CASE: In the Estate of McFadyen [2015] ACTSC 2019

In 2014, 64-year-old Shenee McFadyen was visited by an old work colleague, AB. Within the short two-week visit, AB took Shenee to a solicitor to do a new Will, leaving her whole estate to AB.

Shortly after, Shenee was hospitalised with cerebellar haemorrhage. AB did not come to see her.

Shenee died four months after having signed the Will. AB did not attend the funeral.

Shenee's lifelong friend Marlene applied to the Court to find that the last Will was invalid due to lack of capacity.

CASE: Straede v Eastwood [2003] NSWSC 280

In August 2000, John Straede was driving his wife Cheryl to work. He overtook the car in front of him on a hill and collided with an oncoming vehicle. Cheryl was killed in the accident.

John pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.

The question in this case was not whether John was guilty of causing Cheryl's death, it was whether he was still entitled to inherit from her estate.

John applied for relief from the forfeiture rule, the rule that states that a person shall not benefit from the death they have caused.

However, the case focused little on the car accident itself and more on the ménage à trois with another woman.

CASES: GYM [2017] WASAT 136 & KRM [2017] WASAT 135

By 2016, GYM and KRM has been married for over 60 years, had three adult sons and several grandchildren.

They also owned a farm worth over $1.6 million, expensive farming equipment and tools, and a residential house in Mullaloo, WA.

By the end of 2017, they would have about $40,000 in the bank account and nothing else. Where had all their property and assets gone? To their three sons.