Let’s be clear: if you’re a parent and you haven’t sorted your estate plan, you’re not a bad person. You’re not careless. You’re not lazy.

You're busy. You’ve got small people depending on you. Life is full and, at times, overwhelming.

Imagine for a moment that you’re grieving after the death of a loved one, perhaps your spouse or a parent. You find a letter written for you. It's your loved one's voice, assuring you of their enduring love, sharing an inside…

Losing a pet can feel akin to losing a member of your family. It's a deeply personal and emotional journey. Whilst grief and loss of any kind deserves empathy and understanding, unfortunately some people may offer unhelpful comments like "just a cat" or "just a dog" etc.…

We love to celebrate milestones. Births, christenings, 18ths and 21sts, weddings…what about death? Death is a major marker in our lifespan yet we typically rush through funerals and try our best to get to the “other side” of grief as quickly as possible. Examining our thoughts and…

In your estate plan you will nominate people you know + trust to important roles. Two of those roles are your “executor” and “attorney” These roles perform different duties and at different times...for one, your executor only steps in post-death whereas your attorney acts during your lifetime. This…

Hey legend! You’ve sorted your Will! Well done. Your estate plan journey isn’t quite over yet though…there’s one important step to go. The next phase is keeping your Will current to your wishes and circumstances. This doesn’t require much time + effort, but it…

[Grief tech is here!] Opinion piece written by Jacqui Thomas, Director and LawyerGrief Tech is on the rise – does this mean the end of traditional mourning? There are a bunch of start ups out of California [eg. Here After, Seance AI, Storyfile, Replika] offering…

It’s easy to take for granted that you’ll always be in control of your own life. Losing capacity means you don’t have the ability to make your own decisions. In estate planning we look at capacity to make personal (including health) decisions and financial…

Losing someone you love is tough, and dealing with the legal stuff afterward can be confusing. If someone passes away without a Will, it can create additional challenges for their family. When someone dies without a Will, it's called "intestacy." This means that the…

In a world where memories and emotions are eternally intertwined, capturing the essence of a farewell through photography can be a powerful tool for both healing and remembrance. Funerals and celebration of life services, while poignant and essential, often pass in a blur of…

Our house is filled with books. We shuffle them aside to sit on the couch, trip over book towers in bedrooms, and we love the library bus that visits our suburb each week. The benefits of reading to children are numerous; from language…

Have you heard of a death doula? What about an end of life doula or death walker? These terms describe a person that supports families and individuals in grief, bereavement, and death literacy. While birth doulas are fairly common in today's society, end of…

As you reach the later stages of life and see grown-up children building their own lives, it's common to reflect on the legacy you will leave behind for our loved ones.  A testamentary discretionary trust ("TDT") is a powerful…

Your life is so much more than just a bit of paperwork. Your thoughts, feelings, stories, and guidance deserve to be recorded for your kids and the people looking after them. All these important bits that make you you don't go in your Will [that's a…

Who do you trust to parent your kids? It's a BIG ask.A testamentary guardian steps in to care for + made decisions for your kids if you die. Nominating a testamentary guardian in your Will is a big step to protect your…

In 2022 a Four Corners investigation rocked Queensland as it exposed a series of alarming practices within the Public Trustee. The report highlighted exorbitant fees, questionable financial decisions, and the detrimental impact on individuals who sought assistance from this trusted…

Creating a Will is an essential step to secure your assets and ensure your loved ones are taken care of after you die. In today's do-it-yourself era many people are tempted to draft their own Wills without seeking professional guidance. There are DIY Will…

Sending a bunch of flowers is a traditional sympathy gift. But what if your thoughtful gift causes your recipient to feel overloaded? Or exacerbates their grief? Here we look at why sending flowers may not be the best choice, and what to consider sending…

Who will manage your child’s inheritance if you die? It's important to get this person right, as they'll be responsible for striking a balance between providing your child with a secure childhood and preserving the inheritance as a nest egg for your child's adulthood.The person…

Someone else living in your house? We don’t mean the kind of uninvited house guest that eats your food and sleeps in your bed (um, rude!).Is there someone living with you that relies on you for accommodation? Perhaps a parent, grown up child, or…