Estate Planning Law
Things get complicated when there are many parties who want a piece of the action. Contesting a will, dealing with family feuds over money, and organising your life after death can be tricky. Get solid legal help.
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Your rights as a child in Australian inheritance laws
We discuss the complicated nature of Australian inheritance law for children – step, donor egg or sperm, adopted, and illegitimate children.
Who inherits the copyright to your work when you die?
Not sure what happens to copyrights to your work? We discuss.
The ins and outs of orphan works copyright – when you can’t find the owner to ask permission
Learn about what could happen to your work if it doesn’t have your name on it or you are dead.
Getting married in Australia – legal requirements
There are specific laws surrounding marriage in Australia.
The legal age a child can inherit in Victoria
In Australia, a child who is considered a minor in whichever state they live in can inherit property, but isn't allowed to manage it. The legal age of inheritance is 18, except in rare circumstances that a person between the ages of 16 and 18 is granted permission to...
How to appoint your next-of-kin in Victoria
You do not need to appoint your next of kin, but you may want to appoint an executor of your will to make sure your wishes are followed.
Who is my senior next of kin? – Victoria
Senior next of kin is a person nominated in special circumstances when a death has been referred to the coroner for investigation.
What or who is the executor of a will? – Victoria
Learn about the role of executor of a will.
Making a family provision claim on a deceased estate in Victoria
Claims for family provision are reasonably specific, and you do need legal advice.
De facto couples and death or separation, and how that affects stepchildren – Victoria
New updates to old laws now recognise the relationship between stepchildren and a stepparent after their parent has died.
What is enduring power of guardianship in Victoria?
Enduring power of guardianship means the person who can make decisions about your personal life (medical treatment, living arrangements), but not your financial or legal matters.
General power of attorney vs an enduring power of attorney vs enduring power of guardianship in Victoria
A general power of attorney is set while you can still make your own decisions, while an enduring power of attorney is set for when you lose capacity to make your own decisions.
What is enduring power of attorney in Victoria?
Learn more about what enduring power of attorney means, to see if you need one.
What are advance care directives (a living will) in Victoria?
An advance care directive is a document outlining what you want if you are unable to make those decisions yourself, for example if you are on life support or have dementia.
What is a general power of attorney in Victoria?
We explain the concept of the powers of attorney and what it means for you.
Getting left out: challenging a will in court in Victoria
We discuss the ins and outs of estrangement with a family member when it comes to inheritances and wills.
How inheritance in a property settlement is treated in Family Court in Victoria
Not sure what your inheritance means for your property settlement? We explain.
Contesting or challenging a will – Victoria
We review contesting a will.
My partner died but I am not in the will – what do I do? – Victoria
If you are not divorced yet – or are long-divorced – what does that mean for the estate of your former partner, who has just died?
Mirror wills and mutual wills – when a parent dies, then the other parent changes their will in Victoria
Mutual and mirror wills can mean the difference between whose children get your estate when you die.
Surrogacy, IVF, step-children, adoption: who are legally my parents? – Victoria
We discuss the legal rights of a range of ‘children’.
When a step-parent dies, but hasn’t changed their will – Victoria
What happens when a step-parent dies, but their will excludes you? Find out.
Understanding probate in Victoria
Probate is the agreement by the courts that whatever a will says goes.
What to do (legally) when someone dies in Victoria
Someone close to you dying means a lot of paperwork to fumble through while you grieve. Here is a basic outline of things to be done.
Unmarried partners and inheritances in Victoria
If you are unmarried and your relationship is not registered as a civil union or other formal way, you can run into trouble if your partner dies without a valid will.