Gone are the days of romance scammers asking for a bank transfer to cover the cost of an airfare, skimming money off your credit card for an ’emergency’, or requesting gift cards be sent in the mail. Well, those days are not gone, gone but things in scamland have shifted up a notch. Scammers are now playing the long game; building trust over months or years and positioning themselves to benefit from wills and estates,
Romance Scams and Your Estate Read More »
I often hear from people who proudly tell me they don’t need all the ‘other documents’ that I include as part of their estate plan; an Advance Care Directive and Enduring Power of Attorney documents. I’d like to tell you I smile and nod and let them go on their way. Except I don’t. I usually ask a follow-up question along the lines of: “What’s your plan if you don’t finish the job off
Other Estate Planning Documents Read More »
Whether you’re selling your family home after the death of a parent or other loved one, purchasing a new property with your inheritance, or simply changing your property title to help achieve your estate planning goals, we’re here for you. Do I need a conveyancer to sell a house? For most people, selling a home can be an exciting time; however, when it’s part of estate administration, it can be a highly emotional and challenging
Conveyancing With Heart Read More »
As the executor of an estate you will need to engage the services of a registered conveyancer to legally and professionally manage the complex process of transfering property ownership, ensuring legal compliance, and protecting the interests of the estate. Our in-house conveyancer is not only experienced in handling all the necessary paperwork, title searches, and finding all the tricky issues that can slow down a property transfer or sale, she also understands the unique legal
Why Do I Need A Conveyancer? Read More »
A few years ago a client served me a slice of pie that contained all kinds of things that, in my personal opinion, had no business being anywhere close to baked goods. Funnily enough, at the same time as he passed me that pastry-encased concoction, he handed me a DIY will filled to the brim with all kinds of things that have no business being in a will. Just like it matters what you put
Four Things That Cannot Go In A Will Read More »
Property ownership can be a confusing and complex process and is rarely ever simple. What many people don’t realise is the way you own property will impact who and how you can distribute that asset after your death. An important part of estate planning is understanding how your property is owned and what will happen to the property after death based on the nature of the title, so nobody is surprised. Ways a Property
What Happens to a Property After Death? Read More »
Most of us spend our lives trying to own things: our homes, our cars, our businesses, even our truth. The reality is, the final act of ownership, the one that really matters, is often the one we leave to someone else to figure out. You might think you’re avoiding a difficult conversation or saving yourself the paperwork, but what you’re really doing is inviting a whole cast of other people to step in and take
Who Will Own Your Death? Read More »
So you’ve made the decision to become Strong Willed: taken the time to do an estate plan, written a will that gets regularly reviewed and updated, and you’ve been brave enough to get professional advice so you understand what life will look like if you were to die this year. You want to look after the people you love if you’re no longer around. But what about the people who love you? What if they haven’t
When A Loved One Refuses To Write A Will Read More »
In her popular book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, Margareta Magnusson says something that resonates with me so deeply Do not ever imagine that anyone will wish – or be able to – take time off to take care of what you didn’t take care of yourself. I meet hundreds of people every year. Some of them are future dead people, and some of them are the families of recently dead people. They all
Swedish Death Cleaning: The Gift That Keeps On Giving Read More »
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard A will isn’t worth the paper it’s written on, in the comments section of social media, under an article, or on the few occassions I’m forced against my will to listen to talkback radio, well let’s just say I’d probably be hanging out somewhere else (or would I?!). When people start talking about the value of paper in the same sentence as testamentary wishes, what
Is A Will Worth The Paper It’s Written On Read More »