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Categories | SMSF deeds

Close-up of married couple signing papers alongside with other witness or agent - can be divorce, law, liability, evidence agreement for marriage

Can an attorney (via an EPoA) make or revoke a BDBN?

The precise role of a person acting as an attorney under an enduring power of attorney (EPoA) in relation to dealing with a member’s binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) is an issue that has attracted increased attention in recent years. Accordingly, SMSF trustees, members, advisers and beneficiaries need to be aware of the law and [read more]

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New option for SMSFs with bankrupt member

Traditionally there were only two options when a self managed superannuation fund(SMSF) member became an ‘insolvent under administration’ (colloquially referred to as a bankrupt). Those two options are: Option 1 — the member had to roll their benefits to an APRA fund; or Option 2 — the SMSF had to be converted to a small APRA fund. [read more]

DBA Lawyers –– the best BDBN is now even better

BDBNs – what to look out for and what to avoid

A binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) is a direction made by a member to the superannuation fund trustee requiring the trustee to pay the member’s superannuation death benefits in a certain way, eg, to the member’s dependant(s) and/or to their legal personal representative(s) (ie, the executor(s) of the member’s will). BDBNs are usually set out [read more]

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Advantages of the DBA Lawyers SMSF deed (2022-23)

DBA Lawyers latest SMSF governing rules and related documents include many value-added features. This article briefly explains why our SMSF documents are the best available. Recent changes to DBA Lawyers’ SMSF governing rules Our latest DBA Lawyers’ SMSF governing rules (version 2022-23) comes with the following upgrades: express exclusion of reg 6.17A given the High [read more]

Close-up of married couple signing papers alongside with other witness or agent - can be divorce, law, liability, evidence agreement for marriage

Are SMSF wills really ‘safer’ than BDBNs?

Soon the High Court will hand down a judgement being the appeal from Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd [2021] WASCA 59 which will definitively answer (among other things) whether an SMSF binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) can last either indefinitely or a maximum of only three years. Some in the SMSF industry have suggested that [read more]

Close up of typewriter and Deed of trust

High Court to decide how long can a BDBN last for!

For many years there was debate in the SMSF industry as to whether an SMSF binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) could last indefinitely. A number of supreme court cases from several different Australian states have held that an SMSF BDBN can last indefinitely, so long as the deed is written to provide for this. Then, [read more]

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Moss Super Pty Ltd v Hayne [2008] VSC 158: why SMSF structures are important

Moss Super Pty Ltd v Hayne [2008] VSC 158 is an important lesson for trustees and advisers to always consider what the governing rules of an SMSF provide before attempting to make changes or exercise powers. Facts The Photography Management Services Pty Ltd Superannuation Fund (Fund) was established by deed dated 31 May 1995. The [read more]