I was recently involved in a discussion where the question was...
"...what's a piece of advice from your profession you wish people knew?"
The person who put that question was an accountant.
In no special order, this was my reply:
1. The money you think you're saving by doing a DIY Will
will cost your estate thousands of dollars to fix up after you die
so as to reflect your actual intentions.
And probably do great damage to your family.
2. The answer to
"But I don't want go to court dear. Can't I just send in a Stat Dec? "
is... "NO".
3. It doesn't matter what speed you are really, really, sure you were doing.
Your belief, no matter how strongly held, is not evidence.
4. You think your Family Law matter is "civilised"?
Wait until it comes down to sorting out the money.
5. Yes, spouse of bankrupt person - you can, and probably will, "lose the house".
6. Men - stay TF off the Men's Rights pages.
We probably are going to bill you
for the time we spend explaining to you why
so much of what is on there is utter bollocks.
7. Read stuff before you sign it. And if you don't understand it, don't sign it.
8. The harder someone pushes you to sign something, the more cautious you should be.
9. If your kids have two nationalities, then make sure that you know if they have a passport for their "other one".
10. Yes, you do have to pay Child Support.
But no, you don't get to control how the money is spent.
If that's a thing for you, then find out about
a thing called "Third Party Payment Arrangements".
"...what's a piece of advice from your profession you wish people knew?"
The person who put that question was an accountant.
In no special order, this was my reply:
1. The money you think you're saving by doing a DIY Will
will cost your estate thousands of dollars to fix up after you die
so as to reflect your actual intentions.
And probably do great damage to your family.
2. The answer to
"But I don't want go to court dear. Can't I just send in a Stat Dec? "
is... "NO".
3. It doesn't matter what speed you are really, really, sure you were doing.
Your belief, no matter how strongly held, is not evidence.
4. You think your Family Law matter is "civilised"?
Wait until it comes down to sorting out the money.
5. Yes, spouse of bankrupt person - you can, and probably will, "lose the house".
6. Men - stay TF off the Men's Rights pages.
We probably are going to bill you
for the time we spend explaining to you why
so much of what is on there is utter bollocks.
7. Read stuff before you sign it. And if you don't understand it, don't sign it.
8. The harder someone pushes you to sign something, the more cautious you should be.
9. If your kids have two nationalities, then make sure that you know if they have a passport for their "other one".
10. Yes, you do have to pay Child Support.
But no, you don't get to control how the money is spent.
If that's a thing for you, then find out about
a thing called "Third Party Payment Arrangements".
