Family Provision Act Claims - Make Adequate Provisions
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Under various statutes throughout Australia potentially disappointed beneficiaries may be able to bring a claim against the estate for family provision. It does not matter whether or not the deceased dies testate or intestate, the remedy nearly always centres on a situation where dependents believe they have not been adequately provided for. In both cases they must establish need and prove their entitlement to adequate provision based on their maintenance, advancement or education in life.
Family provision is only available to certain persons and it is only these who can apply to the court for a share of the estate irrespective of whether or not there was a will. Although an application should normally be made within 18 months of the date of death this period can be reduced or extended with leave of the court. In general, the eligibility criteria normally picks up those persons with whom the deceased enjoyed a close family or personal relationship and were dependent upon them. The court has a wide discretion as to what it considers important to establish provision. Further information is set out under the sections entitled "Inheritance Disputes, Intestacies and Mistakes" and "Contested Wills and Estate Disputes".
Should you consider that you have not been adequately provided for, call LAC Lawyers for informed legal advice.
Costs
Normally solicitors bill their clients as the matter progresses. With some wills/inheritance disputes we are prepared to wait until the end of the matter before submitting our bill. In these cases our costs are usually paid out of the estate on settlement.
Wills disputes can become complex due to the classes of would be beneficiaries involved and the position they adopt. One of the best ways to control the costs of contesting a will is to negotiate them wherever possible to avoid both the heavy costs of litigation and any untimely delays associated with administering an estate.
We do not accept instructions in matters where the client's claim does not exceed of $100,000. Whether you be executor/executrix or a disappointed beneficiary and are concerned about a claim(s) made against an estate which you are administering or you have been overlooked by the deceased who has not made any or adequate provision for you please call LAC Lawyers to discuss. In some cases you may wish to discuss with us whether you qualify for our contingency fee arrangements.
Family Provision Act Claims - Make Adequate Provisions Articles
Succession Act Claims - Can a step child make a claim on an estate?
Date: November 10, 2010
Author(s): Jana Whitby B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)
Are you a member of a modern family which like many others consists of step-children? If so, do you wonder what your responsibility is as a step-parent to make provision from your Estate to your step-children?
Wills, Probate and Estate Disputes - An Overview of Estate Law
Date: October 08, 2010
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
Find out about estates, executors, wills, probate, inheritance, beneficiaries, and more...
Wills, Probate & Estate Disputes - Will Kits
Date: June 04, 2010
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
Your Will Last Will and Testament (Will) is your final legally binding communication to the world including those you love. You should ensure that expression is tailored to meet the whole of your circumstances.
Estate Planning - Trusts Created By A Will Funded By The Will Maker - Part 3: Types of Testamentary Trusts
Date: January 15, 2010
Author(s): Michael Pickering B.A., LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., M. A.
The main reason for creating a beneficiary controlled testamentary trust is for protection of the principal beneficiary, particularly in a situation of relationship breakdown of marriage or de facto partnership. With the beneficiary controlled testamentary trust, there is considerable protection of assets from the primary beneficiary’s hostile family members.
Estate Planning - Trusts Created By A Will Funded By The Will Maker - Part 1: The Will
Date: January 13, 2010
Author(s): Michael Pickering B.A., LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., M. A.
A will is a legal document in which the will maker sets out how and to whom his or her personally owned assets are to be distributed after death, the manner in which his or her estate is to be administered and the powers the executors are given.
Estate Planning - Trusts Created By A Will Funded By The Will Maker - Part 2: What is a Testamentary Trust?
Date: January 13, 2010
Author(s): Michael Pickering B.A., LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., M. A.
Simply, a testamentary trust is a trust established by a will. Testamentary trusts can be mandatory or optional, fixed or non-fixed, flexible or protective, short or long-term, or charitable or non-charitable.
Deceased Estate Claims - Freedom to do what you want with your estate is limited
Date: May 19, 2009
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
No doubt you’ve heard people say from time to time they think they should be able to do what they like with their wills and how their estate, being their assets, is given once they die. They’ve worked hard all their lives, they’ve amassed a lot, or a little, and now, considering who should get their assets once they ‘go to a better place’, they frequently decide they’ll vent their disapproval of one or more of their children’s behaviour towards them by favouring one over another.
Estate Planning - More than just a matter of making a will - Part 1
Date: May 06, 2008
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
Many people believe that by making a will, they’ve sufficiently planned for their death. This is a good start. A lot of people don’t do even that. Some estimates suggest that as many as half the people in Australia that die each year do not leave a formal will.
Estate Planning - More than just a matter of making a will - Part 2
Date: May 06, 2008
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
As stated previously in Estate Planning - More than just a matter of making a will Part 1, preparing a will is an important part of estate planning. A thorough and well drafted will determines to a large extent how your affairs are to be dealt with when you’re gone.
Disputing A Will & Family Provision Act Claims
Date: November 28, 2007
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
Two of the more common complaints made in connection with an estate include that the deceased lacked understanding or mental capacity when he or she made the will or that a family member or dependant was "left out of the will".
What to expect when you call LAC Lawyers
Date: December 13, 2006
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
LAC Lawyers is a full service firm dedicated to the provision of superior legal services in Australia. Our aim is to provide unrivalled client satisfaction coupled with high quality service and advice. When you call LAC Lawyers our friendly reception staff will spend time with you to identify the area of law your enquiry relates to then pass you on to one of our qualified solicitor's who can help you.
Essential Will Information
Date: November 08, 2006
Author(s): Frank Egan B.A., LL.B., A.C.L.A., F.T.I.A. (Notary)
Many people today make their own wills and this approach is fraught with danger. A will is a written declaration that sets out how a person wants their assets to be distributed to their beneficiaries following death.
Making a claim against an estate
Date: September 23, 2005
Author(s): LAC Lawyers
Sometimes when a family member passes away some of the deceased’s relatives believe that they have not been adequately provided for in the deceased’s will.