Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit examines the law relating to wills, estates, intestacy and family provision. The unit includes analysis of the definition and nature of a will, formal requirements of a will, construction of wills, vitiating factors affecting testators and beneficiaries, revocation, republication and revival of wills, legacies and devises, intestate succession, administration of estates of deceased persons and family provision after death.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
- Students are able to (1) demonstrate at an advanced level knowledge of (a) the law of succession; (b) the Wills Act 1970 (WA) as amended; (c) testate and intestate succession; (d) the elements of a claim against an estate for further provision by an eligible person for some or further provision from an estate; (e) the Family Provision Act 1972 (formerly the Inheritance (Family and Dependants Provision) Act 1972) and the recent changes to the Act; (f) the policy and reform issues that are relevant to succession law; and (g) international, national and comparative perspectives on Western Australian Succession Law; (2) demonstrate (a) the ability to reflect upon and respond to ethical issues arising in succession law particularly in the area of Moral Duty and its application in the Family Provision Act 1972 (WA); and (b) a developing ability to exercise professional judgement with regards succession issues; (3) demonstrate the ability to (a) identify and articulate complex issues that arise in succession law; (b) apply legal reasoning to solve hypothetical succession problems, in particular developing and explaining arguments in resolving issues; and (c) engage in critical analysis of succession law legislation and scholarship, including the changes and reasons for change made by the Wills Amendment Act 2008; (4) identify, research, evaluate and synthesise the factual, legal and policy issues arising in succession law and demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in generating appropriate responses to justify conclusions and professional decisions; and (5) demonstrate an ability and willingness to (a) participate and contribute to seminar discussion; and (b) present arguments in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive to legal and non-legal audiences.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) class participation; (2) written assignment; and (3) examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Associate Professor Murray Wesson and Julie Falck
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Enrolment in )
- Contact hours
- 3 hours per week
- Reference texts
-
Dal Pont, G. E. and Mackir, K. F. Law of Succession: LexisNexis Butterworths 2013
Atherton, R. F. and Vines, P. Succession, Families, Property and Death: Text and Cases, 2nd edn: LexisNexis Butterworths 2003
Hockley, J. J. et al. Wills Probate and Administration Service (Western Australia): Butterworths 1999+ (loose-leaf and online)
- Recommended
reading -
Administration Act 1903 (WA) (especially ss 12A–15)
The Family Provision Act 1972 (WA) [formerly the Inheritance (Family and Dependants Provision) Act 1972 (WA)]
Trustees Act 1962 (WA)
Wills Act 1970 (WA) (as amended) by the Wills Amendment Act 2008 (WA)
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.