Just a thought I had today .............

When we emigrated in 1991 my kids were just 4 and 5 years old.

We had no relatives or friends in Australia so made provision in our wills for guardianship of the children in the event anything nasty should happen to us when we got here. We did this so that they would not be made wards of the state (e.g. if they were orphaned - particularly after we got our citizenship which may have complicated matters even more). Their welfare would then be the responsibility of by guardians appointed by myself and my husband.

My niece who lives in New Zealand has also done this for her children, naming me as guardian as I am her closest relative in this end of the world.

For those of you emigrating with small children, and no relatives out here, it might be something else to consider.

Interesting thought....
We have wills, in England - I presume they are valid while we are here :o Not something I'd thought to check!

Elaine

Excellent topic Shaz, be good to get some more info on this in laymans terms i hope.

:thumbs up:

From a legal perspective............(now I've handed in all my work I'm almost an LLB (Hons) person, so obviously totally qualified to put up this posting.... :blink: ) you will need to draft a new will once you make the final move to Oz. Both countries have different systems of succession and operate under separate Wills Acts. That said, if you snuff it before you have a chance to do that, I'm pretty sure your last UK will would stand. :rolleyes:

Julia :)

Julia - we haven't emigrated permanently. Does that mean the uk will is still ok as far as you're aware?

Elaine

Interesting poser that Elaine - particularly if you have assets in both countries.

Main asset in UK WW - we still have our house there. Here it's a couple of cars and household goods.

Elaine

Are you on a temporary visa? No.........you have residency don't you, Elaine? Either way, I reckon the UK will would be okay but to be safe I'd give a solicitor a ring, or check it out at the equivalent to a Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Julia :)

Thanks Julia - it's certainly interesting to discuss things like this on here, opens the eyes to a few more potential minefields!

Elaine

Dunno why I thought of it this morning. I was quite happily washing 26 cars when it suddenly popped into my head! See I do think of you guys when I am working - or I could have been almost terminally bored!

Thanks WW you know this makes you as mad as the rest of us :medium smiley:

I hadn't even thought about that one so it is on my to do list for when we get out there. Is it easy making a will out in oz? Can you do it yourself like you can over here? or is there loads of rules you have to be made aware of?

Sasha :)

There's some background info here
http://moneymanager.smh.com.au/tools/facts...will_prior.html

...oooh, this one looks good - make a will online for US$10!
http://www.makeyourwill.com/googlew.htm
I see it covers various countries, including both UK and Oz

Elaine

Thanks Elaine I'll have a nose :D

Sasha :)