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Estate planning is easier to approach when you understand the basics. These resources are written for South Australians who want clear, plain-language information before they pick up the phone, or simply want to understand more about how the law applies to their situation.
They are not a substitute for legal advice. Every person’s circumstances are different, and the right outcome for you depends on details that no article or guide can anticipate. What these resources can do is give you a foundation, so that when you do speak with our team, you arrive informed and ready.
Articles
Our team has published 190 articles covering estate planning, wills, probate, inheritance claims, powers of attorney, superannuation, and succession law in South Australia. They range from straightforward explanations of common questions to detailed discussions of specific legal scenarios.
Browse by topic or search for the question that is on your mind. If you cannot find what you are looking for, or if reading has raised more questions than it has answered, our team is ready to talk.
Information sheets
Our team has produced six plain-language information sheets covering the areas of estate planning that matter most. Each one is written to be read by a person, not a lawyer.
Estate Planning: The Will
What a Will covers, who can make one, what happens without one, and when to review.
Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial)
Why every adult needs one, who you can appoint, and what happens if you do not have one in place.
Advance Care Directives
How to put your chosen people in control of your medical and personal care decisions if you lose capacity.
Superannuation & Death Benefits
Why your Will does not cover your superannuation, and how to make sure your largest asset goes where you intend.
Understanding Testamentary Trust Wills
How a testamentary trust Will can protect an inheritance from divorce, bankruptcy, and unnecessary tax.
Executors’ Duties in a Deceased Estate
What being named as an executor actually requires, and where the obligations and risks lie.
Not So Fast, the Rightful Owner’s Furious.
A battle over a stolen Lamborghini has shown that possession really isn’t 9/10th of the law. It all began when a widow went searching for her late husband’s prized Lamborghini Espada, gifted to her in his will and thought to be stored in a farm shed, only to discover the car had been stolen. Some […]
Tax Man “Catching Up With The Kardashians” Of Australia.
If your favourite Australian celebrity was a little grumpy when asked them for a selfie at the shops today, there could be a very good reason. The Australian Government has announced a crackdown on the personal tax havens celebrities use to build wealth, and many of our favourite faces will be hit hard come June […]
Budget 2018: Super changes could slash your family’s safety net
It’s Federal Budget time, one of the few occasions most Australians sit up and listen to what’s going on in Canberra. Without doubt, most of us are interested in a personal tax cut. Power and petrol bills are high, as is the cost of housing, and every extra cent in our pockets can help make […]
Movies & The Law #3: Surprise, You’re Rich!
If we’re to believe books, TV and movies, the life of a lawyer is all about dazzling court room performances, stunned juries and people screaming “you can’t handle the truth” from the witness box. But how much is fact, and how much is fiction? Just for fun, let’s look at some famous movies and see […]
Movies & The Law #2: And The Oscar Goes To …
If we’re to believe books, TV and movies, the life of a lawyer is all about dazzling court performances, stunned juries and people screaming “you can’t handle the truth” from the witness box. But how much is fact, and how much fiction? Just for fun, let’s look at some famous movies and see how they […]
Movies & The Law #1: Truth Bombs From The Afterlife!
If we’re to believe books, TV and movies, the life of a lawyer is all about dazzling court room performances, stunned juries and people screaming “you can’t handle the truth” from the witness box. But how much is fact, and how much is fiction? Just for fun, let’s look at some famous movies and see […]
Can I buy a vowel? How about a comma for $5 million?
We all know grammar is important, but imagine a single comma costing you $5 million? That is the reality for a dairy operation in the United States, after local courts ruled in favour of delivery drivers who argued the absence of a comma in their workplace laws meant they’d been illegally underpaid. It all boils […]
To the class of 2018 – here’s what to expect
So, the 2018 university year is underway and all over Australia, students enrolled in law degrees are taking their first steps towards the life of a lawyer. Every year, around this time, I like to look back on my own experiences at law school, and the questions I had as a fresh-faced student suddenly swimming […]
Adelaide Fringe: reflections on the life of a lawyer.
As a lawyer specialising in wills and estates, there’s one question that always pops up when people want to know about my work; what’s your job really about? The answer might surprise you. In South Australia, we really do have the best of everything. Great food, wine, beaches and incredible national parks, all within a […]
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