Succession disputes are more likely to arise in blended families. If you have clients with a blended family, they need to be aware of this risk and carefully consider issues such as:

• Who to appoint to control finances, superannuation and family trusts, if they lose capacity.

• Mutual wills – are they really effective?

• Is a life interest to the surviving spouse the best solution?

• Why do most SMSF death benefit court disputes involve blended families and how can this be avoided?

• Do clients always have a legal responsibility to provide for a spouse and children?

• Tax strategies for the main residence and superannuation

• Controlling the family trust after death

• Strategies to reduce the risk of costly disputes