To begin, begin
As we welcome the new year, many of us take time to reflect on our goals and aspirations. We make promises to ourselves to eat healthier, exercise more and do something new. Amid all the self-improvement, however, it’s easy to overlook one important aspect of our...
Copy That !
I wrote about the importance of knowing where your original Will is in this column a year or so ago. The three recent files on my desk and the decision of Hindman J handed down in the Brisbane Supreme Court on December 5 on one of my files suggests it’s time to...
Aged Care Reform has taken ages
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was established on October 8, 2018, and recommended in 2021 that there be a new Aged Care Act. The Aged Care Bill 2024 got the green light in parliament on November 24 and is likely to become law from July 1 this...
It’s About Time…
I noted with interest the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has commenced penalty proceedings against the Construction and Building Unions Superannuation Fund (CBUS). ASIC alleges CBUS failed to act efficiently when CBUS handled claims being made...
Locked in … Is the feeling mutual?
When I see a couple to take instructions for their Wills, and they each have children to a previous relationship, it is common for them to gift: • everything to their spouse; and • if their spouse has died, equally between their children and stepchildren. Clients are...
Transferring control is a good idea.. Trust me.
For one reason or another, you may have purchased assets in the name of a Trust. Often described as ‘Family’ Trusts, these Trusts usually have common features including: A Trust Deed (the rule book); A Trustee (the manager); An Appointor/Principal (the supervisor and...
Stay With Me Until the End…
As we age and care needs increase, most people prefer to receive assistance in the comfort of their home. In response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care, Quality and Safety, Home Care Packages will be replaced by a new program known as Support at Home. There are a...
I QUIT !
If you have been asked to be an Attorney for someone under an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA), you might consider it quite an honour. An EPOA is a very powerful document and the person appointing you typically trusts you implicitly. You can’t, however, be forced...
The Defacto and the $1.2M text
Unlike a divorce, where you actually receive a piece of paper from the Court confirming a marriage has ended, there can be uncertainty as to when a defacto relationship ends. The Court had to recently consider whether a text message, sent on the morning of a deceased...
What’s New About Dying in Queensland ?
Over the years, the law has adapted to generally give de facto relationships the same recognition and status as a marriage. Until recently, however, a de facto relationship was not able to be included on a person’s death certificate. The Births, Deaths and Marriages...