Blog
Aged Care, Granny Flats & Estate Planning
If you or a parent are entering Aged Care, it can be overwhelming. Quite apart from the emotional upheaval, the financial implications can be complex, and good quality financial advice is a must. But equally important is making sure you review your estate planning at the same time. You need to make sure your Will … Read more
When Is Probate Needed?
One of the main questions we get asked by clients is ‘do I need to get Probate?’. The answer is not always a simple yes or no. To determine whether or not probate is needed we need to look at what assets were held by the deceased at the time of their death. Before … Read more
Property Ownership
When purchasing a property one of the most important questions you will need to ask yourself and put your mind to is the way you would like to own the property. There are four main forms of ownership. These include sole proprietorship, joint tenants, tenants in common in equal shares and tenants in common in … Read more
Jointly Owned Assets & Death
Many people are surprised to learn that assets held jointly with another person usually do not form part of their estate when they pass away. In fact, some surprising things can happen with jointly owned assets which you may not be aware of. Let’s take a look at some of the more common ones. Real … Read more
Cooling Off Periods
Purchasing a property is a big deal! Finding the right property that meets your needs and desires can be difficult. When you think you have found the right property and have signed the contract of sale, it could be comforting to know that you have a cooling off period. Section 31 of the Sale of … Read more
Overseas Assets and Australian Wills
With such a multicultural population, it is not uncommon for us to meet with clients who have assets in overseas countries, whether that be real estate, bank accounts or superannuation funds. But does their Australian Will cover these assets? The default answer is generally no – unless the foreign country where those assets are held … Read more
Voluntary Assisted Dying – Euthanasia in Victoria
In 2017, the Victorian government introduced the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 (Vic), which will come into effect in 2019. The purpose of this bill is to regulate and facilitate the process by which Victorians could be permitted to make informed decisions regarding their own end of life choices. ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying’ (VAD) means ‘the … Read more
The effect of marriage and divorce on a Will
What is the effect of marriage on my Will? In most cases your marriage will revoke your Will, meaning that you would no longer have a valid Will in place once you are married. There are some clauses of your Will that marriage will not revoke, but this usually produces a messy and uncertain result. … Read more
Will Challenge:When to Worry, and What to Do.
You would probably be surprised to learn how often we are asked about whether a particular family member can challenge a Will. In my experience, when clients raise concerns about their family “black sheep” and whether they can challenge, they feel somewhat embarrassed and usually like their family is different. But the reality is that … Read more
What are VOIs & CAFs?
Completing a Verification of Identity (VOI) is a mandatory process to confirm the true identity of all parties involved in a land transaction. This requirement was introduced by the Land Titles Office Victoria to mitigate the risks of identity fraud and unauthorised property dealings. A Client Authorisation Form (CAF) is a crucial document that formally … Read more