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Home > Blog > Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: How Lawyers, Financial Planners and Accountants can help you navigate Elder Law, property and care

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: How Lawyers, Financial Planners and Accountants can help you navigate Elder Law, property and care

Date: 26 September 2025

Mrs Wright, an elderly widow with four adult children, decides to sell the family home and move in with one daughter, who will provide ongoing care. Mrs Wright plans to contribute part of the sale proceeds to her daughter in exchange for care and the right to live in her daughter’s home. She also has other investments and superannuation, which she wants to divide fairly among all her children. In addition, Mrs Wright’s enduring power of attorney and guardianship documents have not been updated since her husband passed away.

How each professional can assist

Lawyer:
The lawyer will manage the legal aspects of selling the family home, ensuring the transaction is completed smoothly. They will also draft a clear agreement between Mrs Wright and her daughter, setting out the terms of the care arrangement, the financial contribution, and Mrs Wright’s right to reside in her daughter’s home.

Importantly, the lawyer will review and update Mrs Wright’s will to reflect her wishes for dividing her remaining assets and superannuation fairly among all four children, and assist with any necessary superannuation nominations. The lawyer will also update Mrs Wright’s enduring power of attorney and guardianship documents, ensuring that trusted individuals are appointed to make financial, legal, and personal decisions on her behalf if she becomes unable to do so herself.

Financial Planner:
The financial planner will review how the sale proceeds, care arrangement, and financial contribution affect Mrs Wright’s overall financial position, including her eligibility for Centrelink and aged care.

They will help Mrs Wright structure her investments and superannuation to support her needs during her lifetime and to ensure her assets can be divided as fairly as possible among her children.

Accountant:
The accountant will advise on any capital gains tax implications arising from the sale of the family home, including any available exemptions, as well as any other tax issues related to the care arrangement and the division of assets.

The accountant will ensure that all transactions are handled in a tax-effective manner and that accurate records are maintained.

A collaborative approach

By working together, the lawyer, financial planner, and accountant help Mrs Wright put in place a fair, practical, and tax-effective plan for her care and the future division of her assets. Updating her enduring power of attorney and guardianship documents also ensures her wishes will be respected if she is ever unable to make decisions herself, providing clarity and peace of mind for her and her family.

At Roberts + Morrow our lawyers, financial planners, and accountants work together to ensure our elderly clients’ interests are protected, helping them to focus on the important things in life and enjoy their golden years.

Article written by Karina Waite, Lawyer – Tax + Legal at RML Solutions

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