Leaving a gift (bequest) to a charity in your Will can be a meaningful way to support a cause that is important to you after your death. However, there are several ways to structure a charitable gift, and the wording of your Will can have an impact on whether your wishes can be carried out exactly as you would like. This guide explains the key aspects to consider.
Latest Insight Articles & News
What Dolly Parton's Will May Teach Australians About Estate Planning
Wills and Estates: 26 August 2026
Author: Caroline Harley
The world said goodbye to a true icon on 25 August 2026 when Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80. Remembered for her extraordinary music career, business success, and remarkable generosity, Dolly leaves behind not only a cultural legacy but also an estate that may provide valuable lessons in estate planning. succession planning and legacy preservation.
SMSF LRBAs – What’s Changed and What Comes Next
Wills and Estates: 01 July 2026
Author: Caroline Harley
Australia’s self-managed super fund (SMSF) landscape has shifted dramatically with the passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 26 June 2026.
When is a Grant of Probate Required?
Wills and Estates: 10 June 2026
Author: Gayathri Perera, Valerie Bradley
Navigating what happens after someone passes away can feel overwhelming, especially when questions arise about probate, assets and who has the legal authority to act. Understanding when a Grant of Probate is required and what happens if there is no Will can make the process clearer and far less stressful.
Webinar Recap: Estate Planning Essentials: How to Avoid, or Navigate Will Disputes
Wills and Estates: 29 May 2026
Author: Carl Wilson, Susan Ilias, Alister Bayston
A short introduction to the key themes shaping today’s estate planning and will‑dispute landscape.
What happens if you leave a gift to a charity and they no longer exist?
Wills and Estates: 20 May 2026
Author: Valerie Bradley
Many people decide to leave a bequest to a charity in their Will to create a legacy and to support causes they care about.
Estate Planning After the Budget - A Whole-of-Wealth Approach
Wills and Estates,Tax Law: 13 May 2026
Author: Caroline Harley
The Federal Budget represents a significant shift in how Australians will approach intergenerational wealth transfers. For decades, discretionary family trusts have been central to tax planning and asset structuring for business owners, professionals, investors and farming families - not just as holding vehicles, but as tools for controlling how wealth is taxed and passed on. That era is changing.
Gifts or Wills: How to Pass on Your Wealth in a Way That Truly Matters
Wills and Estates: 21 April 2026
Author: Caroline Harley
Deciding how to pass on your wealth is rarely a dry, purely financial exercise - it’s often layered with emotion, family politics, unspoken expectations, and, occasionally, a touch of drama.
Estate Planning for Foreign Residents: Key Legal and Tax Considerations
Wills and Estates: 15 April 2026
Author: Joel Parsons
Administering a deceased estate is challenging at the best of times, however, the difficulty increases significantly when cross-border elements are involved, particularly when executors or beneficiaries are located outside Australia.
How Family Trusts Protect Your Intergenerational Wealth
Wills and Estates: 31 March 2026
Author: Joel Parsons
Careful succession planning requires more than a Will alone. Family trusts are often used to protect assets, preserve control and support long‑term family objectives.
Deceased Estates and the Main Residence Exemption: A Guide for Executors
Tax Law,Property Law,Wills and Estates: 16 February 2026
Author: Marco Saccotelli
Dealing with a Deceased Estate is challenging enough without unexpected tax surprises. Learn how the main residence exemption works, when it applies, and what to watch out for to protect the estate's value.
Promises of Inheritance: Applying Estoppel in Will Disputes
Wills and Estates: 28 November 2025
Author: Tracey Bannister
The amendments made to the categories of people eligible to make family provision claims under Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958 were made over a decade ago and were intended to reduce the amount of family provision claims by reducing the categories of people who were eligible to apply.
Understanding Elder Abuse: Legal Rights and Protections in Australia
Wills and Estates: 07 November 2025
Author: Joel Parsons, Valerie Bradley
Protecting the rights and wellbeing of elderly family members is a concern shared by many, however, and rather unfortunately, instances of exploitation and abuse often arise at the hands of those whom an elderly person trusts most.
For families of children with a disability, a significant concern is making sure that child will be looked after long into the future. This means making plans to safeguard the child’s financial and health care needs. For many families, establishing a Special Disability Trust may be an effective way of doing this.
Wills & Estates Update – Probate Office changes to filing fees
Wills and Estates: 13 November 2024
Author: Susan Bonnici
You may have heard about changes that have recently been made to the filing fees payable to the Probate Office of the Supreme Court of Victoria upon the application for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration for a deceased estate. This issue has been getting a lot of attention in the media, with some outlets referring to it as a “death tax by stealth”.
Lizia Lim Recognised as Recommended Lawyer in Wills & Estates
Wills and Estates: 17 September 2024
Author: Lizia Lim
We are delighted to announce that Lizia Lim, Principal Lawyer at Aitken Partners, has received two prestigious accolades in the field of Wills & Estates.
Aitken Partners Achieves Top Recognition in Wills & Estates Law
Wills and Estates: 17 September 2024
Author: Aitken Partners
Aitken Partners has been honoured with distinguished recognition as a Recommended Firm in Wills & Estates Succession Planning by Doyle’s Guide 2024.
Victorian Government Considers Significant Probate Fee Hike
Wills and Estates: 04 July 2024
Author: Lizia Lim
The Victorian Government is contemplating substantial changes to probate fees, with a recent paper outlining potential reform options and seeking feedback by 19 July 2024.
Can the executor of an estate be removed?
Wills and Estates: 06 September 2023
When and why might the Court remove the executor of a deceased estate? When does an executor’s ill health warrant their removal? Moore J considers these matters in the recent decision of Jedrzejewska v Sheedy [2023] VSC 511 (30 August 2023).
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