Welcome to our Sydney Mills Oakley Family Law Newsletter for March 2026.
It’s been another eventful month for the Sydney Mills Oakley Family Law Team. We’ve supported clients through complex matters, celebrated their successes, and fitted in plenty of events along the way.
Take a look below to find out what we’ve been up to!
On 12 March 2026, the Sydney Mills Oakley Family Law Team had the pleasure of hosting a special evening to showcase The Kidman Centre’s new initiative, SuperParent Powers. It is a program designed to assist with strengthening the connection between parents and teenagers, while supporting young people’s mental health.
The evening was made particularly meaningful by the many people who support our work, including valued referrers, colleagues across the family law profession, and clients.
Our Senior Associate, Antonia Marran facilitated the panel discussion. Through her work as a parenting coordinator and her involvement with the Kidman Centre, Antonia brings a unique perspective to the various issues that many families face, as well as practical ways to better support young people through times of change.
We were also joined by Jessica Rowe, Ambassador for SuperParent Powers, and Dr Rachel Murrihy, Director of the Kidman Centre, whose insights into the importance of parent-teen connection were both powerful and practical.
Events like this are a valuable remainder of the importance of staying connected to the broader conversations around youth wellbeing and mental health for all of us working with families.
On 6 March 2026, our Partners, Susan Warda and Carly Mirza-Price, and Special Counsel, Tracey Middleton, were honoured to have received an invitation to attend the International Women’s Day Lunch in the Pearl Ballroom of the Crown hosted by Nexia. Every detail of the event was considered in planning, and it was great to be in a ballroom with 200 women and, more importantly, men who are helping pave the way and are true champions of change.
It was also wonderful to hear from the keynote speaker, Sheila Vijeyarasa, about Little Steps and dancing with change!
Grace Bacon is the Partner of the RSM Financial Services Australia (AFSL 238 282). Grace advises clients on wealth management, retirement planning and succession planning. In the below article, Grace explores why thoughtful, proactive planning is essential to avoid the messy will disputes that often arise in blended families.
With blended families now accounting for more than one in 10 Australian families with dependent children, estate planning for families of all shapes and sizes has never been more important. Without a clear estate plan, your final gifts to loved ones may be soured by disputes and disappointment.
As with any approach to financial affairs, a robust estate plan begins with open and honest conversations long before pen is put to paper, and the best time to start speaking to your partner about this may be sooner than you think.
Although money-talk can be rather unromantic, starting these conversations as soon as your relationship becomes serious can help to manage any newfound tension stemming from children from a first marriage worrying about being cut out, new spouses fearing financial insecurity, or stepchildren fearing being forgotten altogether.
A good first step before any estate planning takes place is to plan for what might happen to your assets in the event your relationship with your new partner does not go as expected. A binding financial agreement (BFA) can provide clarity around how assets are to be combined or separated and protect the financial interests of both parties in the event of a relationship breakdown. Helpfully, a BFA can be set-up before or during a relationship and updated to account for major life changes such as the birth of a child or the purchase of a home.
When you are ready to sit down and draft your will, there are a few elements of estate planning that I encourage clients to keep in mind ensure they end up with the best possible outcome for yourself and those you care about.
A common cause of tension among blended families are Family Provision laws, which see that your spouse, children, and stepchildren are given certain rights within a will – including the right to challenge a will if they believe they haven’t been sufficiently provided for. Under this, even the best-intentions can be overturned if they aren’t legally sound.
You should also consider any minor children in your estate planning, especially if there are stepchildren involved as across most of Australia, stepchildren are not automatically included as beneficiaries under intestacy rules unless they are legally adopted.
Importantly, your will only covers assets in your personal name such as direct property, bank accounts, shares and so on. It may also come as a surprise is that your superannuation and life insurance don’t automatically follow your will. Instead, these require separate beneficiary nominations – a particularly important step for blended families.
While some funds allow for a non-binding nomination which sees your super or death benefit payment paid as the trustee sees fit, a binding nomination is best as otherwise your super or death benefit payment could end up with someone you didn’t intend. A regular review of this is strongly recommended, particularly after remarriage or the birth of additional children.
Mutual wills may be a suitable option for many blended families. Mutual wills are a pair of wills made together with an agreement that they are not to be altered after one partner dies. These can protect children from previous relationships but can also be limiting for the surviving spouse in the event they re-partner. They may also not address individual wishes, particularly if each partner has specific wishes to look after children from previous relationships, so it is worth considering if this is the right option for you.
Another popular option among blended families is a Testamentary Trust, which is created through your will. These trusts provide income for your spouse during their lifetime while also preserving capital for your children later, balancing the needs of both your new partner and your children from a previous relationship.
A similar route that can work well for blended families is a Life Interest Trust, which allows your spouse to live in the family home or receive income from investments, under the proviso that the property will eventually be inherited by your children upon the surviving partner’s passing.
With any of these options, you may also like to include a letter of wishes to your beneficiaries, explaining your decisions in plain language to prevent any misunderstandings or upset.
Much like families, each approach to succession planning can look very different, but the essential element that underpins each option is communication. By having these conversations with your family – new and old – you can ensure there is no heartache and hurt to be had by your loved ones when the inheritance arrives.
The first step? Start by seeking professional advice and ensure your tax, legal and financial adviser work together to ensure you’re equipped with an estate plan that is the perfect fit for you and your family – whatever it looks like.
On 12 March 2026, our Lawyers, Shannon Jenkin and Ella Richardson, were grateful to have been invited to attend Vincents’ Annual Sydney Client Cruise.
Spending the evening out on Sydney Harbour, taking in the incredible views, was made even better by the opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with familiar faces.
We are excited to announce that on 20 March 2026, Elana Nasr was admitted as a Lawyer in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Elana has worked a Paralegal in the Mills Oakley Family Law Sydney Team since October 2024 and has assisted clients of both Susan Warda and Carly Mirza-Price
Well done to Elana on her well-deserved milestone. We are so proud to have you as part of the team at Mills Oakley Family Law Sydney.
We work hard to ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients, and we value the feedback we receive every day. Here’s a snapshot of what some of our clients said this month:
“Good morning guys, I just wanted to send a quick email to thank you for getting all my stuff tied up over the last 12 months or so. I appreciate it.” to Partners Susan Warda and Carly Mirza-Price, and Lawyer, Ella Richardson
“Thank you again for continuing to fight in my corner. I really appreciate it.” to Partner Carly Mirza-Price
“Dear Susannah, I’ve been wanting to tell you how truly grateful for everything you’ve been doing for me lately. You’ve been working so hard every single day, putting in so much time, thought and care. I know I have a lot of questions and sometimes I struggle to make decisions quickly, but you have been so patient and kind with me, and I feel it deeply.
To be honest, I even feel a little bad and sorry that you have to carry so much stress because of this matter. He has created so much trouble and pain for so many people, including you and I feel really bad that you have to spend so much energy cleaning up the mess he made. I truly appreciate you more than I can say. You have no idea how much your support and dedication mean to me during this terrible time.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart” to Special Counsel, Susannah Quinn
Referrals are important to us. If you know someone who would benefit from a confidential conversation with a family lawyer, please pass on our details and we will do our very best to look after them
If you would like further information on the above, or if you have queries regarding other any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you would like further information or have any queries regarding other matters, please do not hesitate to contact:
