Wills lawyer Adelaide

Estrangement And The Law

Family relationships can be complicated, and whether it’s due to longstanding conflict, emotional abuse, or differing values, some family members intentionally cut ties and become estranged. While you (or the other family member) may have severed the emotional bond, your legal obligations around estate planning remain intact. The uncomfortable reality is that estranged family members may still have a legal claim to your estate, and without professional advice, simply excluding people from your will can […]

Estrangement And The Law Read More »

How To Support Someone Who Has Lost Capacity

None of us like imagining a time when we many need to support someone who has lost capacity, whether it’s a parent, partner, or sibling (or heaven forbid, ourselves). But supporting someone who can no longer make decisions for themself is far more common than you may think. And when it happens, it can turn life into a complex emotional, legal, and financial maze. While we generally think of loss of capacity as being the

How To Support Someone Who Has Lost Capacity Read More »

The New Generation Of Deceased Estate Executors

Being named the executor of a deceased estate can feel like an honour; knowing someone trusted you with the responsibility of closing out their life, slightly smug that you are considered smart enough or organised enough to do the job. For the new generation of deceased estate executors, the kind of person who has a few professional skills up their sleeve and a phone in their pocket, at first glance, the job can seem pretty

The New Generation Of Deceased Estate Executors Read More »

Executor Vs Beneficiary: Who Holds The Cards

When someone dies they leave behind a cast of characters: the lucky beneficiaries, the all-powerful executor, and the inevitable family member who suddenly becomes an expert in estate law (despite never having read a legal document in their life). If you’re lucky you’ll have a script to follow (in the form of a will) and like a good English TV series, the storyline will be predictable,  with just enough twists and turns to keep all

Executor Vs Beneficiary: Who Holds The Cards Read More »

Should I Write A Will Now Or Wait?

How many times have you asked yourself “Should I write a will now or wait until I’ve [bought a house / got married / had a baby / had another baby / put some cash in the bank / built up my super]?” You get the picture. There’s always a reason to wait. Especially when you’re knee deep in the business of living and bringing new humans into the world. Or your powerful crystal ball

Should I Write A Will Now Or Wait? Read More »

Why Does Estate Planning Cost So Much?

It’s not unusual for people to reach out looking for a will only to get blindsided with sticker shock. Breathlessly they ask ‘why does estate planning cost so much?’ Maybe you’ve wondered the same thing yourself. Maybe I’ve sent you here to circumvent answering your question. Or maybe you’ve done your estate plan and some bloke down at the pub is up in your grill demanding to know why you were such a sucker for

Why Does Estate Planning Cost So Much? Read More »

Any Will Can Be Challenged

Someone once asked me which (of the many) common misconceptions about wills frustrates me the most. Tough question! On consideration, I’ve got to say the often spouted “Any will can be challenged” that fills the comments section of any kind of social media or online article about the importance of making a will probably takes top billing. The fact that any will can be challenged is not a misconception. It’s true. Whether you’ve handwritten a

Any Will Can Be Challenged Read More »

Your Step-Children After Your Spouse Dies

This week I was reminded of a radio interview I did many years ago (if you dig around enough you can find it on my website!) where I was asked the question “How do I deal with my adult step-children now my spouse has died? Our 28 year relationship has completely changed. Where they once liked (maybe even loved) me, they now think I’m a greedy, gold-digging imposter.” After more than 20 years as a

Your Step-Children After Your Spouse Dies Read More »

Love Is Estate Planning

Roses are red, violets are blue, estate planning is the ultimate way of saying “I love you” (now and forever). Ok, so writing a will might not seem as romantic as a candlelit dinner, or a sentimental greeting card but if you really want to show your love in a meaningful way gathering up all your fears and trepidation and sitting down to do your estate plan is the ultimate gift for couples. A will

Love Is Estate Planning Read More »

Why Your Estate Plan Needs A Checkup When The Economy Shifts

Let’s face it—the economy is a moving beast. One minute the stock market is soaring, the next it’s doing a swan dive. Inflation sneaks up on us like an unexpected houseguest and before we know it a dinner at the pub that used to cost $35 is now a cool $50 but in the same breath we’re complaining about the cost of bread and fuel many people are flabbergasted to find their house once worth

Why Your Estate Plan Needs A Checkup When The Economy Shifts Read More »

Scroll to Top