Logo

The Pitfalls of Homemade Wills

by

Homemade Wills are a tempting proposition for those interested in reducing the costs associated with obtaining legal services. Whilst on the surface these Homemade Wills kits appear be straightforward and binding, this is not always the case. It is important to ensure that your Will is prepared in the proper legal manner so that your wishes are unambiguous, and your estate may be correctly dealt with at the time of your passing.

The common issues surrounding Homemade Wills have been exemplified in the Supreme Court of Western Australia’s recent case James Edward Donnelly as executor of the estate of Sarah Shulman v Donnelly 2020 WASC 254. In this decision, Master Sanderson at [13] heavily criticised the ambiguity of the Homemade Will in question, stating:

“Although it is a valid will because it complies with the provisions of the Wills Act apart from appointing the plaintiff as executor, it has no content. It makes no disposition. It is meaningless.”

In this case, despite there being every reason to believe that the deceased intended to leave her entire estate to the first defendant, even the most benign interpretation of the Homemade Will offered no benefit to the first defendant. Apart from being mentioned as executor of the Will, the first defendant was not mentioned at all – in fact, no-one was.

Master Sanderson suggests in this judgement that there is no question of the Will being ambiguous, as it simply remained silent on who was to receive the benefit (the beneficiaries of the Will). Through proper exercise of the construction of the Will, it was determined by Master Sanderson that, on the facts, he was satisfied that the deceased intended to leave her estate to the first defendant.

Although in this case the exercise of discretion fell in the favour of the defendant, this acts as a reminder as to the pitfalls of drafting Homemade Wills.

 

How do the Courts Construct an Ambiguous Wills?

You may be wondering what process is undertaken to properly “construct” or “read” an ambiguous will by the Courts? Construction of a Will is a two-step process:

  1. Firstly, the Will is to be read on its own without regard to any evidence. If this does not lead to an interpretation of the Will then an attempt must be made to deduce the intentions of the testator.
  2. If the intentions of the testator cannot be readily discerned for any reason, then the court should proceed to construe the Will with the assistance of cannons of construction. These cannons often allow a judicial officer to review extrinsic materials, as per section 28A of the Wills Act 1970 (WA), to better consider the intentions of the testator at the time of drafting the Will.

 

Common issues with Homemade Wills

Although use of these Homemade Wills kits may provide you a legally binding Will, it may not be drafted in such a way as to achieve what you truly intended. Common issues with Homemade Wills include the following:

  1. Failure to properly date the Will;
  2. Leaving the wrong assets or assets you are not entitled to distribute;
  3. Misunderstanding legal definitions;
  4. Losing the Will;
  5. Incorrectly witnessing documents;
  6. Unintended Tax Consequences;
  7. Appointing the wrong Executor;
  8. Ignoring potential and eligible beneficiaries; and
  9. Failing to provide for the guardianship of children.

 

Recent Judicial Commentary regarding Homemade Wills

Despite gaining popularity in recent years, Homemade Wills have been an enduring cause of concern within the Judicial system. Recent Western Australian examples which demonstrate this concern include the following:

Kossert v Ruggi as Executor of Will of Korps (No 2) [2012] WASC 191

Kenneth Martin J at [8] stated:

‘Sadly, as so many home-made wills seem to do because of a failure to receive proper legal advice, it throws up the question of [the deceased’s] failure to deal fully by his will with the one substantial asset he left, namely the house and land’

 

O’Brien, as Executor of Will of Hogan v Warburton [2012] WASC 82

EM Heenan J at [3] stated:

“ [the deceased’s] last will was prepared by him or at his direction apparently without any legal advice or assistance. Major difficulties have arisen in determining the proper construction of the testament and, in particular, whether or not it fails fully to dispose of the testator’s estate, so leaving a partial intestacy”

EM Heenan J at [58]:

“Obvious difficulties arise when parts of a will are ambiguous or, worse still, inconsistent. Such problems are often experienced in home-made wills such as this..”

 

Thomas v Pearman [2017] WASC 209

Master Sanderson at [1] criticised Homemade Wills, stating:

“The will and the codicil were home-made. They comprise 14 pages in all. They are a particularly egregious example of the folly of home-made wills.”

 

How can Carter Dickens Lawyers help?

Our expert lawyers are able to properly draft a will in the accepted legal manner, ensuring all of your wishes are to be fulfilled upon your passing. This will circumvent the ambiguous situations that often arise from Homemade Wills kits, and ensures that you can confidently have your Will executed as per your intentions.

At Carter Dickens Lawyers, we have the experience and knowledge to help you navigate this potentially complicated area of law. We understand the difficulties faced by families upon the death of a loved one, and we hope to ease this process by ensuring your final wishes are understood and binding.

Our Wills and Estates matters are provided on a fixed fee basis. Wills and Estates matters we may assist you with include the following:

  • Single Wills
  • Couples Wills
  • Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
  • Enduring Power of Guardianship (EPG)
  • Advanced Medical Directive
  • Probate Application
  • Letters of Administration (Deceased had no Will)

If you would like to discuss your Wills and Estates related matter, please contact Carter Dickens Lawyers on (08) 9408 5212.

Please note that the above is general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. All situations are different and legal advice must always be tailored to the specific situation.

 

Challenging a Child Support Assessment

by

The initial stage of separating from your partner is often the most difficult phase, especially when there are children involved. The transition from sharing care to being the primary carer often leaves single parents struggling to make ends meet. Child support is designed to alleviate this stress.

A child support assessment is made using one of various formulas, with the appropriate formula being determined by your individual circumstances. However, no two families are the same. We each have different lives, different needs and different circumstances. For this reason, it is sometimes arguable that your unique circumstances justify departing from the usual formula.

The Court will consider making a departure from the ordinary formula when:

  • a ground for departure in section 117(2)(a) of the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (‘the Act’) applies; and
  • it would be just and equitable or otherwise proper to make the order.

 

Step 1: Grounds for Departure

There are a number of grounds for departure outlined in section 117(2) of the Act. In summary, these grounds are as follows:

  • In the special circumstances of the case, the non-carer parent’s capacity to provide financial support is significantly reduced because of their duty to maintain themselves, another child or any other dependant person.
  • In the special circumstances of the case, the costs of maintaining the child are significantly affected:
    • because of high costs involved in enabling a parent to spend time with, or communicate with, the child;
    • because of special needs of the child;
    • because of high child care costs in relation to the child; or
    • because the child is being cared for, educated or trained in the manner that was expected by his or her parents.
  • In the special circumstances of the case, application of the formula would be unjust and inequitable because of the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of either of the children or the parents.

The common denominator in all of the grounds is the phrase ‘in the special circumstances of the case’. So, what does this mean?

When discussing the meaning of this phrase, the Family Court in Gyselman & Gyselman (1992) 15 Fam LR 219 stated, “Whilst it is not possible to define with precision the meaning of that term, as a generality it is intended to emphasize that the facts of the case must establish something which is special or out of the ordinary. That is, the intention of the Legislature is that the Court will not interfere with the administrative formula result in the ordinary run of cases.”

There is no one definition of what exactly a ‘special circumstance’ is, and this is intentional. The term is broad and flexible enough to cover a wide variety of circumstances. That being said, the following are examples of circumstances which have been held by the Court to be ‘special’:

  • In L and L [2003] FMCAfam 223, the liable parent was ordered to contribute to private school fees for a child with special needs. The Court held that the ‘special circumstances’ in this case were the child’s need for medical care, which was not covered by medical insurance, and her need to be encouraged to attend school. As the child was already enrolled in a private school, the non-liable parent was ordered to contribute to the fees.
  • In Bassingthwaighte and Leane (1993) 16 Fam LR 918, the father was an airline pilot who owned a farm, which operated at a loss. While the father’s taxable income was significantly reduced, the actual income he received was not. The Court allowed a departure from the usual assessment, in that his income without the reductions for tax losses was considered for the purpose of the assessment.
  •  In Dwyer and McGuire (1993) 17 Fam LR 42, the father owned a number of farming properties with his family, several of which were in the father’s sole name. The properties were unencumbered and the farming business had little debt. The father’s substantial assets established a ground for departure, and the Court ordered that the assessment would take these assets into account.

Step 2: Just and Equitable

The Court may only make a particular departure order if it is satisfied that doing so would be just and equitable to the child and both parents. Here, the Court looks at the overarching circumstances, having regard to:

  • the nature and duty of a parent to maintain a child;
  • the proper needs of the children;
  • the income, earning capacity, property and financial resources of the child and each of the parents;
  • the commitments of each parent that are necessary to enable the parent to support themselves or any other child or dependant;
  • the direct and indirect costs incurred by the carer entitled to child support in providing that care; and
  • any hardship that would be caused to the child and the parents if the order was either made or refused.

 

How can a lawyer help?

A lawyer with experience will be able to provide you with the knowledge and assistance you need to determine the grounds of departure which likely apply, whether your circumstances are special, and what kinds of departure order(s) would be just and equitable in your circumstances.

Importantly, a lawyer can also help you gather the evidence you need to support your case through different processes, such as disclosure. This is where both sides to the proceedings have an obligation to provide to the other party all relevant documents and material in their possession.

At Carter Dickens Lawyer, we have the experience and knowledge to help you navigate this complicated area of law to ensure that you put the best case forward, so please do not hesitate to contact our office for more information.

Please note that the above is general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. All situations are different and legal advice must always be tailored to the specific situation.

 

What are my Legal Rights to a Parentage Test?

by

We are occasionally asked by our family law clients whether it is possible to obtain a parentage test where the paternity of a child is “in issue” or “in doubt”. Despite potentially valid reasoning by a party to seek such a test, the Courts are often reluctant to make orders that a test be conducted.

 At Carter Dickens Lawyers we will aim to assist you in providing to the Court the clear evidence which meet the requirements to be granted a DNA parentage order. This may in turn impact past, ongoing and future Child Support payments, as well as a range of other factors related to parenting a child.

Presumptions of Parentage

Given the inability to DNA test all alleged parents of children, the Court, through the relevant provisions of the Family Law Act 1975 (CTH) make certain presumptions. For example, a person is presumed to be the child’s biological parent if:

  • they are named as the parent on the birth certificate or adoption certificate
  • they sign a statutory declaration (a legal document) saying they are the father/parent
  • the child was born during the marriage
  • the child was born within 20 to 44 weeks of when the mother and father lived together
  • the court makes a declaration (finding) that a person is a child’s father and/or that a person is liable to pay child support for a child.

 

Rebutting the Presumptions

Presumptions of parentage used to play an important role prior to DNA testing being used as evidence. Now, with DNA testing, the role of the presumptions is simply to put onus on the person who wants to rebut the presumption to gather such evidence.

It is possible for the Court to require a parentage testing procedure to be carried out for the purpose of obtaining information to assist in determining the parentage of the child, and to seek to vary the presumption of parentage. The Court, however, requires there must be enough evidence which places the paternity of the child in doubt, before it can embark upon the process of subjecting the child to procedures for paternity testing.

The Court will only make such an order if you are able to demonstrate via evidence before the Court that you have an honest, bona fide and reasonable doubt that the child is your own (In the Marriage of Lee and Tse (2005) 33 Fam LR 167 at [29]-[34], [40]-[49).

 

What Happens if a Parent refuses the Parentage Test?

A court may draw such inferences as appear just in the circumstances if an adult person contravenes a parentage testing order or an associated order, or if a guardian of a child the subject of the application refuses to consent to the procedure.

In G v H (1994) 181 CLR 387, Brennan and McHugh JJ accepted the following definition of the word “inference”:

‘An inference is a tentative or final assent to the existence of a fact which the drawer of the inference bases on the existence of some other fact or facts. The drawing of an inference is an exercise of the ordinary powers of human reason in the light of human experience; it is not affected directly by any rule of law. Legal principle may confine the basic facts in order to exclude irrelevancies.’

In G v H, G (the man alleged to be the father of the child) refused to undergo parentage testing. The High Court considered the inference that could be drawn from this refusal. Their Honours, Justices Deane, Dawson and Gaudron held the following:

“So far as G’s state of mind is concerned, it may be inferred that he has chosen to take the risk of being held to be the father of H’s child and liable for his maintenance and support rather than submit to a test which will effectively disclose whether or not he is in fact the father … And if, as here, the evidence establishes that a particular person is the most likely person to be the father and that person has chosen to risk a finding that he is the father rather than submit to a parentage test, there is no injustice involved if such a finding is ultimately made.”

Essentially, it was concluded that an “inference may be drawn contrary to the interests of a party who, although having it within his or her power to provide or give evidence on some issue, declines to do so.”

Parentage is important because only parents have to pay Child Support. Parentage may also be an issue in Family Court matters when there is a dispute about who a child lives or spends time with. We therefore recommend you seek legal advice if you have any issues related to a topic raised in this article.

We understand the stress and time constraints that are often associated with these sensitive family issues. With this in mind, Carter Dickens Lawyers aims to both advise and make you fully aware of your rights, obligations and risks pursuant to Parentage Testing.

Please note that the above is general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. All situations are different and legal advice must always be tailored to the specific case in question.

What is ‘Parental Responsibility’?

by

The concept of “parental responsibility” is common to family law parenting disputes, however, there is often confusion surrounding its meaning. The Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006 (Cth) introduced the concept of “parental responsibility”.

The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (‘FLA’) section 61B defines “parental responsibility” as:

‘In relation to a child, all the duties, power, responsibilities and authority which, by law, parents have in relation to children.’

Whether the parents are together or separating, it is their responsibility to make arrangements that are in the best interests of the child. Each parent has parental responsibility for their children until they are 18 years of age. This Parental responsibility is not affected by changes in the parents’ relationship; for example, if they separate or remarry.

 

How does the Family Court make decisions about parental responsibility?

Under the relevant law, each parent has ‘parental responsibility’ for their children, until the children become adults at 18 years old. Parental responsibility includes making the following major decisions for the children:

  1. Parental responsibility means all of the duties, powers, responsibilities and authority that parents have in relation to their child. It is not the same as equal parenting time or shared care.
  2. Equal shared parental responsibility means both parents share major long-term decisions on issues such as:
  • medical matters
  • religious matters
  • cultural matters
  • education
  • living arrangements.

Day-to-day decisions, such as what the children eat or wear, are not included in these responsibilities.

Note, it is possible for one parent to have sole parental responsibility, for multiple persons to share parental responsibility of a child, for a person other than a parent of the child to have parental responsibility for that child, and for parental responsibility to be shared other than equally (e.g. different persons may have responsibility for specific aspects of the child’s upbringing).

Equal Shared Parental Responsibility

Each of the parents of a child under the age of 18 years has parental responsibility for that child, notwithstanding any changes in the nature of the relationships of the child’s parents. Where either parent obtains sole parental responsibility (for example, upon the death of the other parent), there is no presumption that any particular parenting orders will be made in relation to that parent.

As a starting point, Under section 61DA of the FLA (and section 70A of the Family Court Act 1997 (WA)), when a court makes a parenting order, it must apply a presumption that it is in the best interests of the child for the child’s parents to have equal shared parental responsibility. The presumption was introduced to facilitate the right of children to have the benefit of both parents involved in a meaningful way in their lives to the extent that the involvement remains in the best interests of the child, as well as ensure parents fulfil their obligations and responsibilities to their children.

Parents are obliged to consult each other about major long-term issues and genuinely attempt to reach joint decision. Obligations regarding equal shared parental responsibility may apply to some matters but not all for which parents are to make long-term decisions. In some cases, sole parental responsibility is given to one parent if appropriate in the circumstances.

The presumption is displaced if there are reasonable grounds to believe that either parent, or a person whom the parent lives with, is or has been engaged in either abuse of a child or family violence.

Furthermore, an order for equal share parental responsibility is not automatically determinative of an order being made for a child to spend equal time or substantial and significant time with each parent. Parents who have parental responsibility can also be the subject of orders as to how they communicate with each other (s 64B(2)(d)), or the manner in which any dispute is to be dealt with (s 64B(2)(h)).

 

What Happens if Equal Shared Parental Responsibility is Displaced by the Court?

If the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility is displaced, sole parental responsibility is the alternative to equal shared parental responsibility. This means one parent adopts full parental responsibility for a child and can make long-term decisions for a child solely, without input from the other parent.

Orders for sole parental responsibility are only made if it is in the best interests of the child to do so. However, it must be noted that sole parental responsibility and equal shared parental responsibility are not the only two alternatives. In some cases, a parent may have sole parental responsibility for one specific long-term major issue, with the balance of major long-term decisions having to be made by both parents equally.

 

For more information please see the Family Court of Western Australia’s Parental Responsibility Webpage or contact Carter Dickens Lawyers on (08) 9408 5212 for a free 15-minute phone consultation with one of our Lawyers.

Please note that the above is general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. All situations are different and legal advice must always be tailored to the specific facts of your Legal Matter.

Parenting Preparation during the Coronavirus Pandemic

by

The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), whilst creating special challenges for all, may particularly affect separated or divorced parents with young children. With the situation rapidly evolving, the long-term outcomes remain to be seen. In light of such uncertainty and the extra stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard to manage stress for both parents and children alike. However, the following suggestions below may assist separated parents in working through this difficult time:

  1. Adapt and Communicate

In light of COVID-19 and the surrounding anxiety, parents may become angry with the decisions of their ex-partners regarding the children. However, during this time it is important to ensure that parents stay focused on the best interests of their children. Whilst difficult, this will require compromise and polite communication between parents to ensure that needless conflict is avoided. This is a time when the last thing children need to see is their parents fighting about them.

As the impact of COVID-19 on Courts remains unknown, it is uncertain if the Courts will suffer delays. It may be the case that the Courts will have limited availability, with dispute resolution services becoming scarce. As such, separated parents must attempt to resolve issues and manage matters between themselves to avoid long delays. If you have not already done so, it may be useful to consider discussing personal policies regarding the children’s care with your ex-partner. This may include discussing:

  • How time with the children will be divided should school closures occur?
  • Where will changeover occur? Do you have a plan for another location should your current venue become inaccessible?
  • How will the children’s safety and health be maintained?
  • How will you follow government advice about large gatherings such as weekend sporting events?
  • What activities are you both happy for the children to engage in during holidays or otherwise?
  • How you will discuss this scary matter with the children so that they are informed but not panicked?

In certain situations, it may also be worthwhile implementing a parenting plan between yourself and the other parent to address the above concerns, and more, quickly without the need to go to Court. Parenting Plans provide flexibility and can allow for arrangements between parents to be changed as the circumstances require. However, having a Parenting Plan in place does not mean you can neglect any obligations under existing Court orders or agreements.

If you are unsure about how to create a Parenting Plan or are having trouble communicating with your ex-partner, CD Lawyers may be able to assist you. For more information please contact our office.

  1. Continue to meet your obligations

Whilst we are currently living in unpredictable times, that is no excuse to neglect your obligations under a court order or agreement regarding your parenting matter. If for some reason you are unable to meet your obligations, say because arrangements are unclear or because of extenuating circumstances (e.g. school closures or quarantine), you must attempt to find a solution. At the very least, it is essential that where a change is anticipated, you communicate with the other parent providing them with ample notice and information.

If you are having difficulty meeting your obligations CD Lawyers can assist you.

  1. Stay healthy and follow government guidelines

Ensure that you and your children practice healthy hygiene habits to minimise the risk of spreading germs and viruses. Frequently and thoroughly washing your hands, as well as practicing responsible social distancing will reduce the risk of illness both to your family, friends, and others.

Setting an example for children is the best method of ensuring they learn these practices. As such you should let the other parent know you are following these healthy practices to ensure consistency across households.

For more information and access to the Government guidelines please visit:

https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/what-you-need-to-know-about-coronavirus-covid-19#protect-yourself-and-others

  1. Be Patient, Positive and Compassionate.

It is important to understand that in these coming months COVID-19 will bring special challenges. This situation will not be resolved overnight, but will require long term changes to the way we work, socialise, communicate and parent.  Despite the stress and anxiety, it is important to think about how you would like the other parent to engage with you about parenting issues and to reciprocate that engagement.

Understand that a certain degree of flexibility will need to be maintained with the other parent to ensure the children are taken care of. The current events are unprecedented and unplanned for. However, maintaining open and positive communication with the best interests of the children in mind will likely reduce conflict and ensure you can focus on your family and not on costly litigation. However, if the other parent is being unreasonable, and you have followed the required pre-action procedures, it may be necessary to issue court proceedings, and we can advise you on this.

Please note that the above is general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. All situations are different and legal advice must always be tailored to the specific situation.

Are you legally prepared for COVID-19?

by

Whilst we prepare for many events in our lives, we often neglect to discuss the difficult ‘what if’ topics like passing away suddenly. Unfortunately, for many people, this means they leave their family without information and guidance about what to do when they die. Without adequate preparation, your loved ones may be left exposed to drawn out litigation required to settle your estate. As such, it is importantly to ensure you are legally prepared for the unforeseen to prevent further hardship to your family.

On the 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. This is just one example of many unforeseeable global issues that may have significant implications for those who are legally unprepared. It is vital that people of all ages ensure that they are prepared for the legal ramifications of death or illness. Please make sure that you stay up-to-date and comply with all government directions and policies regarding COVID-19.

If you have not already done so, you should ask yourself the following questions to see if you are legally prepared for the unforeseen:

Do I have a Will and is it up to date?

No one wants to be worried about their assets from a hospital bed, as such it is vital to have a Will prepared. A Will is a legal document that sets out how you wish for your assets to be distributed after your death. It forms part of an estate plan and is an important strategic step in preserving your property for your family or other beneficiaries.

Passing away without a Will can place a significant burden on your family. It can impose onerous legal fees on your loved ones, and may result in your assets being distributed by the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Having a Will may ensure that your estate is dealt with promptly and efficiently and that your family is not left to fight drawn out legal battles.

Simply put, a Will properly drafted by our lawyers is the best way to have your assets dealt with in accordance with your wishes after your passing. A Will is designed to reduce future complications and reduce the likelihood of disputes arising from the interpretation of your Will between trustees, beneficiaries, and other parties.

Do I have an Enduring Power of Attorney?

An Enduring Power of Attorney (“EPA”) allows you to appoint someone you trust to make property and financial decisions on your behalf in the event you lose the legal capacity to manage your own affairs. This will include managing your money and real estate. An EPA does not permit an attorney to make personal, medical and lifestyle decisions.

In light of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits of an EPA are clear given the chances of hospitalisation or isolation. In such an event, an EPA would allow your appointed attorney to undertake a range of tasks  on your behalf when and if appropriate to do so. These may include everyday tasks, such as paying your bills and signing documents that require urgent attention, or more complex tasks such as dealing with your property (i.e. selling property) during your recovery.

Do I have an Enduring Power of Guardianship?

An Enduring Power of Guardianship (“EPG”) allows you to appoint someone to make personal, lifestyle and treatment decisions on your behalf should you ever become incapable of making these decisions yourself. These decisions include, but are not limited to, where you will live and what medical treatment you will receive.

With events such as COVID-19 having potentially life-threatening health impacts, it is vital to ensure that you have a guardian, appointed via a legally enforceable EPG. Your appointed guardian should understand your health care plans, directives and wishes should you become incapable of dealing with your own health care decisions. You must also ensure that if you have already appointed a guardian, they know of their appointment and are willing to act in such a capacity.

Where no attorney is nominated via an EPG you risk having the Public Advocate, which is a government body, appointed to assume responsibility over your health care decisions. This means that should you become mentally, or physically incapacitated without having executed an EPG, your family may not have sole control over your health care decisions.

Did you know that your Superannuation does NOT form part of your estate by default?

Superannuation is not considered an estate asset. A super fund is a type of trust meaning that it is not legally “owned” at the time of death. This means that on death it does not flow to the estate of the deceased automatically. Instead, without a binding death nomination a trustee of the super fund will pay out ‘death benefits’ in accordance with the governing rules of the fund and relevant law. This means that if you arrange to leave all your super to a child or spouse, this might not be honoured upon your passing.

However, an up-to-date Binding Death Nomination can be used to override the trustee’s discretion and ensure that the arrangements you have made during your lifetime are honoured. Simply put, a Binding Death Nomination is a legally binding nomination allowing you to advise the trustee who is to receive your superannuation benefit upon your passing and how to distribute your benefit.

Note, Binding Death Nominations should be reviewed regularly, as they can lapse in binding force after a period (usually 3 years). If you do not have a Binding Death Nomination or have not reviewed it in recent years, we advise that you talk to one of our lawyers regarding your options.

Do I have all my important documents in order?

You should ensure that copies all your important documents are stored together with your Will. Usually, after a person passes away, that person’s family will struggle to locate all relevant documents, passwords, and keys. To assist your family, you should prepare a list detailing your:

  • assets and liabilities;
  • access codes and passwords;
  • the location of keys and other documents i.e. bank account details, superannuation details etc.; and
  • details of your financial advisor, lawyer, accountant, insurance company and similar entities.

It is important to share with someone you trust the location of that list.

Do I need to nominate a guardian for my children?

If you are a parent of a child under 18, it is important that you know who will take care of your children if anything were to happen to you. Generally, whilst care of your children would flow to the other parent, it is worthwhile determining who would assume care of your children in the unfortunate event that both you and the other parent have passed on.

Fortunately, s71(3) of the Family Court Act 1997 allows you as a parent to appoint a testamentary legal guardian for your child via a Will or Deed. The appointment of a guardian will only take effect upon the death of the last surviving parent or legal guardian of the child. The appointment ends when the child reaches the age of 18 years. If you are unsure of who will take care of your children if you and the other parent are no longer, it may be time to speak to one of our lawyers.

If you have not yet prepared the above documents, you leave your family open to the potential of costly litigation. Further, there is no guarantee that your arrangements would be honoured upon your passing if you do not have a legally enforceable Will.

 Contact CD Lawyers today, and we can assist you and your family in ensuring you are legally prepared for the unforeseen.

Please note that the above is general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. All situations are different and legal advice must always be tailored to the specific situation.

Contact Us

Suite 102, 126 Grand Boulevard, Joondalup WA 6027

Phone: (08) 9408 5212

info@cdlawyers.com.au