Succession Nerd | Wifey | Mummy | Wills, Estates & Elder Lawyer
Will making is sometimes pretty complex work. The plan will always be unique to a person’s wishes and the personal circumstances. Every so often, I receive instructions from clients to include an ‘option’ for one of their family or friends to purchase their property. Usually, this is because they’re trying to balance at least two … Continue reading Optional Extra: Court held exercise of Option to Purchase not done properly
Recently, the case of Saltmer v Rennick Lawyers Pty Ltd [2018] QSC 307 was heard in the Supreme Court of Queensland in Townsville where the Court was called upon to question of costs in a situation where a deceased person's family member requested a copy of a document held by a Solicitor that the family … Continue reading Catch and Release: Court considers when s33Z applies to a ‘purported’ Will (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 … Continue reading Renewable Power: Court permits Attorney to renew superannuation nomination (QLD)
It appears to be raining estate and trust law cases from the High Court of Australia over the last two weeks. Yesterday, the High Court of Australia ordered a new trial be held in relation to solemn form probate proceedings in Nobarani v Mariconte [2018] HCA 36 on the basis that the appellant as denied … Continue reading Missing element: High Court orders new trial in solemn form probate proceedings; denial of procedural fairness
Earlier this year, I was surprised to read a judgement where a former spouse successfully claimed for further provision from her former husband's estate notwithstanding the pair had completed a property settlement 25 years prior. You can read my earlier post here. It may come as no surprise that the matter was appealed to the … Continue reading “Divorced from reality”: Appeal allowed in former spouse FPA claim (NSW)
Sadly, it's not often I read of a case where the applicant/plaintiff's endeavours lack self-interest. Given the nature of estate litigation, generally in a good portion of the cases, self-interest takes a front seat. Of course, that doesn't mean to say that it is greed or something sinister that drives a person to take … Continue reading Selfless surrender: defacto partner applies for Statutory Will to benefit mother and sisters (NSW)
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 … Continue reading The Unsent Text Message Will: Is it really that simple? No – it’s really not!
