There are a number of significant life events that can affect your estate planning.
There are a number of significant life events that can affect your estate planning. These include:
If you separate or become estranged from a spouse (including a marital partner or civil partner), these events generally will not have the effect of automatically revoking your Will, any enduring power of attorney, Binding Death Benefit Nomination/s or insurance beneficiary.
If you separate from a de facto partner (including same sex), then this may revoke your Will, but will not revoke your enduring power of attorney, Binding Death Benefit Nomination/s or insurance beneficiary.
If you enter into a de facto relationship (including same sex), then this will not revoke your Will, your enduring power of attorney, your Binding Death Benefit Nomination/s or insurance beneficiary.
If you divorce, marry, or commence or terminate a civil partnership, your Will and/or any enduring power of attorney may be automatically revoked (either partially or fully). However, Binding Death Benefit Nomination/s and insurance beneficiary/ies may not be affected.
If you have a child then this does not have the effect of revoking your Will, Binding Death Benefit Nomination/s or insurance beneficiary. That child may be entitled to make a Family Provision Application against your estate which has the result of significant costs and delays to the administration of your estate. However, if you have a Binding Death Benefit Nomination and/or insurance beneficiary nominated which is valid at the date of your death, then that child may not be entitled to receive the proceeds of your death benefit or insurance payout.
If a beneficiary mentioned in your Will dies and there are no succeeding beneficiaries referred to in your Will, then their entitlements may be distributed in accordance with the intestacy rules. Similarly, if a beneficiary mentioned in your Binding Death Benefit Nomination/s dies, then your superannuation death benefits will be paid to a spouse, child, dependent or your estate as determined in the superannuation trustee’s absolute discretion. Similarly, if your nominated beneficiary for an insurance policy dies, then the insurance company may pay to another person or your estate (depending on the terms of your insurance policy).
If any of these life events have occurred, it will be necessary for you to have your estate plan reviewed and potentially make a new Will, enduring power of attorney, relevant Binding Death Benefit Nomination/s and Insurance Beneficiary Nomination.
Binding Death Nomination/s in relation to any Superannuation Policies/ Pensions held by you
We confirm that if you do not have a valid Binding Death Benefit Nomination in place at the date of your death, then the trustee of your superannuation fund has the discretion as to whom it may pay your superannuation death benefits, within a range of eligible persons (such as a spouse, child, dependent or your estate). The trustee may decide to pay your superannuation death benefits in a manner that is not in accordance with what you ultimately wanted. Accordingly, it is important to have an up-to-date valid Binding Death Benefit Nomination at all times.
We do recommend that you make a Binding Death Benefit Nomination (subject to your accountants or financial advisors advice) so that your estate plan can be carried out in accordance with your instructions. If you do not make a Binding Death Benefit Nomination then this may affect the value of your estate and may mean that your superannuation death benefits are not paid to your preferred beneficiary/ies.
Where lapsing Binding Death Benefit Nomination’s made
Your Binding Death Benefit Nomination will lapse three (3) years after the date it was made. We recommend that you diarise this date and, at least a month prior to the nomination lapsing, you arrange for the superannuation fund to have the necessary form/s sent to you to have the nomination renewed. Failing to remember this date may affect the value of your estate and may mean that your superannuation death benefits are not paid to your preferred beneficiary/ies.
If SMSF and accountant/other person doing Binding Death Benefit Nomination
We confirm that if you have a self-managed superannuation fund and your accountant/financial adviser is preparing same your Binding Death Benefit Nomination must strictly comply with the terms of your superannuation fund trust deed and the superannuation legislation in both form and procedure. Failing to comply with both form and procedure for making a Binding Death Benefit Nomination for your self-managed superannuation fund may mean that any such nomination will be invalid. This may affect the value of your estate and may mean that your superannuation death benefits are not paid to your preferred beneficiary(s).
Advance Health Directive
We confirm the purpose of an Advance Health Directive is to give you confidence that your wishes regarding health care will be carried out if you cannot speak for yourself.
Life Insurance Policies
We recommend you seek advice in relation to beneficiary nominations for any life insurance policies held by you.
Review of your estate planning in terms of your businesses, companies and or trusts
We confirm that if you have any businesses, companies and/or trusts this may necessitate review of your estate planning.
Please telephone our office if you would like to make an appointment to review and update your estate plan (07) 3278 1888
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