Genders and Partners

30/05/2026

Blended families can make estate planning more complex, especially when balancing the needs of a current partner and children from a previous relationship.

This article explains why a simple “all to spouse” approach may not suit every blended family, and why careful planning can help clarify intentions.

Learn more:
https://www.genders.com.au/blended-families-and-estate-planning-navigating-the-competing-loyalties-of-modern-life/

22/05/2026

Preparing a will without proper guidance can sometimes lead to uncertainty or disputes later on. This article discusses some of the risks and considerations involved with DIY wills in Australia.

Learn more: https://www.genders.com.au/australian-supreme-court-says-diy-wills-are-a-curse/

“Any mistakes you make with those DIY Will-kits (which are really just expensive stationery) can end up costing your family later on.

19/05/2026

Many people now have important information, accounts, and records stored online. This article explains why digital assets are worth considering when preparing or reviewing an estate plan.

Learn more: https://www.genders.com.au/what-happens-to-your-digital-life-when-you-die-a-practical-guide-to-digital-asset-estate-planning/

16/05/2026

Estate planning can become more complex when vulnerability, family relationships, and decision-making capacity are involved. This article discusses important considerations around protecting a person’s wishes and interests.

Learn more: https://www.genders.com.au/predatory-marriage-and-elder-abuse-protecting-your-estate-from-those-who-would-exploit-vulnerability/

Among the more distressing phenomena encountered in succession law practice is the marriage of convenience — sometimes called a predatory marriage — in which a person cultivates a relationship with an older or cognitively vulnerable individual for the purpose of securing an inheritance. The lega...

13/05/2026

Superannuation can be an important part of estate planning, but it may not always be dealt with in the same way as other assets. This article discusses why death benefit nominations should be reviewed carefully as part of a broader estate plan.

Learn more: https://www.genders.com.au/the-ticking-time-bomb-in-your-estate-plan-why-your-superannuation-death-benefit-nomination-matters-more-than-you-think/

For many Australians, superannuation is the largest single asset they will accumulate over a working lifetime. Yet despite its size, superannuation is also one of the most misunderstood assets from an estate planning perspective. The critical point — one that surprises many clients — is that you...

30/04/2026

As executor of a deceased estate you need to take a lot of care and responsibility. But what, if anything, are you entitled to receive for your efforts?

In the last month I have received multiple enquiries from executors asking this question. The answer is not what they want to hear.

Learn more: https://www.genders.com.au/payment-to-act-as-executor/

As executor of a deceased estate you need to take a lot of care and responsibility. But what, if anything, are you entitled to receive for your efforts?

27/04/2026

You may have thought the hardest decisions associated with formalising your relationship related to organising the party and keeping uncle Fred away from cousin Merle, but here are a few other considerations…

Change of Name. Traditionally, when a woman married, she took the last name of her husband.

However this is not as common as it once was, and there is no legal compulsion to do so.

Learn more:
https://www.genders.com.au/marriage-or-de-facto-some-legal-issues-to-consider/

Traditionally, when a woman married, she took the last name of her husband. However this is not as common as it once was.

24/04/2026

If you overlook the need to get your affairs in order in an organised manner, it creates quite a mess for your family when you die or if you become incapacitated.

So here’s a few tips to help your family say “thank you”, rather than leave them a mess:

Keep your stuff in order. This is the number one estate-planning rule – one simple but crucial bit of wisdom that often gets overlooked.

Learn more:
https://www.genders.com.au/family-feud-or-happy-days/

If you overlook the need to get your affairs in order in an organised manner, it creates quite a mess for your family when you die.