever

You only have to look at the newsfeeds and internet chat forums to see that people are talking about the increasing numbers of challenges to Wills and deceased estates nowadays.

Here are the seven main reasons why:

No Will

Recent research reveals 52 per cent of adult Australians don’t have a Will.

The majority of Australians are letting their families down in one key area — more than half of Australian adults don’t have a Will, even though it could mean their families are left out in the cold in the event of their death.

Details
people behaving badly

People behaving badly part – 4

people behaving badly

In my profession we have an expression: “You never know anyone until you share an inheritance with them”.

It is a true revealer of character. In my work as a lawyer specialising in Wills and estates, I am witness to some appalling human behaviour.

Due to the popularity of this series of articles, here are some more examples as cautionary tales:

An old man lies dying in a hospital bed. His Will was made less than a year earlier, leaving everything equally between his 3 kids.

Details
people behaving badly

People behaving badly – part 3

people behaving badly

In my work as a lawyer specialising in Wills and estates, I am witness to some appalling human behaviour.

Due to the popularity of this series of articles, here are some more examples as cautionary tales:

In my 35+ year career I have frequently had to try to deal with joint executors in a deceased estate, some of whom could not agree on the colour of an orange.

Details
people behaving badly

People behaving badly part 2

people behaving badly

In my work as a lawyer specialising in Wills and estates, I am witness to some appalling human behaviour.

Due to the popularity of this series of articles, here are some more examples as cautionary tales:

Probate fraud can take many forms and, like many other types of fraud, it has steadily increased in recent years, more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details
people behaving badly

People behaving badly – part 1

people behaving badly

Coercive Control, Granny Napping and Predatory Marriages are all occurring with increasing frequency.

There have been 2 Royal Commissions already exploring some of these issues, with more to come. The common theme is the financial exploitation of vulnerable older people in western society.

Financial exploitation disproportionately affects older people in Australia, UK and USA.

Details
safeguarding the bank of mum and dad

Safeguarding the bank of Mum and Dad

safeguarding the bank of mum and dad

More parents are helping their children financially to get ahead.

So what are some of the considerations when gifting or lending money to ensure everyone’s interests are protected?

The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ now helps the majority of first home buyers get onto the property ladder.

It’s an act of generosity that can come at a price if it’s not done in the right way.

Details