Bedside Benefits: Informal documents upheld under s18 application (Qld)

The importance of changes in one’s circumstances and the need to update estate planning documents is no clearer than when you read a case such as this one.

In a recent case of Selig v Selig [2024] QSC 189, the Court determined an application by the children of a deceased parent who had left a formal Will, but also documents entitled “My Wishes” and a “Nomination of Beneficiaries Form” that formed the basis of the children’s claim as an informal Will.

Lost & Found: Making a power of attorney and extent of understanding

In an earlier post, I wrote about the decision of Lambourne v Marrable and, naturally, it was a particularly interesting case to discuss further in a recent episode of The Heir Waves podcast. So, here it is! In this episode, Caite & Michele are joined by a special guest, Dr Pip Coore of Hemmant’s List, and discuss…

Informal Revocation: Can a File Note be enough to revoke a Will? (TAS)

This morning, I read a very interesting case that makes me think of the tasks I do on a daily basis; taking notes of my client’s instructions. The case of Public Trustee v Bott [2017] TASSC 43 involved a question of whether a File Note could be an informal document containing the deceased’s testamentary intentions…