When it comes to managing family assets, especially after the death of a loved one, disputes can quickly escalate — particularly when promises and expectations clash with documented legal arrangements. The recent decision in Maria Di Giannantonio v Michael Di Giannantonio [2025] NSWSC 346 offers a t...
The Estate of Mimi Milka Jaksic (Berger) [2025] NSWSC 253
Court decisions serve as timely and practical reminders — both for legal practitioners and for clients — of the real-world consequences when estate planning documents are not clearly prepared, stored or communicated. As law
...
Losing a loved one is never easy, and legal disputes over their estate can add further stress for grieving families. Tensions often arise when a family member has been living in the deceased’s home for many years and expects to remain there, even if the will does not explicitly gra...
In New South Wales, an "eligible person" making a claim on a deceased estate needs to establish that inadequate provision was made by the deceased for the claimant's "proper maintenance, education or advancement in life" (section 59 of the Succession Act). If the claimant has already been provided ...
Complexities can arise in disputes over wills and estate management, particularly when questions of testamentary capacity and undue influence are at the heart of the proceedings. In reviewing the recent Supreme Court case of Green v Green [2024] NSWSC 1442 below, we will explore the various legal pr...
Powers of Attorney are legal instruments that allow an individual (the principal) to appoint another person (the attorney) to manage their financial and legal affairs. While the Power of Attorney is a vital tool for estate planning, its misuse can lead to significant legal disputes. This blog explor...
Hildebrandt v Papakonstantinou [2024] NSWSC 1181 (19 September 2024)
In a recent case decided by the New South Wales Supreme Court, the plaintiffs sought relief based on the doctrine of proprietary estoppel and, alternatively, a family provision order in relation to a rural property owned by their...
Pillinger v Lees [2024] NSWSC 1067 (23 August 2024)
The Supreme Court of New South Wales last week ruled on a family provision claim brought by a spouse against the estate of her late husband. This case, under Section 59 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW), focused on whether sufficient provision was ...
All legal dealings, especially when they are between friends and family members, should be documented - which will be helpful if a dispute ever arises (or even, as in this case, one of the parties dies and the family needs to understand the nature of the dealing). The Supreme Court of New South Wal...
There is a concept called "testamentary freedom" - a will-maker has the freedom to draft a document leaving their estate to whomever they wish. However, the document needs to be drafted so that it correctly reflects the will-maker's wishes, and when terms such as "survives me" and "it is my wish" a...
When a person creates a will, they have the power to decide who will inherit their property and assets after they pass away. In some cases, a testator may choose to exclude a child from their will, and in such cases, they may choose to include a statement explaining the reasons why the child was ex...
In a modern society where dynamic family structures are becoming more prevalent and varying methods of contraception are widely accessible, it follows that the legal definition of a 'child' has broadened significantly. Where 'child' was previously considered as only biological, the definition has no...
This blog provides general information and should not be construed as legal advice. Laws may have changed since the publication of this content. We recommend consulting with a qualified legal professional to ensure compliance with current legislation and to address specific circumstances.
Get started today before this once in a lifetime opportunity expires.
