TS | LEGAL MATTERS

Supreme Court decides first statutory will application

What you need to know In Western Australia, the Supreme Court can make a will for a person who lacks the capacity to make one. In 2007,...

The Decision You Simply Can’t Put Off

If you have any minor children (i.e. younger than 18 years) then you should you consider who will look after them if you suddenly pass away.

Disentitling conduct in an estate claim

A court has the power to dismiss an estate claim where the claimant has behaved badly. This is called 'disentitling conduct'.

Estate claims in court, hows and whys

It is always better to avoid estate claims getting to court, but sometimes it is unavoidable. All litigation is stressful, and estate...

Will dispute – what makes a successful claim?

The basic principles of a will dispute are fairly straightforward. The hard part is applying them to a claimant’s specific situation. As...

Testamentary guardian – thinking of the children

I have young children, who will look after them if I die? A testamentary guardian may be the answer. We often get asked this question,...

Will claim – who can make a claim?

Not everyone can make a will claim. To learn about the basics of a will claim, click here. In my last update, I outlined the basics of a...

Will challenge – the basics

Knowing the basics about making a will challenge will save stress at a difficult time. The death of a loved one is always stressful, and...

Contested Wills and the New Spouse

How is a Family Provision Act claim decided when there is a spouse from a new relationship and children from an old relationship? It is...

Advanced Health Directives and Enduring Powers of Guardianship

Planning for the inevitable and the unlikely. Ask yourself these questions: Have you ever thought about what would happen in the event...

New changes to WA inheritance law

Some important changes to Western Australian inheritance law came into effect on 16 January 2013. Under the terms of what is now called...