by Katrina Brown | Nov 10, 2020 | Elder Law and Special Needs Advocacy – “Different-Ability Law”, Guardianship, Nautilus Law, Powers of Attorney and Estate Planning, Special Needs and Disability Planning, Succession Law
Queensland has updated the Capacity Assessment Guidelines which are to be applied in assessing an adult’s capacity to make decisions. The Guidelines assists practitioners, families and the public in testing the key criteria of capacity. The following summarises the critical sections of the Guidelines.
What is capacity?
Capacity is a legal term referring to the ability to exercise the decision-making process.
When an adult has capacity to make a certain decision, they are able to:
» understand and retain (even for a short while) the information relating to the decision
» understand the main choices available
» understand and weigh up the consequences of the choices
» communicate the decision
» make a decision freely and voluntarily.
It is the adult’s ability to exercise the decision-making process that is assessed when you carry out a capacity assessment.
It is important to remember that while an intellectual or cognitive impairment might impact on an
adult’s decision-making ability, it doesn’t necessarily mean they lack capacity. The same can be said
for mental illness, brain injury, dementia and age. Whether the adult makes a decision that others
might think is wrong, risky or immoral is also irrelevant.
The five principals in assessment of capacity:
- Always presume an adult has capacity: Under the law it is not up to the adult in question to prove they have capacity. It is presumed that every adult has capacity to make all decisions until proven otherwise. This presumption is not affected by any personal characteristics such as disability, mental illness or age (if the person is over 18 years of age). The responsibility is on the person seeking to challenge the adult’s decision-making capacity to prove the adult has impaired capacity. This can be done through a capacity assessment.
- Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific: Capacity is specific to the type of decision to be made and the time the decision is made. Someone might have capacity to make certain types of decisions (e.g. a personal decision about where to live) and not others (e.g. a financial decision about whether to sell their house).
- Provide the adult with the support and information they need to make and communicate decisions:
- Capacity can fluctuate: Capacity can change or fluctuate. An adult with a medical condition or illness may temporarily lose capacity, but then regain capacity at a later date. On the other hand, an adult with dementia or delirium, for example, might have capacity on some days (or during some parts of the day)and not others.
- Capacity can change with support: An adult’s capacity can improve depending on the support available to them. For this reason, an adult cannot be found to lack capacity until all practical steps have been taken to provide the support and information needed to make the decision.
- Assess the adult’s decision-making ability rather than the decision they make: An adult is free to make bad or poor decisions, provided they have the decision-making ability to make that decision. It is not the decision that is tested, but the capacity to make any decision.
- Respect the adult’s dignity and privacy: This process is perhaps the most invasive and overwhelming in the adult’s life. At all times, the adult is to be given dignity and privacy in the process and given full advantage of assistance to ensure that the adult’s decision-making capacity is truly impaired. Planning the capacity ahead of time and performing the assessment in circumstances comfortable to the adult are critical.
Tests of Capacity:
- General test of capacity —is applied when assessing capacity for decisions about personal,
health or financial matters. This test requires the adult to:
- understand the nature and effect of decisions about the matter;
- freely and voluntarily make decisions about the matter; and
- communicate the decision in some way.
- Test for making an enduring document—is applied when assessing capacity for making an
advance health directive or enduring power of attorney. This test requires the adult to:
- understand the nature and effect of the document. The law requires the adult to actually understand the powers the document gives and when it operates and how and when it can be cancelled or revoked; and
- make the document freely and voluntarily.
Our practitioners are frequently called to assist families in both the making of estate planning documents, and in effecting processes once loved ones lose capacity or there is a question of a loss of capacity. We are compassionate and understanding, and can assist in a wide range of services when this time comes.
If you or your family has a concern about capacity or wishes to make estate planning instruments, please do not hesitate to contact our scheduling director, Vicki Baker, on 61 7 5574 3560 or Vicki@nautiluslaw.com.au to arrange a meeting. We conduct meetings by Zoom or in person.
Thank you – Katrina Elizabeth Brown, Senior Lawyer (Katrina@nautiluslaw.com.au)
by Katrina Brown | Jun 20, 2020 | Body Corporate Law, Levy Arrears and Litigation, Strata/Community Living
As Body Corporate Lawyers, we’ve heard every excuse imaginable.
Our top 10 favourites are:
- “I didn’t pay my levies because no one respects me.” (Sorry – respect has nothing to do with your legal obligations.)
- “When I bought the unit 20 years ago the levies were $150 a quarter and now they are $500 a quarter – I’m being robbed!” (Sorry – it’s called inflation.)
- “I didn’t approve the budget. I’m only paying what I think is fair and the other owners can pay the rest.” (Sorry – majority wins in strata living.)
- “What do you mean I haven’t paid my levies?? I paid them once two years ago!!” (Sorry – levies keep falling due – it’s not a once off expense.)
- “The Body Corporate doesn’t cut my grass, so I’m not paying my levies.” (Sorry – the Body Corporate isn’t responsible for cutting your grass.)
- “The gardener assaulted me – the weed whipper stirred up the grass and I was hit by the flying grass when I walked to my car. I want compensation, I have gone to the police and I am not paying my levies until I get justice.” (Sorry – but weed whipper incidents do not constitute an offset for levy liability.)
- “The letting agent has not paid my rent, so if I am not getting paid – neither is the Body Corporate!” (Sorry – the Body Corporate isn’t your letting agent or tenant, you can’t offset one against the other.)
- “I gave my time to the Body Corporate and they didn’t pay me, so I am deducting the value of my time against my levies.” (Sorry – but trimming your bushes does not offset your levies.)
- “My spouse and I are going through a divorce – they live there, they have to pay it!” (Sorry – but you both own the property, you are both liable to the Body Corporate.)
- “What are levies?” (Seriously?)
Owners must appreciate that it is their legislative duty to pay levies as and when they fall due. Disputes in respect to the amounts of validly raised levies need to be made at an AGM/EGM level – and not as a separate vendetta by non-payment. Additionally, an owner is not at liberty to offset from levies, any alleged or real claims the owner may have against the body corporate (such as a claim for payment of damages caused by the body corporate to an owner’s exclusive use area, consequential to a repair made to common property). Careful consideration has to be made to arguments by owners as to the responsibilities of the body corporate in relation to maintenance matters, and this is dependent on the scheme type (for example, an owner cannot impose maintenance costs on the body corporate in respect to the owner’s lot – but equally, a body corporate cannot impose a levy in respect to maintenance costs in respect to lot except in a strictly narrow set of circumstances). Importantly, owners have to appreciate the body corporate is not a charity, bank or financier – and has absolutely no obligation to grant payment plans, abstain from raising levies and/or otherwise provide financial assistance to owners.
At Nautilus Law Group, we work zealously for our bodies corporate to recover unpaid levies in a timely and cost effective manner. Sometimes, the most effective method of achieving the recovery is spending the time to educate owners. By no means is it the bodies corporate responsibility to have to “educate” its owners; however, transparency and education achieve results. When, transparency and education do not work, then the legal system must intervene.
If you have questions about body corporate levy recovery, please do not hesitate to contact our Team to discuss your matter on (07) 5574 3560 – or – by emailing our Team at Info@nautiluslaw.com.au. We look forward to speaking with you. Katrina Brown, Senior Lawyer.
by Katrina Brown | Jun 14, 2020 | Estate Administration and Litigation, Nautilus Law, Succession Law
A Will is one of the most important legal documents you will make and must be tailored in accordance with your individual needs. It sets out your wishes for the distribution of your estate and provides directions as to who is appointed as your executor and how they should manage your estate.
The failure to execute a Will before your death will mean that you die ‘intestate’, leaving your assets to be distributed in accordance with legislative provisions (in Queensland, this is pursuant to the Succession Act 1981 (QLD) (the Act) – other States have similar legislation), which may not be in accordance with your wishes.
Further, a failure to seek professional legal advice to prepare a Will, attempting to draft your own Will, or neglecting to make sufficient provision for your spouse, descendants and dependants may result in a Family Provision Claim against your estate.
What is a Family Provision Claim?
Family Provision Claims are made under Part IV of the Act and are the most common type of challenge to a Will. The Act provides that whether a person dies testate (having a Will) or intestate (without a Will), the court may, in its discretion, apply such provision as the court thinks fit having regard to the status of the individual making the claim and whether they qualify as a dependant on the deceased.
Who can make a Family Provision Application?
A deceased person’s spouse, child or dependant is entitled to bring a Family Provision Application seeking proper support and maintenance from the estate of the deceased. Each potential claimant will be considered in detail below.
Spouse:
At law, a person’s spouse is entitled to a distribution from the estate if they are the husband, wife, de-facto partner or a registered partner of the deceased.
Children:
The definition of child under the Act is broad. Children who may bring a Family Provision Claim include not only the deceased’s natural or legitimate children, but also step-children and adopted children. Foster children may bring a claim if they can establish that they were wholly or partially dependent on the deceased and were a member of the deceased’s household.
Dependant:
A claimant may also fall within the category of a Dependant, which is defined as “any person who was wholly or substantially maintained or supported … by that deceased person at the time of the person’s death being:
- a parent of that deceased person; or
- the parent of a surviving child under the age of 18 years of that deceased person; or
- a person under the age of 18 years.”
Accordingly, a dependant may be a parent of the deceasd person.
So – if a Family Provision Claim can be made in any instance, what’s the point in writing a Will?
In the event of a Family Provision Claim, the Will is one of the primary documents upon which a court will rely, as this document sets out the testamentary intentions of the deceased.
While there is no concrete method of preventing a Family Provision Claim being lodged – there are various methods by which the chances of a claim being lodged, or of such a claim being successful, can be decreased.
When a court considers a Family Provision Claim, the deceased’s views will be considered. However, there is no guarantee that the court will uphold the wishes contained within the Will if the claimant can demonstrate the need for proper support or maintenance. It is, therefore, paramount to consider every possibility which may arise, and to draft a Will that considers all potential claimants and provides security and protection to ensure your estate is distributed as you intend.
If you are excluding any of the potential claimants from receiving a distribution under the Will, or effecting a distribution that is less than what may be considered by a court to be “proper entitlement”, it is important that you record the reasons for such exclusion or reduction with either a clause included in the Will or alternatively executing a signed statement to be kept with the Will. There are various supplementary documents which can be prepared by your solicitor setting out the reasons a lesser provision was made for potential claimaints.
If you would like to speak to our estate planning team about drawing a Will or potential Family Provision Claims, please contact our office on 07 5574 3560 or via email at info@nautiluslaw.com.au.
by Katrina Brown | May 26, 2020 | Business Structuring, Commercial Law, Nautilus Law, Uncategorized
It’s official…Jacinda Arden is Nautilus’ pick for leader of the year.
This amazing human being is a mum of a young bub, prime minister of New Zealand, she led a nation through a tragic terrorist attack, she protected her masses through the Covid-19 pandemic, she soothed families and a nation mourning after a volcano disaster took many souls and now…she has conducted a press conference in an earthquake.
The world needs more cool, caring leaders – like Jacinda!
We at Nautilus – just want to give a shout out to Jacinda and say – thanks…thanks for finding positivity in bleakness, thanks for showing empathy in times of turmoil, thanks for showing perseverance against criticism and thanks for demonstrating humour under pressure. We aspire to be a bit more like Jacinda!
Thank you to Australian Associated Press for their article: https://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/wellington-shakes-to-58-earthquake/news-story/93d518f37f242b5c09d4ef6ed6e7a37e
by Katrina Brown | May 26, 2020 | Leasing, Property Law, Uncategorized
You are a property owner with retail shop and you want to lease the shop. If you are in Queensland, you must comply with the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 (QLD). To keep you on track, we provide links to the Queensland approved forms for use when you want to lease your Queensland retail shop.
Step 1: You must provide the proposed lessee with a “Lessor Disclosure Statement” at least 7 days before the lessee enters into the lease.
https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/retail-shop-leases-forms/resource/2c3c0a67-dd91-461f-9adf-211c365bd8c9
Step 2: You must provide the proposed lessee with a “Lessee Disclosure Statement”, which the lessee must complete and return to you before finalising the lease (although they can provide to you with the signed lease if you accept this deferral).
https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/retail-shop-leases-forms/resource/809e8911-a270-491f-9789-f89d8af0eab2
Step 3: You must provide the proposed lessee with a “Financial Advice Report”, which must be completed and returned to you. The Financial Advice Report must be completed by an accountant who acts for the proposed lessee.
https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/retail-shop-leases-forms/resource/a6ae0d8e-4292-4965-8b27-062700ccc492
Step 4: You must provide the proposed lessee with a “Legal Advice Report”, which must be completed and returned to you. The Legal Advice Report must be completed by a solicitor who acts for the proposed lessee.
https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/retail-shop-leases-forms/resource/f02df614-8146-4326-8fc9-f499ef692e41
Step 5: In any circumstance in which any amount other than rent is going to be charged by you to the proposed lessee, you must complete the Estimate of Outgoings and provide to the proposed lessee with the above documents. It is critical you make this disclosure as close to factual as possible, as substantial discrepancies provides the lessee with a defense to claims for outgoings.
https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/retail-shop-leases-forms/resource/6d7f02d7-0877-4c91-ae52-dc0550e70ce2
A retail lease is far more complex than a standard commercial lease. This is because the Queensland legislation requires you, as lessor, to disclose and receive disclosure on specific matters. A failure on your part to properly disclose or receive disclosure, notwithstanding the best written lease, exposes you to damages, which include potential voiding of the lease and refunding of charges raised.
Nautilus Law Group have seasoned property lawyers and conveyancers who can assist you with your retail leasing needs – from settling the original disclosure, to preparing the lease and amendment documents, to dealing with disputes. We offer fixed fee services for most property matters, and welcome you to make enquiry with our team by telephone to 07 5574 3560 or info@nautiluslaw.com.au.