Which country, which will?

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The Victorian case of Re Tang [2017] looked at a raft of issues that arose when the deceased had assets in both Australia and China. The deceased was an Australian... Read more continue reading

When inheriting from friends not family

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It’s not often that a person gets the chance to inherit the estate of someone who is not a member of their family.  But it does happen and has its... Read more continue reading

Estate planning in 2018

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There’s nothing certain in life but death and taxes, so the adage goes…however, another certainty is change – particularly when it comes to the financial services regulatory landscape. In the... Read more continue reading

Beware the estate planning transfer balance cap

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So what is this “estate planning transfer balance cap trap” that can arise from adopting the mirror reversionary pension strategy? More importantly, is there a way to avoid it? Well,... Read more continue reading

Appointing a reversionary beneficiary

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We often get asked by clients, can a reversionary beneficiary be nominated after a pension has commenced? However, before nominating a reversionary beneficiary it is important to examine who can... Read more continue reading

Five things you need to ask yourself in 2018

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If being more organised, or paying more attention to those you love (or a variation on either of those) are on your list of things to ‘be better at’ in... Read more continue reading

Family trusts more important than ever

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Family trusts have always been an important structure for business planning, tax planning and estate planning. This is mainly due to their tax efficiency, asset protection, flexibility and succession possibilities.... Read more continue reading

Marriage equality: Remember to get expert advice on estate planning when tying the knot, says Equity Trustees

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With the survey result on marriage equality in (62% voted yes), and the prospect of wedding celebrations for same sex couples on the horizon, one of Australia’s largest independent executors... Read more continue reading

Digital footprints on death – why they matter

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Social media accounts live on after their creators die, and their existence can create uncertainty for estate executors as well as distress for family members, says Anna Hacker, national manager,... Read more continue reading

Crucial conversations: achieving an estate plan that stands the test of time

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If you are a person who has achieved a stage of financial independence, it is vital that you have an effective Estate Plan to protect you and your family. An... Read more continue reading