01 | Can a stranger inherit everything you own?

01 | Can a stranger inherit everything you own?

Author: ABC Australia August 14, 2026 Duration: 0:00
An elderly man goes into respite care and meets a nurse he's never known before.  Within days she's bought him a will kit and had a document drawn up that leaves everything to her.  He dies weeks later. Was that his clear settled wish, or something else entirely? Proving the difference is where it gets hard. And messy. When it comes to wills, how big an issue are fraud and undue influence? And what sorts of questions arise over how a will is made? Melbourne lawyer and elder financial abuse specialist James Dimond takes us inside these disputes, from a will signed by pressured witnesses to a father who cut out his son after his daughter convinced him her brother was a dangerous criminal, and the legal idea courts call "poisoning of the mind". The Law Report's special series Over My Dead Body explores what happens when wills go wrong. A reminder, this conversation does not represent or replace legal advice.

Produced by ABC Australia, Law Report digs into the legal frameworks and courtroom decisions that shape society. This isn't just a summary of headlines; it's a deep, thoughtful examination of how legislation and judicial rulings filter into everyday life, affecting everything from personal liberties to national policy. Each episode unpacks complex issues with clarity, moving beyond the sensational to explain the real human stakes behind high-profile cases and legislative changes. You'll hear directly from legal experts, journalists, and sometimes those personally entangled in the system, providing a grounded perspective on abstract principles. The podcast consistently demonstrates how the law is a living, evolving force, not just a set of static rules. Whether exploring a historic miscarriage of justice, the intricacies of a new bill in parliament, or a landmark international ruling, the conversation is always geared toward making the inaccessible understandable. For anyone curious about the mechanics of power, rights, and governance, this series offers essential context. Tune in for a reliably insightful analysis of how legal stories unfolding in Australia and around the world ultimately define the boundaries of our collective and individual lives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Law Report
Podcast Episodes
Countdown to Australia's social media ban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:58
In two weeks' time, Australia's social media ban for children under 16 will come into force. How will it work? Will it protect kids from online harm? And could they find ways around the restrictions?
How legally tight are prenuptial agreements? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:13
Are prenuptial agreements always legally watertight? Or can they be tossed out by the courts? The High Court recently handed down a decision that focused on a poorly drafted prenup and to what extent the disgruntled clie…
Whitlam dismissal 50 years on [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
November 11 marks the 50th anniversary of the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam by Governor-General Sir John Kerr — an event that exposed and tested the architecture of Australia's constitution.
Fifty years of the Australian Law Reform Commission [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:04
The Australian Law Reform Commission is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Law Report's Damien Carrick hosted an event in Melbourne to mark its half century.
Do we have a right to free speech in Australia? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:58
The implied freedom of political communication has been at the centre of several recent high-profile court decisions. The Law Report asks: do Australians have a constitutional right to freedom of speech? And what form do…