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 Case Updates, COVID, estate administration, executors, Informal wills, Law, Probate, wills

Audio-visual witnessing of wills – Re Sheehan

Judgment was handed down this morning in what I think is the first case where the Queensland Courts have considered the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 (Qld) and the Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response – Documents and Oaths) Regulation 2020 (Qld) for the execution of wills. Unfortunately, in the signing process, the testator missed signing … Continue reading Audio-visual witnessing of wills – Re Sheehan

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, 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