As the festive season winds down and the faint aroma of burnt credit card statements wafts through the air, we in the legal profession brace ourselves for what we affectionately call the ‘post-Christmas will rush’. It’s a beautiful time, a true “Boxing Day epiphany” when families suddenly realise it’s time to sort out their affairs,...
In a landmark development for supported decision-making, the Victorian Government has introduced the Supportive Power of Attorney (SPA) under the Powers of Attorney Act 2014 and the newly updated Powers of Attorney Regulations 2025. This innovative legal tool marks a significant shift toward recognising and enabling the autonomy of people who may need assistance to...
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,...
Elder abuse is a confronting issue, often hidden behind closed doors. With one in six older Australians experiencing some form of abuse, it’s a growing concern for families across Victoria.1 Most perpetrators are not strangers but trusted individuals, often family members.2 Financial abuse, in particular, is one of the most common forms, frequently involving...
He was a decorated hero of World War II. Norman William Maddock signed up to fight at 17, served in Tobruk, and was captured during the fierce Battle of Crete before making a daring escape back to Allied lines. In his later years, however, this tenacious soldier faced a different kind of battle—one of failing...
Elder Abuse, Legal Capacity and Document Control: A Cautionary Tale for Victoria At Hayton Kosky Lawyers, we’ve recently dealt with a concerning matter that highlights a growing problem in Victoria’s ageing population: elder abuse involving legal documents, including wills and certificates of title. While we must keep the details confidential, the situation involved a 90-year-old...
