News and Insights

As Australia’s ageing population continues to grow, it is vital that, as a community, we are alert to the warning signs of elder abuse and what to do if we or someone we know experiences it.   What is elder abuse? Elder abuse can take many forms

Most people want to have certainty about what will happen to their assets when they pass away. While a valid Will is crucial, and it is important that your Will is as up to date as possible, a Will on its own may not provide the certainty you would l

There are many circumstances or “triggers” which may require a review of your Will and other estate planning documents, share Greg Cox and Krystal Bellamy from HopgoodGanim's Estates and Succession practice. Among those triggers are changes to t

For many of us, pets are loyal companions and much-loved members of the family. We spend a great deal of time and money ensuring that they are healthy and happy. Despite this, it is often the case that no mention is made of a pet’s future care in t

Choosing the right executor is one of the most important estate planning decisions you will make. Getting this decision wrong can not only result in significant cost and delay for your estate but considerable anguish for your chosen beneficiaries.  

Updates to Queensland’s guardianship laws are set to commence on 30 November 2020. The changes include the release of new forms to make an Enduring Power of Attorney and an Advance Health Directive. The new forms will replace the existing forms whi

There have been a number of hot topics which charities and not-for-profits should be aware of as they are due to take effect in the near future. Below is a summary of some of the topics. Queensland duty, land tax and payroll tax concessions – ha

In a recent article, we discussed the Supreme Court decision of Re Graham (deceased)1 in which the Court determined that a charitable gift in a Will should be applied cy-près where the charity named in the Will had ceased to exist after the Will-ma

The recent Supreme Court decision of Re Graham (deceased)1 concerned a charitable gift in a Will and how it should be dealt with. The unusual feature of this case was that the charity in question had been deregistered after the deceased’s death and

HopgoodGanim Lawyers recently acted for the enduring attorney of an elderly lady with dementia (who we will refer to as “A”) in an application for a statutory Will. A statutory Will was sought because, although A had an existing Will, the benefic

Most, if not all of us, would like to think that philanthropy or charitableness is something that we turn our minds to at some point during our lifetime. Having supported one or more charities during their lifetime, many people wish to see these or

This week is “Include a Charity Week”, an activity of Fundraising Institute Australia to raise the profile of charitable gifts in Wills. If you wanted to make a gift to one or more charities in your Will, it makes sense that you plan and prepare