I’ve heard some stories in my time. Perhaps the worst was an old bloke who didn’t trust the banks. You can’t blame him for that, but this chap kept his savings in a broken radio he’d hollowed-out and left in the shed to look like junk. It was a pretty good hiding place – so good, in fact that radio made its way to landfill before his children found his hand-written Will hidden in a plastic … [Read more...]

Legal Wills are boring documents. Make no mistake, as Wills and Estate Lawyers we love our work, but Wills aren’t exactly page turners, if you know what I mean. That’s because legal Wills serve a very clear purpose – to take your testamentary wishes (what should happen to your assets when you die) and translate them into legal wording. That’s why sometimes when children finally get to see … [Read more...]

(two minute, easy read) It’s hard to believe that in 2019 people are still trying to forge legal Wills, but a remarkable case in the UK has reinforced the need to have your Will drafted – and stored – by a qualified legal professional. The criminal law case, out of Gloucestershire, involves a married couple who sought to exclude their relatives from their late mother’s estate by writing a … [Read more...]

The South Australian Government has announced plans to revamp the Public Trustee’s “no-upfront cost” legal Will service, a move that could slash access to legal Wills for thousands of South Australians. Under plans reported in InDaily, the Public Trustee’s deferred cost Will service would be limited to concession card holders – about half their current annual client base. The service is an … [Read more...]

Imagine sitting on a fortune and not being allowed to spend it because the government doesn’t trust you to make financial decisions on your own, even though your wife is healthy and your home falling down around you. That’s the reality for one Queensland couple who hit the news this week, but it’s a situation that can be avoided with a simple, affordable legal document that every Australian … [Read more...]

When a relationship gets serious we often think the most difficult decisions will be whose pictures will go on the walls (spoiler – your KISS posters are going in the shed). It might not be the most romantic idea, but when getting serious about a relationship one of the most important conversations you can have is whether each of you has your financial house in order before your lives - and … [Read more...]

A new study has shown that only one in four Australians has discussed their end-of-life wishes with their family, despite three quarters acknowledging a need to plan ahead. As an estate lawyer, this is worrying news. I’m not pretending this is an easy discussion to have, but some issues are made worse by ignoring them. End of life planning isn’t just about what songs you want played at your … [Read more...]