Blog

Taking the time to put your affairs in order (and to keep them that way) is a powerful way to express your love for those who matter most to you. Good estate planning arrangements should result in a reduction of the time and cost to administer your estate when you...

We are excited to announce that over the last several months our eager communications and management teams have been working behind the scenes to create a new look and feel for the firm. The teams have been working tirelessly to revitalise and revamp both our...

Metaphorically speaking, we as humans enter the world with an "undefined expiry date," and unlike a carton of milk or tin of spaghetti, we aren't stamped with a six-digit code clearly displaying when our time is up. Which, is probably ideal when the last thing anyone...

In our December "Christmas" edition of Heir tight we showcase some of our latest blog posts written by our lawyers, recent case updates, as well as staff news and achievements. Read more here. Keep your eyes peeled for our next edition in March 2021.

Making a will can often be a complicated exercise. This is especially so if you are in a blended family. A 'blended family' is a family in which at least one of the parties to a marriage (or de facto relationship) have children from a prior relationship. These family...

It is with great pleasure that we announce our Melbourne Senior Associate, Tanya Lynch's appointment to the Law Institute of Victoria Succession Law Committee for 2021. We are certain Tanya will make a valuable contribution to the Committee and in turn to the legal...

So, you have a will? Great! The next question is, is it up to date? Not only is it important to have a will in the first place, but it is as equally important to ensure it is kept up to date whenever your circumstances change. Have you recently purchased a new home? A...

The legal jargon and process surrounding the making of a will (or any estate planning document for that matter) has the potential to cause considerable confusion for those who aren't familiar with the procedure. The good news is we are here to help. You will see...

Yesterday our Senior Associate and Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estate Law (NSW), Max Williams volunteered his time at the Wesley Mission Wills Day in Sydney. He has volunteered at the Wesley Mission Wills Day since March 2019. Through his volunteering...

There are a number of factors which are important and should be considered when contesting a Will. In New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, making a claim for provision from a deceased person's estate is commonly referred to as contesting a Will or making a family...

There are a number of factors to consider when drafting a will, and due to an ageing population and the ongoing pandemic, this is a growing area of practice. Our Director, Margot de Groot recently caught up with The College of Law Australia to share de Groots’ top 5...

In the past two decades, the use of social media has grown rapidly. In fact, recent statistics show that almost 80% of Australians have a social media account. But what happens to these accounts when the social media user dies? Do they automatically disappear or do...

In our September 2020 edition of Heir tight, we showcase some of our latest achievements, blog posts written by our lawyers and staff announcements, as well as recent case updates. Click here to read our full newsletter. Keep your eyes peeled for our Christmas edition...

Philanthropy features in estate planning in a number of ways. 1.  Provisions in a will There is an increased willingness and capacity of our clients to make provision for charities in their wills. Often the charity will be one which has assisted the family in the past...

If you are concerned about protecting your child's inheritance from a future divorce or relationship breakdown, you are not alone. It is a common concern of many of our clients. While most clients report good relationships with their sons in law and daughters in law,...

If you have been left out of a Will in New South Wales (NSW), you may be eligible to contest it. In this section, contesting a Will refers to bringing a claim for provision from the estate of a deceased person (rather than challenging the validity of the deceased’s...

Our Director, Margot de Groot recently spoke with The College of Law on her firm's (de Groots wills and estate lawyers) experience of lockdown and what it might adjust or retain as Australia reopens. Topics raised in the article include: Phasing into work-from-home...

The death of a family member or friend is a very emotional and stressful time, especially if you are responsible for managing the deceased's affairs. There are many different financial, tax, accounting and legal issues that can arise and it can become quite confusing...

Testamentary trusts can be an excellent tool for your estate plan and are simply trusts that are drafted into your will and established once you pass away. There are many different types of trusts that can be created by your will and tailored to your specific...

Pets play an important role in many families and often little thought is given to what will happen to them if they are unable to care for them, but it is definitely something they should consider. If you are a pet owner, you will need to consider who you want to take...

Family Law matters usually involve many complexities and are often emotionally charged proceedings. However, often little consideration is given to the impact that the death of a party may have on proceedings and matters that will need to be addressed if this occurs....

Our Senior Associate, Max Williams recently contributed to an article by CHOICE comparing five common will kits. Max believes some will kits are better than others but says there’s still no substitute for proper legal advice. The risk of completing a will kit...