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Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 19 April 2024. John and Judy, both in their 60’s, separate after 40 years of marriage. John built-up a successful business but is now semi-retired. Judy gave-up a career to support John and care for their child, Kevin, who has special needs. Judy is still Kevin’s carer. John and Judy wish to proceed with a property settlement but they are concerned about the legal process. They do not want to be involved in the traditional adversarial system and they are worried about the stress, delays and costs involved. They also feel that the [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 12 April 2024. Paul's will bequeaths his substantial wealth primarily to his children, Harry and Grace. As the executor, Harry is tasked with ensuring Paul's wishes are respected. However, the family faces a dilemma: Grace has been estranged from the family for many years, having moved overseas in her youth. The family understands she moved back to Australia approximately 20 years ago but her whereabouts and other details of her life remain unknown. Harry's duty as executor, is to locate Grace and distribute her inheritance to her. If Grace is untraceable, the estate's [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 29 March 2024. Mary makes a will, leaving the whole of her estate to her five grandchildren. She passes-away with an estate worth $1 million. Mary’s two adult daughters contest the will, seeking provision from her estate. The Supreme Court hears evidence that Mary’s previous will, made some 30 years ago, left the whole of her estate to charity. She had no grandchildren at the time. Mary also left a statement, accompanying her will, stating that her daughters received a substantial inheritance from their aunt, which was later revealed to be in the [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 15 March 2024. A will seeks to ensure your testamentary intentions are upheld but what happens when the will itself goes missing? That's the situation facing Dave’s intended beneficiaries. According to Dave's will, the majority of his estate is left to his two children from his second marriage, Harriet and Daisy and his new de facto partner, Hazel. However, he only leaves a small legacy to his three older children from his first marriage, believing they are already financially secure. Dave keeps his original will at home, but after he is admitted to palliative [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 15 March 2024. Gloria, who was widowed a few years ago, intends to build a self-contained unit on her son’s property. She will use her savings to build the ‘granny flat’ and will rely on the Age Pension to meet her living expenses. She wishes to live in the granny flat for the rest of her life. Gloria seeks legal advice and is advised that with a view to minimising the potential for disputes in the future, the arrangement should be documented in writing. A written agreement will also be useful for Centrelink [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 8 March 2024. Kate makes a will, leaving $200,000 and her motor vehicle to her friend Peter. She leaves the rest of her estate to her three grandchildren. Six months prior to her death, Kate writes a note stating; “I wish to leave my house to Peter because he was the only one who was there for me in my times of need”. Kate signs and dates the document. She gives the document to Peter later that day. When Kate passes-away, Peter seeks to have the handwritten note recognised. Peter makes an application [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 1 March 2024. Bill and Matilda recently purchased a ‘renovator’s delight’. Lucy, a young builder, was hired by Bill and Matilda to assist with the renovation. The three formed quite the team and enjoyed long working days and the not so occasional knock-off drinks. Their friendship grew strong. One day, Lucy informed her friends that her rental accommodation was coming to an end, and that she was struggling to find housing, as she owns dogs. The three decided that Lucy could purchase the property from Bill and Matilda. As bank finance was not [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 23 February 2024. Barry signs a binding death benefit nomination in hospital on the same day that he tragically passes-away. The effect of the nomination is that the whole of Barry’s substantial superannuation fund is to be left to his de facto partner. Barry’s executors say that the death benefit nomination is not valid because Barry lacked the requisite mental capacity at the time he signed the nomination and in the alternative, they claim that he was the victim of unconscionable conduct on the part of his de facto partner. The dispute proceeds [...]

Article by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 16 February 2024. William obtains accommodation in a nursing home and authorises his friend David to be a signatory in relation to his bank accounts. David agrees to pay William’s bills and rollover his substantial fixed term deposits. During the course of the following 5 years, William’s bank accounts are diminished by approximately $1 million. When William passes-away, his son discovers in his office as executor of the estate, that cash amounts were systematically withdrawn from William’s bank account at his local branch and large amounts were transferred directly to David’s account and [...]