You’ve been told to make a family trust election. Here’s what that actually means.
If you’re running a family business or managing family wealth through a trust, chances are your accountant has recommended that you “make a Family Trust Election” (or FTE for short). If your response was, “Sure… what exactly is that?”, you’re not alone. Let’s demystify what this election is, why it’s coming up now, and why it’s worth talking to a lawyer before you commit. What is a […]
Changes to trust taxation in the Federal Budget: Is there still a case for keeping a family trust in my structure?
We’re hearing this question from many of our clients since the Federal Budget announcement on 12 May 2026 introduced proposed changes to how family trusts (also called discretionary trusts) are taxed. Small to medium-sized businesses, family business owners and individuals who have taken steps to limit their personal liability are now questioning the value of […]
Australia’s new AML/CTF rules: what changes from 1 July 2026
If you have engaged a lawyer, accountant, conveyancer or real estate agent recently, you may already have been asked for more identification than usual. From 1 July 2026, those asks become standard practice across the profession. Your advisers will need to verify who you are. They will also ask about the source of funds in […]
Set up and run a family trust
Set up and run a family trust We will draft a deed that matches what you actually intend, and keep the administration consistent with it. A family trust is only as protective as two things: the deed, and the decisions made under it. Most trusts are set up from a template and then run for […]
Protecting your trust: planning for trustee incapacity before it happens
If you are creating a testamentary or discretionary trust, you want to know it will operate smoothly long after you are gone. But what happens if the trustee you appoint loses the capacity to make decisions? Without the right safeguards, the trust you designed to protect your beneficiaries could grind to a halt – leaving assets unmanaged, distributions delayed, and […]
Bucket vs Banker: How the right company structure can supercharge your family wealth strategy
Two strategic tools, the ‘bucket company’ and the ‘banker company’. Both strategies offer high-net-worth families a way to cap tax exposure, preserve capital, and support long-term intergenerational planning.
Trust Distributions Summary – (Trust Distributions Guide Booklet Chapter 6)
Budget Update Notice: The 2026/27 Federal Budget contains proposals that may affect the information in this article. As at the date of this notice, these are proposed measures and have not yet passed into law. We are reviewing and updating our content as the legislative process progresses. If you are making a decision based on […]
Risk Management and Common Traps – (Trust Distributions Guide Chapter 5)
Budget Update NoticeThe 2026/27 Federal Budget contains proposals that may affect the information in this article. As at the date of this notice, these are proposed measures and have not yet passed into law. We are reviewing and updating our content as the legislative process progresses. If you are making a decision based on any […]
Timing, Authority and Validity of Distributions – (Trust Distributions Guide Booklet Chapter 4)
Budget Update Notice: The 2026/27 Federal Budget contains proposals that may affect the information in this article. As at the date of this notice, these are proposed measures and have not yet passed into law. We are reviewing and updating our content as the legislative process progresses. If you are making a decision based on […]
Making Effective Distributions – (Trust Distributions Guide Booklet Chapter 3)
Budget Update Notice: The 2026/27 Federal Budget contains proposals that may affect the information in this article. As at the date of this notice, these are proposed measures and have not yet passed into law. We are reviewing and updating our content as the legislative process progresses. If you are making a decision based on […]