Pioneering thought — Sladen Legal

Edward Skilton

Marriage revokes your will – how is marriage defined?

Marriage revokes your will – how is marriage defined?

The definitions of spouse, domestic and de facto partner are not consistent across all areas of law.  It may be that in the absence of marriage, a person finds it difficult to evidence that they are:

Challenging a discretionary decision of A Self Managed Superannuation Fund trustee in respect of the payment of a deceased member’s death benefits

Challenging a discretionary decision of A Self Managed Superannuation Fund trustee in respect of the payment of a deceased member’s death benefits

The case of Re Marsella; Marsella v Wareham [2018] VSC 312 (13 June 2018) concerned a claim by the widower of the willmaker for further provision from the estate of the deceased pursuant to Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958. 

Sladen Snippet - Strategies for Estate Planning and Asset Protection Following New High Court Decision

Sladen Snippet - Strategies for Estate Planning and Asset Protection Following New High Court Decision

n Fischer & Ors v Nemeske Pty Ltd & Ors ([2016] HCA 11; [2014] NSWSC 203), the High Court yesterday upheld the decisions of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Court of Appeal.

The High Court’s decision confirmed that the resolution of a trustee of a discretionary trust to distribute an amount equal to the value of shares owned by the trustee to a beneficiary (Nemes) created a debt payable upon demand enforceable against the trustee by Nemes’ executor upon Nemes’ death.

Lessons from Gina Rinehart's Family Dispute

Lessons from Gina Rinehart's Family Dispute

The very public dispute between mining magnate Gina Rinehart and her children over access to family wealth held in a Family Trust came to a head this year, when the NSW Supreme Court appointed one of Gina’s 4 children (Bianca) as the new trustee of the Family Trust in place of Gina. 

The Family Trust, in effect, owned a 24% shareholding in Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (HPPL) and HHPL owned all the shares in the company which has an interest in an iron ore mine at Hope Downs.  Bianca and her brother, John, had issued court proceedings against their mother to remove her as trustee so they could access their share of the Trust’s assets.