The high cost of growing old
Older Australians remain at the highest risk of developing and dying from COVID-19. Sweeping government restrictions were introduced to protect the lives of our most…
By Amy Dale - 10 min read
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‘Hidden and misunderstood’: national plan to tackle elder abuse
By Karl Hoerr - 2 min readThe Federal government launches a 10-year plan to prevent, respond to and eliminate the abuse of older people in Australia.
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How lawyers can help draw attention to elder abuse ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
By Wendy Yang - 6 min readLawyers play a pivotal role in identifying elder abuse and advising on possible remedies. There are other ways lawyers can raise awareness of elder abuse.
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‘I felt seen’: more lawyers partnering with social workers and it’s changing lives
By Jennifer Davidson - 6 min readA growing number of law firms across Australia are integrating allied professionals like social workers and counsellors into their legal practice, according to new research.
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Dangers for solicitors acting on intra-family transactions
By Jen McMillan - 2 min readAs awareness grows of the prevalence of elder abuse in the community, solicitors need to be alert to the potential issues with intra-family transactions.
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Can greedy relatives exploit elder abuse safeguards?
By Amy Dale - 2 min readSafeguards to prevent elder abuse oten assist disgruntled relatives in court battles over inheritances, a new study suggests.
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The high cost of growing old
By Amy Dale - 10 min readOlder Australians remain at the highest risk of developing and dying from COVID-19. Sweeping government restrictions were introduced to protect the lives of our most…
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Where there’s a will (there’s a legal dispute)
By Amy Dale - 11 min readIf high-profile estate cases can teach us anything, it’s that where there’s a will, there is often a day in court.
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Financial abuse and forfeiture
By Ruth Pollard and Darryl Browne - 2 min readThe extension of the forfeiture rule to cases of abuse against the vulnerable and elderly, as has been done elsewhere, may deter abusive behaviour. By…
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Essential validity of wills: the free and capable testator
By Darryl Browne - 2 min readRecent decisions illustrate how courts analyse testamentary capacity, knowledge and approval when determining whether a document represents a testator’s last will.
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Elder law & succession: May 2026
By Darryl Browne - 1 min readThe latest cases deal with intestacy distributions involving multiple spouses, freezing orders, rectification of defective certificates and informal wills.
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Death benefit dilemmas: trustee discretion and AFCA’s approach to law and fact
By Darryl Browne - 1 min readRecent cases demonstrating how AFCA re‑weighs evidence, wishes and dependency with less formal fact-finding processes.
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Elder law & succession: April 2026
By Darryl Browne - 1 min readInfluential decisions highlighting how flexibility, discretion and restraint define contemporary estates practice.
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Death benefit dilemmas: formal and essential validity and effectiveness
By Darryl Browne - 1 min readA review of recent AFCA decisions clarifying how trustees test nominations, identify dependants and exercise discretion when no effective nomination exists.
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Elder law & succession: March 2026
By Darryl Browne - 2 min readDiscussion of key principles on relevance for disclosure, rebutting revocation presumptions, identifying testamentary intent, estoppel and family provision relief.
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Who gets it now? Navigating disclaimers and judicial advice in estate administration
By Mary-Ann de Mestre - 1 min readThe rise of conduct‑based disclaimers shows why executors must document communications carefully and why wills require explicit provisions.
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Succession law’s inheritance: exploring its foundations and future
By Professor Prue Vines - 2 min readIt’s not just about wills—it’s a centuries-old mix of canon, common law and equity. Understanding its roots reveals its logic and trajectory.