Tasmanians are heading for a "tsunami of issues", a prominent North-West lawyer has warned.
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Tasmania's ageing population is a well known phenomenon, and one that needs to be prepared for legally and financially, Paul McGrath, of McGrath & Co Lawyers, says.
"Climate change? Piss off, this is the more important thing," the lawyer joked.
"But seriously, it's important... as is feeding us all, looking after the poor, not having too many wars.
"There's a lot of things to juggle in looking after the planet - one of them is handing over the control and ownership of it from one generation to the next."
More than 40 per cent of adult Australians do not have a will, according to a project from the Australian Research Council - the study found this was mostly due to procrastination.
Mr McGrath said the issue was less about wills specifically, and more about making sure the end-of-life process - including care, asset distribution and and provision for vulnerable people - was a smooth and easy process.
That's not morbid. There's nothing morbid about that. The better you plan, the better it is for the people left behind.
- Paul McGrath, principal lawyer for McGrath & Co Lawyers
"We don't find the sensible planning of things a morbid topic, because we're looking after the people we love," he said.
"That's not morbid. There's nothing morbid about that. The better you plan, the better it is for the people left behind.
"Get your documentation sorted. If you're doing something big in life, you're silly not to speak to your accountant, your financial planner and your lawyer, whoever they may be."
The lawyer said issues could arise when people tried to take matters into their own hands.
"People who try to do their own wills, people who try to use those cheap kits, are not doing their family any favours," he warned.
"If you don't (know what you're doing), you're going to leave problems.
"If we have to fix them up as lawyers, even a simple fix, it would probably be $8000-$10,000 just to get the judge to fix it up... that comes out of your estate.
"Whereas a straight-forward will-making process might only cost $250. Much cheaper to do that than to make a mess of it.
Meg Powell
Meg Powell has been a journalist for the Advocate Newspaper in North-West Tasmania since 2019. She has covered a range of areas and issues including crime, health, environmental issues, business, social affairs , the arts and education. Got a story to share? Email megan.powell@theadvocate.com.au or call 0448 302 029
Meg Powell has been a journalist for the Advocate Newspaper in North-West Tasmania since 2019. She has covered a range of areas and issues including crime, health, environmental issues, business, social affairs , the arts and education. Got a story to share? Email megan.powell@theadvocate.com.au or call 0448 302 029
