I’m a step-child. Can I contest my step-parents Will?
With divorce and separation common and resulting in second and even third marriages, many people find themselves part of blended families. Blended families include a couple as well as children…
Aged Care Royal Commission Public Hearings Start Monday 11 Feb
Welcome to our first new Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Blog. The first public hearings of the Commonwealth Royal Commission into Aged Care and Safety will be…
The ins and outs of My Health Record
The federal government has extended the period for opting out of the new My Health Record (MHR) system to January 31 next year. This system affects every one of us.…
Royal Commission into Aged Care begins
The preliminary hearings for the Royal Commission into aged care commenced on 18 January 2019. There was a call for submissions regarding: The quality of aged care services being delivered;…
On the 12th day of Christmas… review your Estate Plan
Starting your holidays? You might finally be able to take some downtime to stop and think about your family and future needs (if you can escape from the chaos and…
How an AVO (or ADVO) can affect your existing parenting orders
If you have existing parenting orders in place and there is a subsequent Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) or Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) taken out against you, or for your…
Thinking of international travel in the holidays and have parenting orders? Read this first!
International travel with children is an exciting experience for your family. However, before taking the trip, you should be aware of the process when there are parenting orders in place…
Federal Government one step closer to merging family law courts
The Federal Government’s proposal to merge the Family Law and Federal Circuit Courts into a newly named Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCA) in April next year has…
Delays in the family courts. Is arbitration the answer?
It has been possible to resolve family law property disputes through arbitration for more than 25 years, but Family Law Rules on arbitration introduced in April 2016 has seen the…
Waking Up From General Anaesthetic On The Operating Table – Our Client’s Story
We acted for a cosmetic surgery patient who was administered general anaesthetic during a breast augmentation and lift. The surgery was performed by a cosmetic surgeon – a general practitioner…
Review: ‘Anaesthesia’ by Kate Cole-Adams
The book by Kate Cole-Adams, ‘Anaesthesia: The Gift of Oblivion; The Mystery of Consciousness’, provides an engaging and thought-provoking look at the issues surrounding the use of modern-day anaesthetic. It…
Anaesthetic Error – Other Case Studies
Further to our own client's stories, other cases involving the misuse of anaesthesia or anaesthetic error in Australia and the UK have affected public and professional discourse surrounding anaesthesia. Grace Wong…
Complete feeling during a C-Section (Spinal Anaesthetic) – Our Client’s Story
We acted for a client who was aware during her c- section despite the administration of a spinal anaesthetic. She was to have this child – her third – by…
Mental capacity and signing Wills
It is quite often that concerns are raised following the death of a person (‘testator’) that they may have lacked capacity when they signed their will. For a will to…
Empowering Powers of Attorney – ways of reducing the risk of financial abuse
What is a power of attorney? Powers of Attorney in NSW are documents which allow specific people to make specific decisions for you, as though they were you. They act…
My Health Record: Opt-Out Period Extended
The Senate has voted to extend the opt-out period for the ‘My Health Record’ system to 31 January 2019. This gives Australians an extra two-and-a-half months to opt-out of the system.…
I entered into a granny flat arrangement with my son – how do I protect my interests when circumstances change or there is a falling out?
We recently received an enquiry from an elderly woman looking for assistance in relation to a granny flat arrangement. The client was in her 70’s and required assistance around her…
Growing older – things you need to know about accommodation options
At one of our recent, free, Growing Older community forums we had a number of experts share the key things people need to know about various accommodation options available to…
I have been appointed as an Executor under a Will, what do I need to do?
When someone dies leaving a Will, the Executor named in the Will must take certain steps to administer the deceased’s estate. This will usually include identifying the deceased’s assets and…
Case study – fighting for justice for family of aged care resident
We’re helping one of the families featured in the second part of Who Cares?, the ABC TV Four Corners expose into the aged care sector, to fight for justice. Alana…
Legal avenues can help prevent neonatal deaths and stillbirths and help with loss
It is always so heartbreaking to hear stories of parents who have lost a child. As a mother, I cannot imagine the pain and loss they must feel. Newcastle couple…
Full tribunal findings on Dr Gayed released
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) published its full decision on October 9 in the case brought by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) against Dr Gayed. The NCAT hearing…
Royal Commission must address issues behind the aged care crisis
Did you watch ABC TV Four Corners program investigation into Australia’s aged care sector? The second part program went to air on Monday 17 and 24 September. The second part…
Common issues with Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) in Family Law
According to the ATO, over a million Aussies (and climbing) are members of a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) as opposed to a defined benefit scheme or more typical accumulation fund.…
Federal government announces changes to the Family Law Court System
In May this year, the federal government announced plans to introduce legislation into parliament amalgamating the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court into a newly formed single court. What…
Explainer: Review of the Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW)
An important report by the NSW Law Reform Commission that is relevant to many older people and people with a disability and their families in NSW was tabled in the…
Meningococcal death raises questions of disclosure and compensation when things go wrong in hospitals
The widely reported death of a young Central Coast university student raises questions about what rights and remedies patients and their families have when things go wrong in a hospital…
Aretha Franklin’s Death A Reminder To Have A Will
The death of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is a reminder to us all of the importance of having a properly written will. Aretha died without a will to…
Avoidable Death in a Hunter Aged Care Facility – Our Client’s Story
We helped clients sue an aged care facility over the death of their mother (and grandmother) while in the facility’s care. The family reluctantly decided to place their then 87-year…
Deaths arising out of negligence and possible compensatory responses
If a loved-one dies as the result of someone else’s negligence, am I entitled to compensation? When someone dies due to the negligence of another, the deceased will be unable…
