Jenny Blake The Crystal Doula

05/11/2025

A will can be the last thing on our mind…. But it will be the first thing on many people’s mind when someone dies …….

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WILL? NSW EDITION
(Written by someone with zero legal training, so take this as friendly advice, not legal counsel!)

I spend a lot of time talking with people about end-of-life planning, and one of the biggest surprises is this: if you don’t have a will, NSW already has one written for you.

It’s called the Succession Act 2006, and it decides exactly who inherits your estate if you die without leaving a legal will (that’s called dying “intestate”, a fancy word for “no paperwork”).

Here’s the gist, minus the legal jargon:
If you have a spouse or partner, they’re first in line.
If you have kids from a previous relationship, the Act divides things up between your spouse and your kids.
If you don’t have a spouse, your kids share everything equally (yes, even kid who hasn't visited for 10 years).
No kids? It goes up the family tree: parents → siblings → nieces/nephews → cousins.
No living relatives? Your estate goes to… wait for it… the NSW Government.

And here’s the kicker: settling an estate without a will usually takes longer, has expenses attached and is more complicated because the court has to appoint someone to handle everything. Think of it like letting your least-organised friend plan your birthday party. It’ll eventually happen, but probably with more chaos, a bunch of people being invited you didn't want and a whole lotta stress.

A valid will, on the other hand, is like sending a detailed party plan with RSVPs, smoother, faster, and much less headache for everyone involved.

I’m not a lawyer (second time I'm mentioning this!!), just someone who thinks we should all have more peace of mind when it comes to life admin. And a will is a pretty solid piece of life admin, not to mention a gift to those left behind who are sorting out your affairs.

So, what’s stopping you? Cost? Overwhelm? Time? If you knew your state government had already written a “default” will for you, would you rather stick with theirs or write your own?

Kelly 💜

01/11/2025

From a stone shed to a beautiful retreat space.

05/10/2025

Thought provoking…. we really do only span 3 generations, maybe 4 if we are lucky. Inspired by a book I’m reading on the train. We live two lives, and how we live and love determines the memories 🪶

10/08/2025

Did you know….

Did you know the minimum standards for a Natural Burial must include the following details;
• Be a single depth burial;
• Have only one body per plot;
• Have not more than one metre of soil above the body or container at the deepest point;
• Use a plant or protein-based material shroud or an eco-friendly biodegradable coffin;
• Not include any plastic unless it is compostable;
• Not include the use of an underground vault; and
• Require the body of the deceased to –
1. Only wear natural protein based or plant based materials;
2. Not have had chemical preparations or plastics used in preparation; and
3. Not be embalmed or having only been embalmed with non-toxic chemicals.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please visit our website to learn more - www.ndan.com.au

31/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/16kEbdRQXw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Making artisan plant dyed funeral shrouds for environment friendly & whānau led death care. Personalised shrouds and ready mades. Natural Burial advocate.

18/07/2025

08/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16isQhJXjZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AsU4PTpEp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

About six months ago, I sat at the bedside of a woman who took her very last breath. She made me promise that I would look after her husband after she died. Once a week I meet him and we take a walk around his neighborhood. He is grieving, he is struggling, and he cries often. We talk about his wife a lot. Each week I come up with a new question that gives him the opportunity to go down memory lane and share about their life together. And I listen.

For the first five months, his dog walked with us. She was a beautiful distraction for him, and gave him purpose as he woke up each day missing his wife. About three weeks ago she started getting sick and he finally had to make the difficult decision to let her go, which broke his heart.

When I show up to his house to walk, he walks out his door, without his dog, and looks at me and cries. So now I am supporting him while he grieves his wife and his dog. His heart is just so sad. I often feel that I have a loss for words, disappointed that nothing I say will make him feel better. 

He tries to find joy in each day, he hikes with his friends, he eats well and works in his garden, but he is lonely. It is really hard to move on with your life not just grieving someone you love, but also trying to figure out who you are now that they are gone. He feels lost.

Yesterday I met him for a walk. We had moments of tears which is not abnormal, but I also felt that there was some healing happening. We laughed more than usual, and we had a wonderful conversation.

As we came around the corner to get back to his house, a neighbor was watering his garden and said hello. I was introduced, hands were shaked, and he asked my friend how he was doing. He then asked where his dog was and why she wasn’t walking with us. He told the neighbor that she had died and he started to cry.

The neighbor said this:
“Oh. Wow. I am so surprised to hear this. She was such a beautiful dog. She was like the mayor of the neighborhood and everybody loved her. I am really sorry for your loss. I know you miss her, we will all miss her. I am here if you want to talk about her. We can talk about your wife too, any time you want to.”

I could see the reaction my friend had to his kind and compassionate words. He was grateful for them, and it brought him comfort. I can’t speak for him, but it felt to me like his neighbor‘s words helped him to feel seen and acknowledged. Sometimes I wonder if he feels like he has to hide from the grief and not let anyone see that he is hurting. Adding the death of his dog to his grieving, has elevated his grief in a new way. His neighbors words were thoughtful and supportive, and something I believe my friend needed. 

Let’s all be more like his neighbor…
He saw my friend, he honored his sadness, and he offered him a safe place to talk about his wife and his dog. That was a gift, a beautiful, generous gift. 

❤️
xo
Gabby
www.thehospiceheart.net

13/05/2025

Love your work