Informal Wills – unsent text message accepted by Queensland Supreme Court as Will of deceased In a judgement handed down by the Queensland Supreme Court in early October 2017, the court found a draft text message left on a deceased man’s …
Indirect Inheritance
In a recent decision of the Public Trustee WA v Mack, Master Sanderson of the Supreme Court of Western Australia considered the unusual question of whether an individual (“A”) is entitled to inherit from the estate of another person (“B”) where …
Elder Financial Abuse Early – Inheritance Syndrome
Elder abuse is defined as “any act which causes harm to an elder person and occurs within an informal relationship of trusts, such as family or friends”. This abuse can take many forms and may be financial, emotional or psychological, social, …
Heres How to Run a Trial Without Being a Lawyer
Ever wondered how a student might get to feel what it’s like to run a trial, without having to get a law degree first? The answer, of course, is through participating in Mock Trials at school! In Western Australia, the Law …
Christmas For Separated Parents – 10 Top Tips
I can almost hear your eyeballs roll – Christmas already?? It is important to ensure that things are in place early for separated parents. If you don’t have arrangements in place for your kids for Christmas and want the Family Court …
Same-Sex Marriage Vote One Year On
On 15 November 2017 Australia learnt the result of the same-sex marriage postal survey – a resounding YES! The federal parliament didn’t take much time in passing legislation, which came into effect on 9 December 2017. The first same-sex marriage to …
Mistletoe, Miracles & Merriment
Twelve Days of Christmas Christmas means so many different things to different people, but there are some things that are good for us all to remember coming into the New Year, and it’s also a time to have a little fun! …
Revenge Porn Laws Passed in WA Parliament
On the 19th February, The Criminal Law Amendment (Intimate Images) Bill 2018 was passed making the non-consensual distribution of intimate images a form of image-based sexual abuse. According to the WA Attorney General Mr J.R. Quigley: “Despite the impression created by …
Can My Former Partner Get Part of My Inheritance?
Can my former partner get part of my inheritance? Or – will my inheritance be protected if I divorce? The short answer to these questions is maybe! In typical lawyer-fashion, the longer answer is sometimes and maybe! Unfortunately for those involved …
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 15 is the United Nations internationally recognised World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. With an increasingly aging population elder abuse is predicted to increase and although much elder abuse goes unreported the World Health Organisation estimates that 15.7% of people who are …
