‘$100,000 gift’: NSW Mum’s warning after family tragedy

When her beloved father died, Jaime Lee Bannon was distraught. However, the devastated NSW mum had no idea that things were about to get worse due to one glaring oversight.

When her beloved cancer-stricken father died suddenly, Jaime Lee Bannon was distraught.

However, the NSW mum had no idea that things were about to get much worse due to the fact that his will had not been updated before his death.

Ms Bannon claims her father, David, had verbally promised his $100,000 vintage car collection would go to his then newborn grandson Bowie as part of the doting grandad’s “legacy”.

But David never updated his will to include that gift.

Jaime Lee Bannon with her father on her wedding day.

Consumed by grief, and caring for a newborn, Ms Bannon entered a legal minefield as she tried to contest her father’s will, a stressful and heartbreaking process that ultimately failed.

The experience has left her bereft with unanswered questions remaining two years later.

“It’s definitely something that has taken a lot of work to get through and accept,” she said.

Ms Bannon is also heartbroken that she was not given some of her father’s “sentimental” treasured mementos, such as an engraved lolly jar given to him by his grandson, his Australian citizenship certificate and his precious kilt, which in her view are “priceless”.

David had also left these items out of his will.

It comes as a report found Australians are putting themselves at risk, both financially and emotionally, by not making a will, with those in blended families being particularly vulnerable to the devastating consequences that can occur.

Safewill’s Adam Lubofsky says the digital platform makes the process of making a will straightforward. Picture: Supplied

The risks are compounded by the fact that in a time of cost of living pain and soaring house prices, one in four Australians are depending on an inheritance to secure their financial future, worrying research from digital will platform Safewill found.

Adam Lubofsky, CEO and founder of Safewill, said the company was offering free wills until March 31 to encourage people to get their affairs in order.

“I think there’s a perception that writing a will is a really complicated, difficult legal task,” he said.

“And that’s certainly the way it used to be, and that isn’t the case anymore.”

Making a will on Safewill takes around 15 to 20 minutes and no additional documentation is needed, he said.

Sharon Kazakis, with her family, says making a will is vital.

Andrew Simpson, principal lawyer of Andrew Simpson Legal in Melbourne’s east, specialises in estate planning.

He commended Safewill for making wills accessible and budget-friendly, saying they were a better option than will-making kits from post offices, but said it was preferable to get legal advice.

“I think if online platforms raise awareness and the circumstances are very straightforward, then there’s a place for that,” he said.

“But if you want to do estate planning, I think that’s where you sit down with a lawyer.”

He said wills were particularly important for those in blended families, with the wills requiring “careful attention to balance the needs and obligations of multiple families”.

Ms Bannon’s painful experience is one that Melbourne woman Sharon Kazakis can unfortunately relate to.

Ms Kazakis tragically lost her mother, Margaret, in a caravan park fire over 30 years ago.

While juggling life with a baby, she was told her mother’s will could not be found, meaning most of the estate, worth thousands at the time, did not go to Ms Kazakis.

The will was eventually located, but by then it was too late.

She urged others to make a will for “peace of mind” after her own “stressful and emotional” experience.

“I have spoken to my own children about the importance of making a will,” she said.

“Because obviously they know what I went through.”