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Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 18 January 2020. Sam passes away, leaving two children, Michelle and Harry. Sam’s will leaves Michelle $10,000 and the rest of his estate to Harry. Ten years earlier, Sam transferred his home to himself and Harry as joint tenants. The intention was that when Sam died, Harry would receive the house by way of survivorship. No money changed hands. They hoped that this would prevent Michelle from making a successful claim against the house when Sam died. […]

Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 11 January 2020. Jack and Jill make a New Year’s resolution to get their estate planning up-to-date. This has been their same New Year’s resolution for several years now. Jack and Jill attend an appointment with their estate planning lawyer and they first discuss their wills. Jack and Jill advise the lawyer that they have a blended family. This means that they both have children from a previous relationship. They are advised that they can make relatively simple wills at minimal cost that will reflect their wishes but that these simple wills may be at risk of [...]

Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 21 December 2019. Santa is looking to reduce the costs of his international operations, so in April 2019 he opens a toy manufacturing factory at an undisclosed location in Australia, which will service the Southern Hemisphere. A team of Santa’s Elves are relocated to Australia to operate the new factory and Santa hires an accounting firm, Krampus and Associates, to deal with payroll. […]

Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 14 December 2019. On 11 December 2019, Santa was performing his annual pre-Christmas present delivery rehearsal. At approximately 2 AM, he was riding his sled over New South Wales, when his lead reindeer, Rudolph, got startled by a flock of migrating Hawk-cuckoos. […]

Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 7 December 2019. Tom, aged 80, sells his home for $4 million. Tom’s wife passed-away several years ago and his son, Stephen has been managing Tom’s financial affairs. When Tom’s daughter, Elizabeth discovers that the proceeds of sale were subject to the repayment of a $2 million “reverse mortgage” she becomes concerned about her brother’s conduct. […]

Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 30 November 2019. On Melbourne Cup day in 2015, Sarah spent the day celebrating and drinking with her friends at her local pub. By about 3pm, Sarah was so intoxicated that she was refused service at the bar. Despite her embarrassment, Sarah remained on the premises until about 5pm that evening. The pub offered to call Sarah a taxi and gives her the option to use the pub’s courtesy bus. However, Sarah declined the pub’s offer and told them her friend would drive her home. At approximately 5:15 pm, Sarah walked out of the pub and proceeded [...]

Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 16 November 2019. Carol is 90 years old. She resides in a nursing home and has dementia. Five years ago, Carol’s daughter, Elizabeth was appointed by the Guardianship Tribunal as Carol’s financial manager. […]

Hypothetical by Manny Wood Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 9 November 2019. Doctor Scott dies by his own hand, leaving $100,000 to his son, Tim and leaves the rest of his $2 million estate to two charities. CharityOne provides funding for medical research and CharityTwo provides aeromedical care. Dr Scott donated to these charities during his lifetime. Tim described his relationship with his late father as “a poor one in many respects”. […]