9 12, 2021

Litigation to resolve ambiguity in will

2021-12-09T13:46:15+10:00December 9th, 2021|

Hypothetical by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 10 December 2021. Brian was a wealthy man who owned real estate, shares, cash and an extensive classic car collection. At the time of his death, Brian was married to Julie and had 3 children to his first wife who had died in a car accident 25 years ago. Brian’s will left his real estate and ‘personal effects’ to Julie. His children were left his family heirlooms, photographs, personal papers and the “residue” of Brian’s estate. Brian’s children were appointed as the executors of his will and after obtaining a grant of probate, [...]

2 12, 2021

Conveyancing dispute and claim for default interest

2021-12-02T15:27:42+10:00December 2nd, 2021|

Hypothetical by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 3 December 2021. Robert’s mother passes away and he is appointed as the executor. Robert asks a conveyancer to draw-up a contract for the sale of his late mother’s home. The contract includes a clause to the effect that settlement is to occur either 30 days after the exchange of contracts or 14 days after Robert obtains a grant of probate and becomes the registered proprietor for the purposes of the sale, whichever occurs later. Michael wishes to purchase the property and after obtaining pest and building reports, pays a 10% deposit of [...]

30 11, 2021

Did You Know: The cost of transferring real estate from a deceased estate?

2021-11-30T12:42:07+10:00November 30th, 2021|

Stamp duty is not payable when transferring real estate to an executor for the purposes of sale. Stamp duty of only $50 is payable when transferring real estate to a beneficiary if gifted under the will or if it is ‘in or towards satisfaction’ of their share of the estate. Stamp duty of only $50 is payable when transferring real estate under a family provision order (will challenge). If real estate is transferred to a beneficiary and its value is more than the beneficiary’s share in the estate, stamp duty is payable on the value of the real estate that is above the beneficiary’s entitlement in [...]

30 11, 2021

Did You Know: You could be Gazumped? 

2021-11-30T11:54:48+10:00November 30th, 2021|

With the current housing market where demand is exceeding supply, the question may be asked is “gazumping” legal? Gazumping is when a vendor agrees or accepts a purchaser’s offer in principle, but prior to exchange the vendor receives and accepts a higher offer, agreeing to sell to someone else. In practice, this might look like a real-estate agent passing on your offer to the vendor, it being accepted, but the contracts not being exchanged straight away. During this time between accepting the offer and the exchange of contracts, the real estate agent is legally required to inform the vendor if a higher offer is made. If [...]

30 11, 2021

Did You Know: That a dead snail led to the most important civil case in history?

2021-11-30T12:48:43+10:00November 30th, 2021|

Okay, so the title may be slight hyperbole, but it is still justifiable. In 1928, Ms Donoghue ordered a ginger beer in an opaque bottle. After finishing most of her refreshing beverage, she tipped the last drops into her glass. A badly decomposed snail came out with it. She became violently ill days later (as you would expect!) and was diagnosed with Gastroenteritis and shock. Fast-forward through almost four years of litigation to 1932 and the House of Lords delivered a judgement which would form the basis of modern civil litigation. The Lords stated that; “You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which [...]

25 11, 2021

Blended families and the risks involved with ‘mutual wills’

2021-11-25T14:45:29+10:00November 25th, 2021|

Hypothetical by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 26 November 2021. John and Sandra are married. They each have two children from a previous relationship. They attend an appointment with a solicitor regarding their estate planning with a view to making arrangements that provide for each other whilst ensuring that ultimately, all of their children receive equal shares of their estates. The solicitor advises them that they can make “mutual wills” and enter into an agreement, not to change their wills. They proceed with executing wills that leave the whole of their estates to each other when the first of them [...]

18 11, 2021

Lease dispute regarding ‘essential term’

2021-11-18T10:30:27+10:00November 18th, 2021|

Hypothetical by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 19 November 2021. Paul enters a commercial lease with VK Holdings. Paul agrees to 3 year term with options to renew. After 9 months Paul is struggling with cash flow. For the past few months, he has managed only partial rent payment and had been unable to pay any rent for the last fortnight. Paul pleads with VK Holdings that he intends to honour the lease and repay monies owed, as he is trying to offload stock and is looking to get an investor onboard. However, VK Holdings relies on a clause in the [...]

11 11, 2021

Public Trustee removed as financial manager

2021-11-11T14:14:02+10:00November 11th, 2021|

Hypothetical by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 11 November 2021. Due to a cognitive impairment as a result of a medical condition, Wendy is the subject of orders granting the Public Guardian and the New South Wales Trustee and Guardian (“Public Trustee”), management of her affairs. Several years later, Wendy’s condition improves and she retains a solicitor to make an application, removing the Public Trustee from her management. Wendy instructs her solicitor that she would like her aunt to make significant decisions regarding her affairs on the basis that she trusts her aunt to act in Wendy’s best interests. Wendy [...]

4 11, 2021

Alleged failure to care for late husband

2021-11-04T15:38:11+10:00November 4th, 2021|

Hypothetical by Manny Wood published in the Coffs Coast News Of The Area on 5 November 2021. Henry meets Mary, who is 20 years his junior. He has 9 children to a previous relationship. Henry and Mary are married a year later. They discuss their estate planning and Mary tells Henry that she is happy to be treated as one of the kids, when it comes to the distribution of his estate. Henry wishes to be fair to his wife and his children and makes a will leaving 10% of this estate to Mary and 10% to each of his children. Under the will, he also permits [...]

1 11, 2021

Did You Know: That Jamie and Anthony are taking part in Movember?

2021-11-02T08:14:38+10:00November 1st, 2021|

The month of Movember has come at last and what a month it shall be. The month where moustaches of all shapes and sizes crawl across upper lips for a good cause. Please visit our Movember page and donate if you can https://au.movember.com/team/2408712. If you can't donate, just ask someone if they are doing alright or make an effort to smile at a stranger, you would be surprised the impact that these small gestures can have. Jamie Mo-tivation I am growing a Mo for men's mental health. I have many close mates who have wrestled and are wrestling with the Black Dog. I have even lost [...]

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