A key concern for many families while preparing their Will and Testamentary documents is the discussion surrounding how they might ensure the needs of their children will be met in the event of their unexpected death or illness. Indeed, this is a critical discussion that must happen, particularly when the clients have very young children. While most clients in this situation come to us ready to … [Read more...]
There is no such thing as a ‘free’ Will’
While watching the footy one Sunday afternoon, an advertisement for an insurance company came on the television. In addition to selling insurance, the company told viewers that if they signed up within the next month they would receive, free of charge, a Will Kit. I imagine that a lot of people watching the advertisement thought it was a good offer. After all, who can resist a freebie? A Will is … [Read more...]
“I’m uncomplicated so my Will should be pretty straightforward, right?”
If I had a dollar for every time someone said this to me I could retire right now. You see everyone thinks that their circumstances are straightforward and it follows then that they believe that their Estate needs will be easily satisfied with either a “cheap Will”, a blank template where you enter names and addresses; or, even worse, a DIY Will Kit. Truth is, few Wills actually are … [Read more...]
Nailing the New Year
I just love a clean slate. I think it goes back to my primary school days when we trundled into school late January to collect our tidy bundles of new stationery, complete with perfectly sharpened HB pencils and crisp white interleaved notebooks. I think it was the promise of new beginnings and of new opportunities that I relished. Perhaps I was just pleasantly asphyxiated on the fragrance of … [Read more...]
Estate Planning Series: Part 2 “Understanding the Difference Between Estate Assets and Non-Estate Assets”
What is an estate asset? An estate asset is one held in your own personal name. Examples of these include real property held in your personal name or an interest as tenant in common, bank accounts in your sole name, vehicles and shares that are also held in your personal name. What is a non-estate asset? A non-estate asset can’t be dealt with in accordance to your Will. Non-estate … [Read more...]
Estate Planning Series: Part 1 “Not Just for the Rich”
There is a common misconception that estate planning is just something that wealthy people need to do. Wrong. While anyone with a lot of assets and capital behind them certainly needs a comprehensive estate plan, it is also important that ordinary Australians have one too. “But I’m not worth much dead.” I hear you say. On the surface this may be seem to be the case. However, if you have … [Read more...]
Celebrity Wills Blog Series : Osama bin Laden
Ok, so if my last blog about Wills (Nostradamus) was a bit of a stretch on celebrity, this one will surely break that string. To be fair, even I feel bad calling this person a celebrity will, but hey, like I say, everyone needs a Will!! A few weeks back my interest was piqued when I read a news headline suggesting that, according to a recently released Will, “Osama bin Laden left millions of … [Read more...]
Celebrity Wills Blog Series (6) – Nostradamus
Perhaps not exactly a celebrity, Michel Nostradamus is perhaps more extensively known throughout the world, than some “so-called” modern day celebrities. His reputation as a seer and author of a collection of prophecies has guaranteed continued interest in his life and work to the present day. Nostradamus was born in 1503 and died on 2 July 1566 at the age of 66 years. Since becoming aware … [Read more...]
A New Directive: Changes to Medical Decision Making After July 1
Most people are probably somewhat familiar with the role of Enduring Powers of Guardianship, Medical Powers of Attorney and, to a lesser extent, Anticipatory Directions. These various documents are the means by which an individual can express his or her medical wishes, future health care and other personal matters. There are subtle differences between each of the documents and determining which … [Read more...]
