NSW Trustee and Guardian

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NSW Trustee and Guardian Supporting the rights, welfare and interests of the people of NSW by working with them to plan ahead and to make decisions about their lives.

Please note that due to privacy laws we cannot accept queries relating to existing financial management or guardianship matters on this page. We encourage contributions to the page; however content is moderated. We may delete posts relating to other community members, customers or employees that moderators consider to be:

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08/10/2026

Worried about your family’s unresolved conflict? Here are three ways to reduce future family conflict:

There are no simple answers when it comes to family dynamics, but thoughtful planning can help reduce uncertainty and support better outcomes.

1. Review your Will regularly
Family relationships, circumstances and priorities can change over time. A plan that worked years ago may no longer reflect your current situation.

2. Explain significant decisions where appropriate
Different family members may interpret the same decision in very different ways. Clear communication can help manage expectations and reduce misunderstandings.

3. Seek professional advice when circumstances are complex
Blended families, changing relationships and competing obligations can create challenges that benefit from expert guidance.

Estate planning isn't just about distributing assets. It's also about the legacy you leave behind.

Learn more in The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations https://ow.ly/UKBy50ZRjs1

A decision made in one generation fractured relationships in the next. For years, Mark believed his aunt's estate would...
05/10/2026

A decision made in one generation fractured relationships in the next.

For years, Mark believed his aunt's estate would be shared equally between him and his sister.

When she died, the Will told a different story.

What hurt most wasn't just the outcome. It was the silence around it. There was no explanation, leaving Mark to fill in the gaps himself.

As assumptions turned into resentment, the relationship between the siblings broke down. Over time, Mark also lost contact with his nephews.

It's a powerful example of how misunderstandings and unspoken expectations can affect families long after a decision is made.

Stories like this highlight how the impact of a decision can extend well beyond the person who made it.

Read The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations https://ow.ly/3G4s50ZRhmg

01/10/2026

Some of the biggest family conflicts start with a conversation that never happened.

As Marie Brownell, Director of Estate Planning and Administration at NSW Trustee and Guardian says, "People don't generally talk to family members about their Will," Marie says. "If there's disharmony in a family, people don't tend to broadcast what they're putting in their Will."

What goes unsaid can sometimes have the biggest impact.

When expectations aren't discussed, family members may be left to interpret decisions for themselves, sometimes years later.

When expectations aren't discussed, families are often left to interpret decisions for themselves.

Read more in The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations https://ow.ly/eTVb50ZRh7w

NSW Trustee and Guardian is closed on Monday 5 October 2026 for Labour Day. We will reopen on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Th...
29/09/2026

NSW Trustee and Guardian is closed on Monday 5 October 2026 for Labour Day. We will reopen on Tuesday 6 October 2026.

The public holiday will affect payment dates for financially managed customers. Funds will be released earlier than usual.

Customers expecting a payment between Friday 2 October and Monday 5 October 2026 should receive their funds by Friday 2 October 2026. Customers expecting a payment on Tuesday 6 October 2026 should receive their funds by Saturday 3 October 2026.

28/09/2026

Why are family rifts becoming more common?

Through working with families across NSW, we've seen how misunderstandings and unresolved conflict can influence estate planning decisions for generations.

Our first article in the family complexities series, The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations explores what these changes can mean for families and why misunderstandings can have consequences that extend across generations.

As Emeritus Professor Julie Fitness from Macquarie University explains: "We're not so reliant on the nuclear family anymore. There's not the same pressure to maintain bonds regardless of your feelings."

Understanding these changes can help explain why family conflict can sometimes extend far beyond the original disagreement.

Read more in The silent Inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations https://ow.ly/wL2f50ZRfLT

24/09/2026

The biggest inheritance isn't always financial. Sometimes it's unresolved conflict.

What gets passed down through families isn't always money or assets.

Sometimes it's assumptions. Sometimes it's misunderstandings. Sometimes it's conflict that was never explained.

The decisions we make in our Wills can shape how families relate to one another long after we're gone. That's why understanding family dynamics matters when planning ahead.

Our first article in the family complexities series, The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations, explores how family rifts can echo across generations and why the things left unsaid can have lasting consequences.

The things left unsaid can sometimes have the greatest impact on the people we leave behind.

🔗 Read more in The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations https://ow.ly/y7fj50ZPZzw

It only takes one caring adult to change a young person's life but helping them thrive as they grow takes a whole networ...
23/09/2026

It only takes one caring adult to change a young person's life but helping them thrive as they grow takes a whole network of support.

Every day, foster carers across NSW provide stability, encouragement and care to children and young people when they need it most. Alongside them are families, community organisations, government services and other supporters working together to create the connections that help young people feel safe, valued and hopeful about the future.

At NSW Trustee and Guardian, we understand the power of strong support networks and the positive impact they can have on people's lives. That's why we're proud to support the Department of Communities and Justice's Change a Child's Life campaign and help raise awareness of the vital role foster carers play in our communities.

Thinking about becoming a foster carer? Learn how you could help change a child's life: https://www.nsw.gov.au/community-services/foster-relative-and-kinship-care/become-a-foster-carer

22/09/2026

What if the biggest inheritance you leave behind isn't money, but unresolved family conflict?

We're launching a new content series exploring how emotions, family dynamics and changing expectations can shape estate planning decisions.

The first article, The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations, explores how misunderstandings, unspoken expectations and family rifts can influence relationships across generations.

As Marie Brownell, Director Estate Planning and Administration at NSW Trustee and Guardian, explains: "Rifts between the Will maker and a family member can extend to other generations."

Because the legacy we leave behind is often about more than money, it's worth considering how today's decisions may affect tomorrow's relationships.

Read more in The silent inheritance: Why families are fracturing across generations https://ow.ly/uO0J50ZPZwL

Do you work in aged care and want to better understand guardianship? Join our free online information session to learn h...
21/09/2026

Do you work in aged care and want to better understand guardianship?

Join our free online information session to learn how the NSW Public Guardian works alongside aged care providers to support represented persons across NSW.

Whether you're new to guardianship or looking to build on your knowledge, this session will help you better understand guardianship and the role of the NSW Public Guardian.

This session will cover:
• An introduction to the NSW Public Guardian
• The role and responsibilities of the NSW Public Guardian
• How guardianship works in NSW
• Substitute decision-making in NSW

When: Thursday, 15 October | 10:00am to 11:00am
Where: Online

Register now: e8c7451d-58ea-4249-8092-e31b4188f188@0618d0de-fcbf-478b-aead-5c1ae28b0c58" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e8c7451d-58ea-4249-8092-e31b4188f188@0618d0de-fcbf-478b-aead-5c1ae28b0c58

11/09/2026

Approximately 60%* of people in NSW do not have a Will.

If that's you, you're not alone. making a will is one of those important life admin tasks many of us mean to do, but it can be easy to put off.

Without a will, the law decides what happens to your property, money, belongings and who may care for your children, not you. This Wills Week, take one small but important step towards planning ahead. NSW Trustee and Guardian can help you make or update your Will, Power of Attorney and Appointment of Enduring Guardian.

If you receive the full Age Pension, these services are free.

Learn more: https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/planning-for-end-of-life/make-your-will-nsw-trustee-guardian

*Research conducted on behalf of NSW Trustee and Guardian by FiftyFive5 in July-August 2023

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Parramatta, NSW

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
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