Getting your estate planning up-to-date. Part 1: Ownership of Assets
One of the reasons you accumulate assets and savings is to ensure your loved ones are adequately looked after when you die. Your accountant is likely to have put in place strategies to save you tax and protect your assets. But without proper planning, this can mean that your assets don’t end up in the hands of the people you intend. FInd out more.
Our answers to your top 5 questions about Private Ancillary Funds
Do you want to be more strategic in your charitable giving, make a real impact on the community and create a lasting legacy as part of your family’s story? Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) can be a great option to achieve these goals. To help you decided whether PAF is right for you, we’ve pulled together our answers to 5 questions we are frequently asked by those considering establishing a PAF.
I’m an executor, what do I do?
Disputes involving executors of deceased estates are increasing. Usually, a trusted family member or friend appointed as an executor is just trying to do the right thing by their loved one. So, what are they doing wrong? Read on to find out how you must perform your duties as an executor.
Hey founder, are you being left behind?
Founding a company is a lot easier than retaining control of it. Part of your journey will necessarily involve other people. First, it may be a co-founder. Then family and friend investors, and ultimately professional investors. During this evolution, the chances of you being left behind, and things getting out of control, increase exponentially. We’ll help you get back in control, with a binding entitlement to what you’re worth.
5 things to consider when preparing or updating your incorporated association’s rules
If you are involved with an incorporated association or considering setting one up, then chances are you have come across the term ‘model rules’.
Did you know that you do not have to use the model rules? Incorporated associations can choose to write their own rules.
Here are 5 things to consider when preparing or updating your incorporated association’s rules.
A landmark win
Find out how our clients’ step mother extracted over $1m from their deceased father’s estate, leaving them with almost no inheritance – and how we fought to win it back.
A rant on challenging Wills
A few judges and populist politicians have recently made some snarly comments about lawyers and ‘greedy’ people who are challenging Wills. Apparently, as a profession, we are getting a bit of ahead of ourselves in bringing too many of these cases to court. Read this article to get informed about the debate.
Yes, you do need a testamentary trust
Most people who advise on testamentary trusts talk about the ‘tax benefits’. This emphasis is plain wrong. Why? Because, a simple Will (without a testamentary trust) is more likely to do harm, and to lead to family disharmony, than one with a testamentary trust.
What happens to a gift in your Will if you no longer own the asset when you die?
A gift of property that is no longer in your estate when you die automatically ‘fails’ (or ‘adeems’). This rule can lead to unfairness and unintended consequences.
How to direct particular super assets to particular beneficiaries
A key benefit of having your super in a SMSF is that you can choose who ultimately benefits from particular assets within your fund when you die.