Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 15 April 2017. In September 2015, Brian severely injures himself at work. He makes a claim under his employer’s Workers Compensation Insurance and starts receiving weekly payments of compensation. Brian attends regular work capacity assessments and in June 2016, Brian’s doctor finds he has capacity to work up to 20 hours per week. Brian is unsure what to do, so he consults his solicitor. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 8 April 2017. Margaret and Ted separated many years ago but never got around to formalizing a divorce. They divided their assets amicably which included selling the matrimonial home and dividing the net proceeds equally. Margaret now resides in a nursing home and was recently diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 1 April 2017. Mark and Karen were recently married in 2015. They each have two children to previous relationships. They are looking to buy property together and talk to their solicitor about making new wills. They decide to make “simple” wills appointing each other as executor and leaving the whole of the estate to each other. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 25 March 2017. Maxwell, aged 85 and Tina, aged 40, met in 2003. They maintained communication via email until 2010, when Tina and her son moved in with Maxwell. In 2014, Maxwell and Tina sign a binding financial agreement, with the effect that if their relationship breaks down, they each receive 50% of Maxwell’s substantial assets. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 18 March 2017. Matthew and Mary divorced 20 years ago after a brief relationship that resulted in the birth of their only child, Lisa. After separation, Matthew paid Mary child-support and paid all of Lisa’s school fees. By way of a judgement in the Family Court, Mary received approximately 40% of the matrimonial assets. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 11 March 2017. Margaret and George moved into a nursing home in 2014. George sadly passed away in 2015 and later that year Margaret is diagnosed as suffering from dementia. Apparently due to “sibling conflict” between her children, the Public Guardian is appointed to make decisions regarding Margaret’s accommodation needs, her health and medical care. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 4 March 2017. Gary passes away leaving a will that appoints his friend Raymond as his executor. Gary’s will leaves the whole of his estate equally to his three children. Gary’s estate consists solely of a house valued at $500,000. For Raymond to sell the house and distribute the proceeds to Gary’s children, it is necessary for him to obtain a grant of probate. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 25 February 2017. Cynthia and Robert have been married for ten years and have two children who are nine and seven years of age. Unfortunately, their marriage breaks down and Cynthia and Robert separate. Cynthia has the major care of the children after separation and is only able to work part-time, earning a much lower income than Robert. Cynthia and Robert own a home with a mortgage. They each also have superannuation entitlements, small savings and a car. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 18 February 2017. Michael, aged 57, unfortunately has an accident when visiting his friend, Robert on the weekend. It was raining on the day and the injury occured when Michael was walking up the outside stairs onto Robert’s verandah. Unfortunately, Robert had spilt some oil on the stairs and was going to clean it up the day before the accident but did not get around to doing so. […]
Hypotheticals by Manny Wood. Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 4 February 2017. Margaret’s hotel, A Cardinal’s Inn, is open from 5am until midnight, to accommodate guests who often arrive late and leave early. She employs four staff, including Simon, who manages the Inn at night. Simon has worked at the Inn for five years and has been working the night shift for approximately 12 months. […]