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A Family Dispute Over a Will: When Siblings Clash Over an Inheritance

A recent NSW Supreme Court (Doric v Orec [2025] NSWSC 245) case offers a poignant look into how a mother's final wishes can tear a family apart, pitting sibling against sibling in a costly and emotionally draining legal battle.Following the death of their mother, Bozica Orec, her three children—Michelle, Judy, and Darryl—found themselves in a bitter dispute over her estate. The primary asset was the family home in Regents Park, valued at around $1.5 million.The conflict centred on two docume...

Testamentary Trusts - Is it right for you?

For high-net-wealth individuals, estate planning is about more than just dividing assets—it’s about protecting your legacy, providing for your loved ones, and ensuring your wishes are carried out with precision. While a standard will can address basic needs, a testamentary trust offers a more sophisticated and flexible solution, particularly for those with substantial assets, complex family dynamics, or vulnerable beneficiaries.A testamentary trust, established through your will, becomes act...

Family provision claims. A case review of Le v Angius; Angius v Angius.

Sitting around the family dinner table, we sometimes have some pretty difficult conversations. None more important however than what is to happen to us after we pass away. Some families do not have these conversations, and if they do it can sometimes lead to arguing.Enter John Angius, who passed away in 2022 and had signed a new will in early 2021. You may have seen some articles about this case, which involved an estate with an estimated value just under $30 million which included a property in...

Changes coming to the Family Law Act

We’ve recently been sharing some of the changes coming to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) over the past few weeks. Some of these changes will bring a sigh of relief to those whom they affect, while other changes may have a smaller impact overall.If you are curious about these changes and how they will impact your matter, then hopefully this information will help you and give you a broader understanding overall.Financial & PropertyThe changes will mostly affect those couples going through sep...

Foreign Investor Ban - How are you affected?

The Australian property market has seen intense growth in the last few years, which has led to pressure on the Federal Government to curb that growth and make it possible for first-time buyers to enter the property market. Growth in the next year is expected to be around 3%.As of 1 April 2025, the foreign purchaser ban came into effect and means that any person who is not an Australian citizen, permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or a spouse of those exempted, will no longer be able to purc...

Beyond the Grave: Unique and Unexpected Ways to Rest in Peace

Thinking about what will happen to you after you die isn’t something we often want to tackle head on and look into, but what if we told you there are some really fascinating options you can pick from? You probably still wouldn’t dive into it just yet, so let us do the hard work for you.Not so long ago, you had really only two options. Be buried or cremated. Today however, while those two options are still the primary choices there are many options for what comes after or even variations on t...

Swimming Pools – What is my responsibility when selling or buying?

We love a swim in Australia, especially on a hot summer day. Research from 2023 found that 1 in 7 Australian homes have a pool or a spa*. For everyone else, it's the local pool or the beach.If you're buying or selling a property with a pool, it's easy to overlook your responsibilities, and what your local council needs to see before your pool is considered compliant (meeting the required safety standards). The Swimming Pools Act 1992 (NSW) sets the rules. Under this Act, your local council has t...