Have you made plans for your future?
Most of us do not consider the importance of writing a will until much later in life.
However, having a detailed will in place at any age can be of great benefit whether you have people who are financially dependent on you or not.
Taking the steps now can stop uncomfortable conversations down the line, and ensure a smooth transition for your loved ones.
Consider the following 8 important factors that you may want to consider when writing a will
Until recently, Euthanasia has been illegal in Australia. However, on 29 November 2017, Victoria passed legislation permitting euthanasia where certain eligibility criteria are met. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic) has an 18-month long implementation period and will commence operation in 2019.
Euthanasia was previously legal in the Northern Territory between 1995 and 1997 before the Commonwealth introduced changes to the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, effectively banning the Northern Territory from legislating on the issue.
The Northern Territory is often considered a frontier and it was certainly the first jurisdiction to really spark the debate in Australia around Euthanasia. However, in 1997 when the Commonwealth intervened it was considered an affront to the Northern Territory's status as a self-governing territory.
Now, Victoria has passed legislation, pressure will be mounting for the Commonwealth to stop interfering and allow the Northern Territory to legislate on this issue once more. If the Northern Territory were to legislate on euthanasia, then the Victorian legislation provides a very recent scheme for analysis.
An objective viewpoint, critical thinking and wise counsel — these are some key attributes of a lawyer that make it valuable to get advice before making decisions and acting.
Of course a lawyer also has formal knowledge of the law, but it is these other key attributes that make it so important that you to speak to a lawyer first.
