Whilst this case is a little older than my usual case updates, it is by no means less interesting and, in my humble opinion, important when it comes to considering decisions in family provision matters involving disentitling conduct and estrangement. In the case of Dawson v Joyner [2011] QSC 385, the deceased was survived by…
Tag: estate planning
100 posts and over 10 years!
Well, goodness gracious me. It appears I have hit 100 posts! Can you believe that?! It’s a little bit of happenstance that I am getting my blogging mojo back as I happen to hit the big one oh oh. I am truly grateful for those who have stopped by here and provided so much encouragement…
The Rise & Fall of the Gift & Loan Back: Re Permewan – on The Heir Waves
In the latest episode of my new podcast called The Heir Waves, Caite Brewer and I discussed some more interesting cases in succession law. Have a listen below: The Rise & Fall of the Gift & Loan Back: Re Permewan In this episode, Caite & Michele discuss: the case of Re Permewan (No 2) [2022] QSC 114…
Super Scott: Superannuation with special guest Scott Hay-Bartlem – on The Heir Waves
In the latest episode of my new podcast called The Heir Waves, Caite Brewer and I discussed some more interesting cases in succession law. Have a listen below: Super Scott: Superannuation with special guest Scott Hay-Bartlem In this episode, Caite & Michele: are joined with special guest, Scott Hay-Bartlem, Partner and Superannuation guru at Cooper Grace Ward…
Be Wary to Vary and Exercise Discretion: Re Owies Family Trust – on The Heir Waves
In the latest episode of my new podcast called The Heir Waves, Caite Brewer and I discussed some more interesting cases in succession law. Have a listen below: Be Wary to Vary and Exercise Discretion: Re Owies Family Trust In this episode, Caite & Michele discuss: The family trust case of Re Owies Family Trust [2020] VSC…
Re Marsella and genuine and real consideration – on The Heir Waves
In the latest episode of my new podcast called The Heir Waves, Caite Brewer and I discussed some more interesting cases in succession law. Have a listen below: Freedom of Discretion: Re Marsella and ”real and genuine” consideration In this episode, Caite & Michele discuss: Follow up question from ‘Episode 1: To Love and To…
Mutual wills & disentitling conduct – on The Heir Waves
In the latest episode of my new podcast called The Heir Waves, Caite Brewer and I discussed some interesting cases, including one that involved mutual wills and another involving, my favourite topic, disentitling conduct. Have a listen below: Title: To love and to loathe: mutual wills and disentitling conduct In this episode, Caite & Michele…
Audio-Visually signed COVID Will admitted to Probate via s18 Application (QLD)
I must start this post with an absolutely huge thank you for the patience of my delightful blog followers. I have been a little distracted of late, but I promise, I will never forget this beloved blog of mine. I have a few cases to write about that I’m sure you will all enjoy, starting…
Leave ’em a loan: Liability to pay mortgage left with joint tenant
The liability of a mortgage is probably one of the most significant liabilities a couple will share. Whilst many times it’s a fairly equal distribution of that liability when everything is held jointly, it’s not always the case in circumstances of second/later relationships or a singular income earner and home maker. The recent decision of…
New Power of Attorney & Advance Health Directive forms released (QLD)
The wait is now officially over with the new Queensland Powers of Attorney and Advamce Health Directive documents now being released. E documents are approved for use from 30 November 2020. These documents coincide with the legislative changes I wrote about regarding attorneys and guardians last year. This is the first update to these well…
New audio-visual witnessing for Wills and Enduring Documents in QLD amid COVID-19
New regulations for Wills and EPAs made by Qld Government amid COVID-19
Duty Bound: solicitor’s duty to beneficiary of incapable testator after inter vivos transfer
It was in the context of preparing for the delivery of my recent presentation for The Tax Institute’s Death…and Taxes Symposium on the Gold Coast recently that I come to read a recent case of solicitor negligence in the context of estate planning. In the appeal decision of McFee v Reilly [2018] NSWCA 322, a…
Renewable Power: Court permits Attorney to renew superannuation nomination (QLD)
For a while now, it’s been a hazy question asked by succession lawyers alike about whether an attorney can make or renew a binding death benefit nomination for their principal’s superannuation policy proceeds. On 24 August 2018, Justice Bowskill of the Supreme Court of Queensland delivered a decision on this very topic. The case of…
The Unsent Text Message Will: Is it really that simple? No – it’s really not! (QLD)
It’s likely been in your news feed recently that an unsent text message was held by a Queensland Court to be a valid Will. It may seem quite unbelievable to some that this would even happen! On the other hand, maybe it doesn’t? Reviewing the comments that appear in many of the media articles online…
No Will, no way?: Court refuses application for statutory Will in large estate (Qld)
Admittedly, it’s not something that one regularly thinks about, but the issue of incapacitated people making Wills is a topic that achieves much discussion nowadays. Where a person doesn’t have a Will, whether by choice or otherwise, the law provides what I like to call a “back-up plan” or formula, if you will, of how…
Leaving a “note” for mum successfully appealed; “Note” = Will
Not all that long ago, I wrote an article on a case involving a gentleman who had passed away in China. He was Australian Citizen who was resident in China for many years and he had left a note for his mum regarding his wishes to distribute some of his property which gave rise to…
Australian Citizen resident in China leaves a “note” for mum
Update! This case was successfully appealed in June 2017. Read my article on the appeal here. Documenting your wishes is simple in theory, but quite a different story in real world. The Supreme Court of Victoria had quite the job recently in deciphering whether a note a man left behind was considered to be his “Will” and…
Worldy Wisdom: Why a pro forma will still ends up in Court
I’m always curious as to any judgement dealing with will kits or proforma wills. I have every suspicion we will see more of these as the years go on. Recently the Court had to determine what a testator meant in the matter of Rhodes v Rhodes (as Executor of the Estate of Cecil Ronald Rhodes) & Ors…
Family Ties: Former wife successful in FPA where financial settlement finalised 25 years prior
I read, with interest, the recent case of Lodin v Lodin; Estate of Dr Mohammad Masoud Lodin [2017] NSWSC 10, which dealt with a family provision claim by a former spouse of the deceased where a financial property settlement had been reached some 25 years prior to the deceased’s date of death. In New South Wales, a claim for family…
Computer Will upheld
In the Estate of Robin Michael (Deceased) [2016] SASC 164, the Supreme Court of South Australia held that a computer document was to be admitted to probate as the last will and testatment of the deceased. The Court itemised the following main issues to be determined were: Was the will on the deceased’s hard drive of…