Super Death Benefits and Conflicts of Interest – The Latest Battleground

Super Death Benefits and Conflicts of Interest – The Latest Battleground

Challenging death benefit payments from superannuation funds has followed four broad categories over the years. Interestingly, they have developed in relatively discrete time periods.

Sladen Snippet – the super guarantee amnesty is back – maybe?

Sladen Snippet – the super guarantee amnesty is back – maybe?

The government’s previously announced amnesty for unpaid superannuation guarantee payments, which lapsed will the calling of the previous election, has been reintroduced into parliament in the  in the Treasury Laws Amendment (Recovering Unpaid Superannuation) Bill 2019.

Sladen Legal launches interactive, tailored professional development tool, Sladen Learning.

Sladen Legal launches interactive, tailored professional development tool, Sladen Learning.

Sladen Legal have launched Sladen Learning, an online professional development platform delivering interactive, specialist courses to professionals Australia wide. Developed by the team of lawyers at Sladen Legal, Sladen Learning combines information, resources and activities to deliver engaging and educational short courses. 

Sladen Legal trio voted among Australia’s Best Lawyers

Sladen Legal trio voted among Australia’s Best Lawyers

Sladen Legal’s Daniel Smedley, Neil Brydges and Phil Broderick have received recognition in the 12th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia. The list of impressive legal professionals was announced in the Australian Financial Review on 22 March 2019.

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 – Marsella – is this the end for SMSF trustee death benefit discretionary determinations?

Sladen Snippet – Marsella – is this the end for SMSF trustee death benefit discretionary determinations?

What is “better” for paying out death benefits in a self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) - a binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) or trustee discretion? As a result of a number of cases, where BDBNs were found to be defective, trustee discretion was becoming a favoured method for some advisors.

Sladen Snippet - Tribunal determines that transfer of land between SMSFs does not trigger duty

Sladen Snippet - Tribunal determines that transfer of land between SMSFs does not trigger duty

In a recent case of Nifuno Pty Ltd atf Stephen Forbes Pension Fund v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2019] NSWCATOD 3, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) considered the application of an available duty concession for the transfer of property in connection with persons changing superannuation funds, including self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

Sladen snippet – Burgess v Burgess – another super death benefit conflict case

Sladen snippet – Burgess v Burgess – another super death benefit conflict case

The decision of Burgess v Burgess is another case which considers conflicts of interest in the context of paying super death benefits. It follows a number of recent similar cases, including Re Narumon Pty Ltd, Brine v Carter and McIntosh v McIntosh. The strong consistent theme across all of these cases is that the Courts will strictly uphold fiduciary duties (even if they have “unfair” outcomes).

MD Commercial: transfers to “bare” trustees failed to qualify for an exemption from Victorian stamp duty

MD Commercial: transfers to “bare” trustees failed to qualify for an exemption from Victorian stamp duty

The Victorian Supreme Court in the decision of MD Commercial Pty Ltd & AJ Commercial Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue [2018] VSC 560 confirmed that certain transfers of land to trustees were not exempt from duty under section 35 of the Duties Act 2000.