caitebrewer Law

Gift and Loan Back Arrangements

I have long been a skeptic about the enforceability of gift and loan back arrangements that do not involve the actual transfer of physical cash or money at the gifting stage. Promissory notes seem to be the latest trend in these “gifting” schemes. This decision that was handed down 2 days ago didn’t deal with … Continue reading Gift and Loan Back Arrangements

caitebrewer Law

New Protocol for Applications List

The Supreme Court of Queensland has issued a new Protocol for the Applications List, effective Monday 10 August. It replaces the existing Protocol, which has been in effect since 25 May 2020 (the link on the website to this old Protocol no longer works). In essence, the new Protocol is consistent with the practice that … Continue reading New Protocol for Applications List

caitebrewer Enduring Power of Attorney, Informal wills, Law, wills

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

caitebrewer Enduring Power of Attorney, estate administration, executors, Informal wills, Intestacy, Law, Legislation Updates, Probate

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

caitebrewer Case Updates, estate administration, executors, Family Provision, Law

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

caitebrewer Case Updates, Costs, estate administration, executors, Family Provision, Law, Probate, Trusts

Barring claims under s68 Trusts Act

This is a case I was involved in last month.  Judgment was given yesterday. Finnegan v Garner [2019] QSC 100 The deceased died leaving a wife and eight children (including two step-children).  He and his wife separated in 2000, but did not divorce. The estate was worth just under $1m. It was believed that the … Continue reading Barring claims under s68 Trusts Act

caitebrewer Case Updates, Construction of wills, Costs, estate administration, executors, Family Provision, Law, Probate, Rectification of wills

Rectification where instructions given through an intermediary

Judgment was given this morning by Henry J in a rectification case where the deceased had given instructions for a will through his daughter. His Honour found "it is trite that instructions can be conveyed by an agent" and rectified the will to accord with those instructions. Read Fitzgerald v Rowley [2019] QSC 21 here.