Self-Managed Superannuation Funds in Family Law Disputes The rules of compliance for self -managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) are heavy. Many mums and dads who are members or trustees of such funds, are not aware of what they need to comply with, and can make innocent mistakes...
Applying for a passport for a child without both parent's consent An application for an Australian passport for a child has required the consent of both parents. However, for a variety of reasons, sometimes it is not possible to obtain the consent of both parents (especially...
Rights of Beneficiaries of a Will in Victoria Who is a beneficiary of a deceased estate? A beneficiary is a person or organisation with an entitlement from a will. However, for the named person/organisation to benefit, both the will and the written bequest must be valid. It...
Caveat on Deceased estates Can you lodge a caveat on a deceased’s property after probate has been granted? The purpose of a property caveat is to prevent dealings with a property in dispute. But it must be founded on legal grounds. A person contesting the Will and seeking...
Changing Parenting Orders - how to change custody orders Variation of Parenting Orders- when can you change them? To set aside, cancel or vary any final parenting order, parties must meet the threshold test. This test is set out in the case of Rice v Asplund (1979)...
Inheriting debts with assets When someone inherits assets but there is debt attached to it we are often asked are beneficiaries responsible for debts left by the deceased? Do you inherit the debt attached to the asset you are getting from a will? Generally speaking, in Australia, lenders...
Forcing a sale of jointly owned property in Victoria What do you do if you want to sell a property and the other owner doesn’t? Can you force a sale of jointly owned property in Victoria? If the parties are married or in a de facto relationship, then...
We often hear of solicitors refusing to let family members see a Will after a loved one has passed away. What do you do when polite requests fail? The first step is to persuade them that you have a RIGHT to see the Will by alerting...
Valuing property in Family Law Settlements Valuing family law assets can be a vague, uncertain and expensive task. There are also different methods to apply depending on the asset eg for contents of a home you do not rely on the insurance replacement value, but rather second-hand...
Social media and family law: The impact on parenting proceedings One increasingly popular form of evidence in parenting proceedings is that which is obtained via social media. Evidence obtained from sources such as Facebook and Twitter can sometimes provide beneficial (and conversely sometimes very damaging) evidence...
Pet Custody Laws in Australia Pet custody cases are rare in the family law courts following a break-up – most of the time lawyers warn their clients not to push the point on the issue of with whom the pet will live. Judges, with backlogs of...
What is a grant of probate? A grant of probate deals with the assets and liabilities of the deceased. But executors and administrators also have duties and rights concerning the deceased's causes of death and body disposal. The deceased Cause of death- suing for damages and/or defending will...
