Succession law

Succession law

Practitioners urged to master informal will applications

Succession lawyers are increasingly dealing with informal wills, from handwritten notes to smartphone records. At the QLS Specialist Practice Conference, Hannah Kulaga explored the legal and practical challenges of proving testamentary intention in an evolving area of succession law.

Bridget Smith

Succession law

Wheatley v Peek [2025] NSWCA 265

The New South Wales Court of Appeal has overturned a finding that a list of instructions found in the Notes app of an iPhone is not a valid will.

Matisse Fennessy, Grace van Baarle

Succession law

Trustees on notice: ‘Real and genuine consideration’

Trustees need to be reminded that they employ real and genuine consideration when exercising their powers.

Jacqui Thomas

Succession law

A flawed approach to good will hunting

Think twice before you send bulk emails looking for a client's latest will.

Shane Budden, Grace van Baarle, Judy Hayward

Succession law

Lack of capacity leads court to reject property transfer

Grace van Baarle, Janelle Linato

Succession law

‘For, to define true madness’*

Given today's medical advances and our current understanding of mental capacity, should we continue to rely on a '150-year-old' test of testamentary capacity?

Christine Smyth