Cognition is the most important protective or facilitating factor in undue influence and elder abuse. Despite this, cognition is rarely addressed in the literature addressing these important areas of elder law. This session will explore the interface between declining cognition, undue influence and elder abuse in elder law. The aspects of client cognition that are imperative to consider in order to mitigate against elder abuse are discussed, alongside means by which the integrity of those cognitive functions can be assessed.

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

DISTRESSING CONTENT 

Viewers are advised that this course may contain details that some may find distressing. Please review the course description and use your discretion before proceeding. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support. If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the Police or call 000 for emergency assistance. 

The principles of Kennon v Kennon (1997) FLC 92–757 (‘Kennon’) are well established. However, Kennon claims regularly fail, for a variety of reasons. Some fail because of a lack of thorough investigation of the allegations, or a failure to adduce clear evidence of the allegations. Some fail because of a failure to adduce corroborating evidence, or where the evidence of the complainant is inconsistent with other contemporaneous evidence. This session will analyse the practical steps that ought to be taken when preparing and running a Kennon claim from both perspectives: acting for the complainant and for the alleged perpetrator.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Family

This session was recorded on 12 March 2024 as part of the Elder law, wills and probate: One day intensive – live webinar.

The ins and outs of testamentary trusts – Stephen Lynch, Director, Sommerville Legal

Testamentary trusts are an invaluable estate planning tool, but it is critical that you get them right. This session will cover all the dos and don'ts of testamentary trusts, including: 

• The pros and cons of testamentary trusts 
•  The best way to incorporate testamentary trusts into a will 
•  Capacity and ‘knowledge and approval’ issues Income tax, stamp duty and CGT
•  Common pitfalls including variation clauses, changes in trustee and the foreign person rules 

The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) is a Federal based regime which operates to enhance the welfare of Australians through the promotion of competition and fair trading and provision for consumer protection. The Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) is a State based regime which, according to the Second Reading Speech, was introduced for the purpose of reducing the number of public liability claims and insurance premiums. The objectives of each regime appear to be at odds with each other. This session aims to explore the interplay between those two regimes in light of the overlap created by Section 275 of the ACL.  

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

A Kennon argument is essentially an argument that family violence perpetrated by one party has made the contributions of the other party (usually the wife) more 'arduous' and that family violence has had a 'significant adverse impact' on that party’s contributions. It specifically relates to contributions made under section 79(4) or section 90SM(4) of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). This presentation will examine the evidentiary burden in running this argument, recent decisions and appeals, and Australian Law Reform recommendations. 

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

DISTRESSING CONTENT 

Viewers are advised that this course may contain details that some may find distressing. Please review the course description and use your discretion before proceeding. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support. If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the Police or call 000 for emergency assistance. 

This presentation examines the mandatory disclosure regime for off the plan contracts. Vanya Lozzi covers the changes introduced in December 2019, including the 10 day cooling-off period, the retention of deposit by the agent, lawyers or conveyancer’s trust account, and the new disclosure statement. The presentation also consideres key cases since their introduction, and the effect on purchaser rights, vendor obligations and defaults. 

Please note that not all questions asked by the live audience are clearly audible.

Join Dr Yega Muthu as he considers the increasing use of restrictive practices in hospitals for mental health patients and the impact of these practices, despite the principle of least restrictive care under the Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW). The session will examine the types of restrictive practices, such as seclusion, restraint, involuntary acute medication and limiting leave from hospital, the criteria for their application, and will discuss how restrictive practices should be person-centred, the least restrictive option for the shortest time, reduced and eliminated where possible, monitored, and reviewed regularly. Dr Muthu will further reflect on how the treating team must balance safety from harm and freedom of choice of an involuntary patient. 

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

DISTRESSING CONTENT 

Viewers are advised that this course may contain details that some may find distressing. Please review the course description and use your discretion before proceeding. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support. If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the Police or call 000 for emergency assistance. 

This session will examine the increasingly litigious area of institutional abuse law in Australia. Institutional abuse law is a changing landscape with several matters before the High Court in 2023. The impact and uncertainty that this landscape creates is felt by survivors and the lawyers acting for them. The 2017 $370 million Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse resulted in the abolition of the Ellis defence in NSW but has not prevented the threat of permanent stay applications. While the Courts have offered some clarity in the relationship between clergy and abusers and in setting aside previous settlements, issues continue to arise and there is significant jurisdictional variation in the assessment of damages. 

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

DISTRESSING CONTENT 

Viewers are advised that this course may contain details that some may find distressing. Please review the course description and use your discretion before proceeding. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support. If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the Police or call 000 for emergency assistance. 

This session will consider the proposed changes to the way that property settlements between separated couples are determined by the Court, under the Family Law Amendment Bill (No 2) 2023 (Cth). Presenter Eleanor Lau will examine the proposed principles the Court may consider when dividing property, including adjustments for family violence, debts and wastage, and the possible implications of the new regime.

This session was recorded as part of the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2024.

Spec Acc Conf 2024 - Family

This session will consider recent cases that have appeared in the Real Property List in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Cases discussed cover topics such as rectification, e-conveyancing and caveats, effective charging clauses, statutes of limitations and mortgages, s 66G of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), trust law, and costs.

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

Statutory interpretation; judge-made law; remedies

The way in which inheritances are treated in family law has been, and continues to be, a challenging one. Contention as to whether they are an asset or financial resource (or neither), contributions issues, timing, and how they affect the overall division of the assets arises in many matters. This session will explore those issues, the application of the legislation, and recent cases, with a view to providing guidance as to how inheritances are dealt with in the context of a relationship breakdown. 

This session was recorded during the Specialist Accreditation Conference 2023.

DISTRESSING CONTENT 

Viewers are advised that this course may contain details that some may find distressing. Please review the course description and use your discretion before proceeding. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support. If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the Police or call 000 for emergency assistance.