5 Common Estate Planning Mistakes

Estate Planning Disasters of the Rich and Famous

Estate Planning, Inheritance Claims & Contested Estates, Wills, Wills and Estate Planning
Estate Planning Disasters of the Rich and Famous

There is a tempting assumption that estate planning is something only the wealthy need to worry about, or conversely, that wealth itself ensures a smooth transfer of assets on death. Celebrity estate planning disasters emphatically disprove both propositions. The rich and famous are as capable of catastrophic estate planning failures as anyone else – and because their assets and family disputes tend to be played out in public, their mistakes offer instructive lessons for us all.
The following cases illustrate common estate planning failures and the principles that might have prevented them. All information in this article relates to Australian law under the Succession Act 2023 (SA) and its Commonwealth and common law equivalents.

Family trust disputes in Australia

When Family Trusts Turn Toxic: Trustee Duties, Distribution Disasters, and Removal Remedies

Family Trusts, Testamentary Trusts, Wills and Estate Planning
Family trust disputes in Australia

The family trust is one of the most elegant instruments in the Australian estate-planning toolkit. Flexible, tax-efficient, and capable of sheltering assets across generations, it has become a cornerstone of how families structure their wealth. According to some estimates, there are well over 800,000 discretionary trusts operating in Australia — the vast majority of them family vehicles, established with the best of intentions.

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Don’t Make These Common Mistakes with Your Discretionary Family Trust

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Discretionary trusts (often called family trusts) are very powerful planning tools you can use for all kinds of purposes. Trusts can simplify & minimise or even avoid probate, protect your beneficiaries from creditors or divorcing spouses and

Don’t Make These Common Mistakes with your Discretionary Family Trust

can provide for education for grandchildren or your favourite charities.

When a trust is part of your overall comprehensive estate plan, you should try to avoid these common trust mistakes:

Mistake 1: Failing to title assets in the name of your trust

If you have not put your assets into your trust, also called “funding” your trust, you have lost some of the benefits of your trust.

Any assets that are in your own name at the time of your death will probably need to be probated. However, any assets that are titled in the name of your trust at the time of your death will avoid probate and usually result in lower after-death administration costs.

In order to receive the protection and benefits capable of being provided by the trust, generally (except for superannuation funds and certain annuities) most of your assets would need to be transferred into your trust during your lifetime.

Estate Planning Challenges: The Ageing of Australia’s Population

Estate Planning Challenges: The Ageing of Australia’s Population

Estate Planning, Trusts & Guardianship, Wills, Wills and Estate Planning
Estate Planning Challenges The Ageing of Australias Population

Thanks to modern health care, the ageing population of Australia is growing rapidly. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the demographic of people aged 65 and older increased by 3.7 percent between 1993 and 2013.

These numbers are expected to increase more rapidly over the next decade. If you’re in fairly good health and able to care for yourself well into your golden years, this is great news.

However, no one knows when an illness or injury could strike, requiring expensive long-term care and accommodations. Not planning for the future while you’re still of sound mind and in good health could be disastrous for you and your loved ones—physically, emotionally and financially. This is why it is in your best interest to meet with an Adelaide estate planning lawyer at Genders & Partners as soon as possible.

Legal Documents

When you meet with our experts on estate planning in Adelaide, we will assist you to protect yourself, your family and your assets. In addition to preparing your Will, we will provide advice and assistance on Powers of Attorney, and Advance Care Directives so that your loved ones know who is in charge of making certain decisions for you should you become ill or unable to make decisions for yourself. This leaves no one guessing or arguing over your wishes.

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The Increasingly Common Problem of Undue Influence in South Australia

Estate Planning, Trusts, Trusts & Guardianship, Wills
The Increasingly Common Problem of Undue Influence in SA

Modern medicine is helping us live longer life spans than ever before, but a good portion of the ageing population needs assistance from family members or other caregivers as time goes on. This dependency, coupled with the older person’s declining physical or mental state, unfortunately creates favourable conditions for a caregiver to manipulate the estate planning process for his or her own benefit. This is called undue influence, and when you consult with Genders & Partners for Wills & estate planning in Adelaide, we will do everything in our power to protect you from those who do not have your best interests at heart.