‘Hidden and misunderstood’: national plan to tackle elder abuse
The Federal government launches a 10-year plan to prevent, respond to and eliminate the abuse of older people in Australia.
By Karl Hoerr - 2 min read
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Out of the shadows, part two: Difficulties in identifying elder abuse
By Wendy Yang - 11 min readPART TWO: While some forms of elder abuse are easier to identify, it can often be difficult to ascertain when abuse has occurred.
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Out of the shadows, part one: Lawyers on the front line against elder abuse
By Wendy Yang - 12 min readPART ONE: Silently pervasive and often difficult to detect, elder abuse is a hidden shame, affecting some of the nation’s most vulnerable people.
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Wills and succession: navigating complex family relationships
By Wendy Yang - 7 min readWhen it comes to wills, cutting the ‘black sheep’ of the family from a will may prompt them to make a claim against the estate….
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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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‘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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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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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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Elder law & succession: July 2026
By Craig Birtles - 1 min readImportant cases on trust administration, disputed estate entitlements, succession agreements and the recovery of misapplied estate assets.
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Essential validity of wills: knowledge and approval, undue influence and fraud
By Darryl Browne - 2 min readHow presumptions, suspicious circumstances and evidentiary burdens shape challenges to wills in practice.
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Elder law & succession: June 2026
By Darryl Browne - 1 min readThe latest cases consider preliminary discovery in will disputes, estate sale injunctions, construction of ‘issue’, section 95 releases and powers of attorney.
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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.