Walk from the High Court of Australia towards the National Library, and you’ll encounter something unique in the Australian landscape: a monument not to a soldier or a politician, but to a court judgment. Etched in steel are the powerful words of Sir Gerard Brennan, from a decision that forever changed the nation: “The common...
It’s a scenario that might seem tempting. A handshake deal was finalised years ago, but the formal paperwork was never completed. A crucial contract was signed and executed, but the original has been lost to time. The urge to simply create a new document and date it in the past—to “fix” the problem quickly—can be...
The Silence of a Home Full of Memories The silence in a large family home, once filled with the vibrant chaos of a growing family, can become a heavy, palpable presence. For many adult children, this silence is the soundtrack to a slow-burning anxiety: a parent, now in their 80s or 90s, living alone in...
In our connected world, it’s increasingly common for Victorians to have a footprint that spans the globe. You might own a holiday apartment on the Gold Coast and another in Queenstown, an investment portfolio in New York, or shares in a London-based company. This global reach is exciting, but it adds a layer of complexity...
From banking to booking holidays, our lives have moved online. So, why should estate planning be stuck in the past? The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many aspects of our lives into the digital realm, and the traditionally paper-heavy world of wills and estates was no exception. This shift has sparked a nationwide conversation about electronic wills,...
“You can pretend to be happy if you want to,” Joey Bishop once told a reporter with characteristic bluntness. “I’m a worrier by nature,” he confessed to another. “No worrier is ever good-humored. I don’t know if a worrier ever is happy.” The comedian, known as the “Frown Prince” of Frank Sinatra’s legendary Rat Pack,...
Estate planning is one of the most important, yet frequently overlooked, aspects of managing your financial affairs. It’s more than just drafting a will; it’s a comprehensive process of arranging your affairs to ensure your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes, both during your life and after you’ve passed on. For Victorians,...
The humble paper Certificate of Title, for generations the ultimate symbol of property ownership in Victoria, is officially riding into the sunset. As of 3 August 2024, the Victorian Register of Land has gone fully digital, issuing only electronic Certificates of Title (eCTs). But what does this mean for you as a property owner? Is...
Losing a loved one is one of life’s most challenging experiences. Amid the grief, there are practical steps that need to be taken immediately following the death, especially in Victoria where legal and procedural requirements must be followed. At Hayton Kosky, we regularly guide clients through this early stage of the estate administration process, and...
The death of a loved one often brings not just grief but legal and practical complications—particularly for executors who are tasked with administering the deceased’s estate. One of the most difficult and emotionally charged issues that can arise is when a person, often a family member or beneficiary, refuses to vacate a property that forms...
