Estate Planning Blog
[The practical stuff about estate planning nobody taught you at school]
The Importance of Reviewing Your Estate Plan After Major Life Events
Life changes can affect your estate plan in ways you might not expect. This blog explains when to review your Will, Powers of Attorney, superannuation, and other estate planning arrangements after marriage, separation, having children, changes in your finances, health changes, or moving interstate or overseas.
Planning for Pets in Your Will: Ensuring Your Pets Are Cared For
Your pets are part of your family, so what happens to them if you’re no longer around to care for them? Learn how your Will, Letter of Wishes, and broader estate plan can help make sure your pets have a clear plan for their future.
Passing on Values, Not Just Assets: Ethical Wills and Estate Planning
Your estate plan can pass on much more than money and property. An Ethical Will, or a Letter of Wishes, can give your loved ones your values, life lessons, hopes, gratitude, and messages of love to carry with them after you’re gone.
The Role of an Executor: What You Need to Know Before Appointing One
Choosing the right executor is an important part of your estate plan. Learn what an executor does, the responsibilities they may take on, and the key things to consider before appointing someone in your Will.
The Importance of Backup Guardians in Your Will
Choosing a guardian for your children is a big decision, but your first choice may not always be able to act. Learn why appointing backup guardians matters, what to consider when choosing them, and how to build flexibility into your estate plan.
Planning for Your Own Funeral: How to Record Your Wishes
Have you thought about what you would want to happen after you die? From burial or cremation to the music, photos, and people you want there, recording your wishes can make things easier for the people you leave behind. Here's how to plan your funeral and include your wishes in your estate plan.
Protecting Your Cherished Items: How to Help Ensure They Go to the Right People
Sentimental possessions can cause some of the biggest disagreements after someone dies. From jewellery and family heirlooms to recipe books and treasured keepsakes, this blog explores how to record your wishes and give your loved ones clearer guidance about who you would like to receive them.
Why Estate Planning Is an Investment
Estate planning is an investment in your family’s future. Learn why the value of a well-designed estate plan goes far beyond the documents themselves, and why getting the right advice can save your loved ones significant financial and emotional costs.
Common Myths About Powers of Attorney
Powers of attorney are an important part of your estate plan, but there are plenty of misconceptions about what they do. We unpack some of the most common myths about Enduring Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Directives, including when an attorney can act, what decisions they can make, and why these documents matter at any age.
A Young Family's Estate Plan: Amanda and Rob's Story
Amanda and Rob wanted their estate plan to protect more than their children’s inheritance. They wanted to provide for Noah and Sophie’s needs, plan for the possibility of remarriage, manage their children’s inheritance as they grew, and leave clear guidance about their upbringing. This case study explores how a Testamentary Discretionary Trust can form part of a broader estate plan for a young family.
Caring for Ageing Parents: Estate Planning Conversations to Have Now
Caring for ageing parents can mean having some difficult conversations about their Will, decision-making, healthcare, finances, and future care. This blog covers the key estate planning questions to ask your parents, and how to approach these conversations with care and respect.
Estate planning for blended families: navigating complexity to protect everyone
Blended families can make estate planning more complicated. You may want to provide for your current partner while also protecting an inheritance for children from a previous relationship. This blog explores some of the estate planning strategies available to blended families, including testamentary discretionary trusts, life interests, superannuation nominations, and careful Will drafting.
Planning for Future Healthcare: The Importance of an Advance Health Directive
Planning for future healthcare can feel difficult, but an Advance Health Directive gives you the opportunity to make important decisions about your medical treatment while you have capacity. Learn how an AHD works in Queensland, when it applies, how to make one, and how it fits with the rest of your estate plan.
Is It Worth Spending Money on a Lawyer to Write My Will?
Is it worth paying a lawyer to prepare your Will? For many families, the answer depends on what you own, who you want to protect, and how you want your assets to pass. We look at what you're really paying for when you engage an estate planning lawyer and why getting the structure right can matter far more than the upfront cost.
Godparent vs Guardian: Understanding the Difference
What’s the difference between a godparent and a guardian? If you have children, it’s important to understand that naming someone as a godparent does not automatically give them legal responsibility for your child. This blog explains the role of a testamentary guardian and why guardian planning should form part of your estate plan.
Who's Entitled to See Your Will After Death?
Who is entitled to see a Will after someone dies in Queensland? You might be surprised by who can legally request a copy. This blog explains who is entitled to inspect a deceased person's Will, when a Will can become part of the public court record, and what you can do to protect your privacy.
Letters of Love: A Lasting Gift for the People You Love
Letters of Love are a deeply personal way to leave your words, memories, advice, and love behind for the people who matter most. Discover how writing letters for your children, partner, family, or friends can become a lasting part of the legacy you leave behind.
Planning for Your Pet’s Future: What Happens to Your Pet if You Die?
Losing a pet can be heartbreaking, and there are practical decisions to make alongside the grief. From planning your pet’s care if you become unable to look after them, to deciding how you would like to say goodbye, this blog explores ways to prepare for your pet’s eventual death and create a meaningful farewell.
Reimagining Death and Funerals: Planning a Meaningful Farewell
Death and funerals don’t have to look the way they always have. From personalised ceremonies and celebrations of life to home vigils and meaningful rituals, there are many ways to approach the end of life. Reimagining death can help us create more personal, meaningful experiences for ourselves and the people we leave behind.
Executor vs Attorney: What’s the Difference?
Executor vs attorney: what’s the difference? Your executor manages your estate after you die, while your attorney can make decisions for you during your lifetime under an Enduring Power of Attorney. Learn what each role involves, who you should consider appointing, and why choosing the right people is an important part of your estate plan.