Blog

Published in The Coffs Coast Advocate on 31 January 2015. Jane’s son Jim has had a drug problem for many years and his addiction has become worse since the death of Jane’s husband and Jim’s father, Roy. After Roy’s death, Jane talks to her friend about making a new will and leaving Jim out. Her friend advises Jane that if she leaves Jim one dollar, he cannot challenge the will. Jane goes ahead and makes a “home-made will” that leaves Jim just one dollar and leaves the rest of her estate to Jim’s four children equally. […]

Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 8 August 2014. Martin and Brenda were married in 1960. They both made wills in 1970 leaving everything to each other and in the alternative, leaving everything to their four children equally. Martin and Brenda separated in 1980 and were formally divorced in 1985 when the “decree nisi” of dissolution of marriage became absolute. […]

Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 23 August 2014. Andrew was widowed several years ago. He has three childrem, namely Karen, Paul and Robert. Andrew and Robert are both Catholic, but Andrew’s great dissappointment, Karen and Paul do not subscribe to Catholic faith. When Andrew dies, Karen and Paul discover that pursuant to the terms of Andrew’s will, for them to receive their share of  theirfather’s estate, they must become Roman Catholics within three months of their father’s estate. […]

Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 16 August 2014. Tony is a senior manager of a nursing home. The nursing home was once operated by a well-known church group. Approximately 20 years ago, Tony was instrumental in restructuring the nursing home into an incorporated not-for-profit organisation. Tony is passionate about providing proper care to the residents and conscientiously and professionally manages the home. […]

Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 2 August 2014. Jill visits her local supermarket to attend to her usual weekly shop. She walks down one of the aisles and slips on a substance on the floor. Unfortunately she falls over and injures her knee. […]

Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 9 August 2014. This week’s column highlights the importance of home insurance and its value in cases where a personal injury has occurred. John and Karen own their home in Coffs Harbour. They have a small mortgage over the property and have taken out insurance cover with a well-known Australian insurance company for their home and its contents. […]

Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 26 July 2014. Katie is in her 30s. She suffers from a number of serious mental and physical disabilities. Since birth, Katie has been cared for by her aunt, Mary. Katie’s biological parents have been absent for most of her life. Several years ago, Katie’s grandmother left her a substantial inheritance to assist her in dealing with her disabilities. The funds have been held by the New South Wales Trustee and Guardian and some of the funds have been released to pay for medical costs and modifications to Mary’s home to assist Katie in managing her disabilities. […]

Jill’s husband died several years ago. She now owns the family home in Coffs Harbour and has accumulated a substantial superannuation fund. Jill’s son Robert lives nearby and visits her most days to help her with various things including shopping and household maintenance. Robert is also concerned for Jill’s health. Jill has two other children who have moved to Brisbane and have had very little contact with her for many years. […]

Paul is injured in a motor vehicle accident in Coffs Harbour. He receives significant injuries including a fracture to his right thigh and an injury to his right knee. Unfortunately, Paul needed some significant treatment after the accident including a period of 14 days in hospital and he does not think about any claim that he might have for personal injury until about 3 months after the accident when he seeks advice from his solicitor. […]

Robert and Joanne have been married for many years. They have three children together and their assets consist of their family home and a substantial amount of superannuation funds. Sadly, Joanne passes away in her early 60s and Robert receives the whole of her estate. […]