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Succession Planning for Business Owners

As a business owner, you deal with many responsibilities, including having to decide what to do with your business when you move on. Sometimes the logical endgame for a business is to be wound up, but in most cases, the aim is a smooth transition to new ownership....Read More

Is a testamentary trust right for you?

One of the most loving things that you can do for your family is make plans for what happens after you die. This is particularly important if you have children or vulnerable adults who depend on you financially. A testamentary trust might be the right tool to help you...Read More

Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts

For an increasing number of high-net-worth individuals with complex professional and personal affairs, the question of how best to approach long term estate planning and in particular, what is likely to be the best way to both transfer and preserve wealth for the...Read More

Accessing digital assets – estate planning essentials

The death of Gerald Cotton, former Chief Executive Officer of Canadian cryptocurrency exchange company, Quadriga CX, emphasises the importance of planning your electronic after-life. Mr Cotton’s death in India at the age of 30, not only raised suspicion as to its...Read More

Dying intestate – the perils of not making a Will

A valid Will determines how your estate is dealt with after you die. Your Will can appoint an appropriate family member or trusted friend to administer your estate (your executor), nominate guardians for young children, determine who will receive your assets and give...Read More

Dealing with deceased estates – Executor duties

After a person dies someone needs to look after the assets of that person and pay the person’s debts. Although the person is no longer here, his or her affairs must be finalised and the person to finalise the affairs is appointed by the Will of the deceased....Read More

What a Will Kit doesn’t do

There are various ‘Will Kits’ available on-line – most are cheap or ‘free’ and all you need to do is download them and fill in the blanks. Many websites boast that you can prepare your Will ‘without spending hundreds of dollars on legal fees’. Simple, right? Not...Read More

FAQ on Estate Planning

While many people are unlikely to nominate estate planning aka “Thinking about what will happen to my assets when I die” as being on their “most wanted things to do” list in reality, this is something that should be on all our “must do” lists. Proactively planning for...Read More

Understanding easements in your property contract

Identifying and understanding easements in a property transaction is an important part of the conveyancing process. Vendors are required to disclose all easements affecting the land they propose to sell in a property contract, and buyers should ensure they are aware...Read More