TRACEY died unexpectedly at 56, leaving no will. Her estate was substantial and was largely made up of investment properties she had acquired over many years. She had no children and her next of kin were her brother, Kieran, and her two sisters. Soon after Tracey’s death, Tina, a 48-year-old woman, asserted that she and […]
Dear Jasminda, I was driving up a long and winding road in my ute on the weekend when I passed a cyclist. She seemed to be doing it very tough and wasn’t making much progress. Should I have offered her [and her bike] a lift to the next town? I’m now regretting that I didn’t […]
CONGRATULATIONS to the 680 Australians recognised in the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours list, which we the Council of the Order of Australia, recommended to the Governor-General. This represents the highest number since Australia Day 2024. The recipients come from all parts of the country and their service, achievements and impact […]
BARBARA and Wally have been in a de facto relationship for six years. There is one child of the relationship, their four-year-old daughter. When their relationship breaks down, Barbara and Wally seek legal advice and are able to negotiate consent orders, which resolve parenting issues in relation to their child. They are also able to […]
DEAR Jasminda, Frequently when I go shopping someone pushes a trolley into my ankles. How do I avoid this painful scenario? Jim R. Dear Jim, In the wrong hands, a trolley can be a weapon of mass destruction, thrust into the legs of an unsuspecting shopper when they are simply trying to reach for a […]
FOLLOWING a recent health scare, Peter opens the Notes application on his iPhone and creates a document entitled “last will”. The note appoints his brother William as his executor, gifts his house and contents to his brothers and after some monetary gifts to friends and family, gifts the balance of his bank accounts to William. […]
DEAR Jasminda, We have a few family members who work from home and our mannerisms and work styles are getting on each other’s nerves. How do we improve our work-from-home balance? Megan P. Dear Megan, Research by Roy Morgan (2025) stated that more than 6.7 million Australians work from home at least some of the […]
DEAR Jasminda, There is only one New Year’s Resolution I have and that is to start doing some exercise. I know it’s good for me, but I detest physical activity. Now I’m in my mid-fifties, it hurts my joints and that just makes me feel worse. Do you have any suggestions? Evie H. Dear Evie, […]
