Thursday, 27 November 2025
Til Aged Care Do We Part: Later in Life Relationships
Relationships in later life can bring unexpected joy to those involved but can also result in additional complications when the circumstances involve respective children, disparate financial circumstances and/or health and age gap issues. Examine the challenges practitioners face in advising these couples, including:
- Characteristics of late in life relationships and when does a “legal” relationship arise?
- Can a de facto relationship exist when the two parties live separately?
- Does a de facto relationship end if one party goes into care?
- Are Binding Financial Agreements a viable option for succession planning?
- Will keeping assets completely separate minimise risk in the event of a relationship breakdown?
- Will drafting issues including:
- Ongoing living arrangements for the surviving spouse
- Aged care funding considerations for the surviving spouse
- Managing potential claims by disgruntled children
Presented by Kate Kensell, Family Law Director, Uther Webster & Evans Solicitors, and Justine Taylor, Principal Director, STEP, Uther Webster & Evans Solicitors; Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates; Recommended Wills, Estates & Succession Planning Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair
Cathie Blanchfield, Principal, Blanchfield Nicholls Family & Private Advisory; Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer and Leading Family Lawyers (High-Value & complex Property Matters), Doyle’s Guide 2025
Presenters
Cathie Blanchfield, Principal, Blanchfield Nicholls Family & Private AdvisoryCathie Blanchfield has practised exclusively in family law and related areas since admission over 30 years ago. After some years in partnership with Stuart Fowler, in 2007 Cathie established Blanchfield Nicholls with Nigel Nicholls. Cathie has been named as a leading family lawyer in the Doyles Guide consistently since 2016, including in High Value and Complex Property Matters. She enjoys the challenges inherent in communicating sometimes difficult concepts in family law, and working to understand each client's particular needs and expectations while giving realistic advice. In 2025 Cathie’s long standing interest and expertise in drafting and advising clients in relation to financial agreements was recognized by her inclusion as one of 15 lawyers in the inaugural Doyle’s Guide list of leading pre-nuptial and financial agreement lawyers in Australia. Cathie has written and presented many papers on family law issues for members of the profession undertaking continuing legal education.
Kate Kensell, Family Law Director, Uther Webster & Evans Solicitors
Kate was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court in May 2006 and holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Arts. Kate has practised exclusively in the family law jurisdiction post admission and has 19 years of experience working in family law in both the Northern Territory and New South Wales. Kate joined the firm in April 2025 as our Family Law Director. Prior to joining Uther Webster & Evans, Kate worked as a Director at a boutique family law practice in Sydney and then as a Partner at a large family law firm. Kate is a Collaborative Lawyer who has spent over 10 years appearing as an Independent Children’s Lawyer. Kate has been ranked on Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Lawyer for Parenting Matters on multiple occasions. Outside of work, Kate was the Young Lawyer’s Representative of the Northern Territory Law Society and a councillor of the Northern Territory Law Council. She was a board member and volunteer at the Top End Women’s Legal Service in the Northern Territory. Kate is a member of the family law section of the Law Society of New South Wales, the family law section of the Law Council of Australia and is on the panel of Independent Children’s Lawyers.
Justine Taylor, Principal Director, Uther Webster & Evans Solicitors
Justine is an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates. Justine joined Uther Webster & Evans in 2004 and holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Psychology. Justine became a Partner of Uther Webster & Evans in 2015 and is now a Principal Director of the firm. A full member of STEP, Justine is a registered Trust Estate Practitioner and has been honoured to be ranked on Doyle’s Guide as Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyer in NSW and Doyle’s Guide Recommended Wills & Estates Litigation Lawyer across Australia. Justine’s primary practice and passion is Succession Law, Wills & Estates and Trusts including contested estate litigation, complex estate administration, dispute resolution, protective list applications, general equity, estoppel, and trusts.
