Australia: Wills/ Intestacy/ Estate Planning

For families caring for a person with a severe disability, understanding how to provide long-term financial security while maintaining access to social security benefits presents unique challenges. Special Disability Trusts offer a structured legal solution with significant asset-test exemptions and gifting concessions, but navigating the complex eligibility requirements, compliance obligations, and determining whether this structure suits your family's circumstances requires careful consideration.

Alongside the emotional impact of a death, executors and family members are often faced with the practical task of administering the deceased’s estate.

The 2026 Federal Budget has introduced significant changes to how discretionary trusts, including testamentary discretionary trusts (TDTs), will be taxed. If passed, these changes have far-reaching implications for estate planning strategies that many families use to protect and pass on wealth.