Family and Matrimonial

A Victorian Supreme Court case examines whether a 16-year-old mother's 1968 consent to adopt her newborn son was obtained through coercion by hospital and social welfare institutions. The court must determine if the adoption process breached duties of care under standards that existed nearly 60 years ago, while the plaintiff argues she was prevented from seeing her baby and pressured into relinquishing parental rights.

Effective estate planning looks beyond the Will to consider how assets are owned and controlled, how family and business structures will operate after death or incapacity, and whether existing family expectations or arrangements may create future risks..

Before amending a trust deed, it is important to carefully review the deed to determine whether the proposed amendment is permitted and what requirements must be followed.