The Supreme Court of Queensland is today starting the live pilot trial of its new eFiling system, Objective Connect, for probate files. Certain firms, who participated in a dummy trial, will be using the eFiling system from today for their probate applications. The intention is to roll this out to all probate files, then eventually … Continue reading eFiling trial starts today!!!
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New Protocol for Applications List
The Qld Supreme Court has brought in a new Protocol for Applications. The main difference is that the callover is now held at 9:30. See the Protocol here.
Qld passes legislation to allow for video witnessing of wills and EPAs
Last night the Qld Government passed legislation that is the first step to allowing wills and EPAs to be witnessed via video conference. But a warning, we're not quite there yet... The COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill 2020 (see reg 9) allows the Government to make regulations where an Act permits or requires the signing or … Continue reading Qld passes legislation to allow for video witnessing of wills and EPAs
New Practice Direction re Informal wills and COVID-19
New PD issued by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court this afternoon in relation to informal wills executed during COVID-19. In effect, if drafted by (or witnessed by, or supervised by) a solicitor, then wills that are witnessed by 1 or 2 witnesses via video conference but not physically, may be admitted to probate … Continue reading New Practice Direction re Informal wills and COVID-19
Electronic execution and witnessing of Wills and EPAs
An interesting article was published in The Australian today on electronic execution of documents (read it here). These times of COVID-19 restrictions have brought urgently to the forefront the need for law reform in the execution and witnessing of wills and enduring powers of attorney. Last week, the Queensland Registrar of Titles directed that for … Continue reading Electronic execution and witnessing of Wills and EPAs
Beer Box will case
Sunday Mail article on a recent case I was involved in. Read the e-article here or the hard copy here.
Sunday Mail article on Rowe v Sudholz
A recent solemn form capacity case I was in was written about in the Sunday Mail yesterday. A subscription is needed to access it (contact me if you'd like me to send it to you). Read the article here. Read the judgment here.
Capacity case
Just before Christmas last year Applegarth J handed down a judgment in a solemn form trial I was in in November. I acted for the Respondent, Kathy, who was a long term friend of the deceased and benefited from his last two wills. The Applicants, the Rowes, were also long term friends of the deceased, … Continue reading Capacity case
NDIS and FPAs
Yesterday I finished a trial of an FPA in the Supreme Court. The judgment is reserved and will be interesting because Ryan J is considering to what extent benefits that an applicant is to receive, or potentially receive, under the NDIS can be taken into account in determining whether adequate provision has been made and … Continue reading NDIS and FPAs
Doyle’s List – National Listings
Honoured to be named one of 4 Australian preeminent junior counsel for wills and estate litigation, and once again the only Queenslander. See the 2019 National Doyle's List here.
