Following on from my earlier posts on powers of attorneys, it seems a little poetic, shall we say, that a further case involving attorneys became known to me! Big thanks to my friend and co-host of The Heir Waves podcast Caite Brewer who brought this case to my attention. The case of Lambourne and Ors…
Category: Elder law
Elder Abuse = Disentitling Conduct: FPA by adult daughter dismissed with costs
It is no surprise to any of my colleagues in the succession world that this topic is of great interest to me. So, you can imagine my interest when I found this case. A few days ago, the New South Wales Supreme Court determined a matter that involved a family provision claim by an adult…
Changes to decisionmaker laws to commence soon (QLD)
You might recall that last year I wrote a post on new changes to laws for attorneys and administrators following the passing of the Guardianship and Administration and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019. With the craziness that we now call COVID-19, the implementation of these changes that was scheduled for 30 March 2020 was postponed…
Criminally unkind: ACT passes elder abuse legislation
On 20 August 2020, the Australian Capital Territory passed legislation criminalising acts of abuse of vulnerable people. The term ‘elder abuse’, for many, is a problematic term as it suggests it is only an abuse that only affects elders, when the truth of it is, it affects those that are vulernable. The new legislation acknowledges…
No Undue Influence + Mutual Wills: Appeal dismissed in Birch v Birch case (Qld)
I have been eagerly awaiting delivery of the appeal decision in Birch v Birch [2018] QSC 289. The case of Birch v Birch involved a situation where a mother had transferred her interest in a farming property to one of her sons, who also happened to be the mother’s duly appointed power of attorney. Whilst…
Screen Test: Court of Appeal prefers lawyer’s evidence over medical on testamentary capacity (NSW)
Capacity is quite the minefield. Any practitioner that works within this field, may very well agree with me. I would even hazard a guess and go as far as to say that perhaps even medical practitioners may also share the same view. Recently, in the case of Drivas v Jakopovic [2019] NSWCA 218, the New…
New legislative changes for Attorneys and Administrators
While no person expects, nor wishes, to experience a lack of capacity, the very real fact of life is that they may. Incapacity can be long term or short term and can impact everyone quite differently. The question of someone’s capacity to understand the nature and the effect of something is fraught with difficulty mainly…
Renewable Power: Court permits Attorney to renew superannuation nomination (QLD)
For a while now, it’s been a hazy question asked by succession lawyers alike about whether an attorney can make or renew a binding death benefit nomination for their principal’s superannuation policy proceeds. On 24 August 2018, Justice Bowskill of the Supreme Court of Queensland delivered a decision on this very topic. The case of…
Elder abuse – it even has a name
Elder Abuse is alive and well.. unfortunately. It has become such a problem it now has a name? How did this happen?… That’s a rhetorical question. I’ve been reading more and more of Actor Mickey Rooney’s struggle and despite his original wealth and celebrity status, he was still just a gentleman, taken advantage of by…
In the News: Elder Abuse and how to spot it!
I came across a very interesting article on how to spot Elder Abuse by Forbes. Obviously not an exhaustive list, but interesting nonetheless. You can find the article here. It may be an American article, but abuse is the same; no matter the country.