Ellison-Whyte Law

26/10/2026

Family Ties in the Law | A Legacy Across Generations

Some family histories are written in books. Others are woven into the very fabric of a nation's legal system.

For Ashley Shanks and Sue Ellison-Whyte, the law is more than a profession. It is a family legacy spanning generations, cultures and some remarkable chapters in Australia's history.

Ashley is the great-grandnephew of William Ah Ket (1876–1936), Australia's first barrister of Chinese descent. Admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1904, William Ah Ket was a pioneering advocate who challenged racial discrimination and helped shape Australia's legal and social history at a time when the White Australia policy defined much of the nation's political landscape.

Sue is the great-grandniece of the Honourable Sir Alistair Adam QC (1902–1986), who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria from 1957 to 1974. His distinguished judicial career forms another chapter in our family's connection to Victoria's legal institutions.

Sue also shares a family connection with Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson, the celebrated Australian poet, journalist and solicitor whose writings, including Waltzing Matilda and The Man from Snowy River, helped shape Australia's cultural identity. They are fourth cousins, several times removed.

Three remarkable figures. Three different contributions to Australia's story. One shared family connection to the law and nation-building.

Recently, standing together outside the Supreme Court of Victoria and among the portraits of those who came before us, we were reminded that the practice of law is not simply about legislation, courtrooms or legal precedent.

It is about people, justice, opportunity and the evolution of our nation.

Today, as we practise together at Ellison-Whyte Law, we are proud to carry forward our families' long associations with the Australian legal profession, while writing our own chapter in its continuing story.

Honouring the past. Serving the present. Building a legacy for the future.

BanjoPaterson LegalLegacy VictorianBar AustralianHistory

05/10/2026

Term 4 started today. The kids are back at school. And Christmas is only weeks away.

If you're separated, now is the time to sort out who has the children, and when.

Start with a conversation. Agree early. Put it in writing. It's kinder on everyone, especially the kids.

If you can't agree, there's a date to know. Applications to the court about the December–January school holidays must be filed before 4pm on Friday 13 November. That's about six weeks away, and mediation usually comes first.

We've got your back through life's major transactions, and this is one of them. Fixed fees. Plain English. Right here on the Peninsula.

What's the one thing that would make this Christmas easier for your family?

05/10/2026

October is Victorian Seniors Festival. A whole month of events for the people who built this community.

Victorian Seniors Card holders travel free on public transport from 3 to 11 October. So get out. See a show. Catch up with an old friend.

And while the family is together, have the conversation that matters. Who would you want making decisions for you if you couldn't make them yourself?

That's what an enduring power of attorney is for. It puts you in control, and it's best done while you're well.

We've got your back through life's major transactions, and this is one of them. Fixed fees. Plain English. Right here on the Peninsula.

Festival events: https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/festival

Who's the person you'd trust with the big decisions?

General information only.

19/08/2026

Your home. Your business. Your family. Your investments. Your legacy.

A $50 online Will isn’t an estate plan.

At Ellison-Whyte Law, we help clients put proper structures in place so their wishes are clear, their loved ones are protected and unnecessary problems are avoided later.

No unnecessary legal jargon. No cookie-cutter advice. Just thoughtful legal planning tailored to you.

Plan now. Protect later.

Book a consult at https://www.ellisonwhytelaw.com.au/book-now/

17/08/2026

ABC Law Report has released a fascinating six-part podcast series exploring succession planning, wills and estates — including what can happen when families, money, property and expectations collide after someone dies.

It’s a really accessible listen and a good reminder that estate planning is about much more than simply having a Will. It’s about thinking ahead, documenting your intentions properly and reducing the potential for uncertainty and conflict for the people you leave behind.

If succession planning or updating your estate plan has been sitting on your “I really should get around to that” list, this series may give you the motivation to finally tackle it.
🎙️ Over My Dead Body — ABC Law Report
Worth a listen.

From courtroom dramas to miscarriages of justice, to how the law affects you — and so much more. The Law Report is your accessible guide to the big legal stories unfolding in Australia and across the world.

07/08/2026

but we ARE taking:
- the will you've been "meaning to do" since 2022
- that contract someone sent you with zero context
- the family law thing you've been avoiding googling at 2am

go to ellisonwhytelaw.com.au/book-now to schedule your consult today.

fixed fees. no surprise invoices. no lawyer speak. we translate legal into human, then we go enjoy our weekend (respectfully)

see you monday ⚖️

28/07/2026

No paperwork. No interest rate. Just "pay us back when you can." It's the most common way Australian families help with a deposit — and one of the easiest ways to end up in a family law dispute, an estate dispute, or a fight with a bank down the track.

Here's the thing most people don't realise: if there's no written agreement, a court can treat that "loan" as a gift. That means if your child separates from their partner, the money you lent them can be treated as a joint asset — not something that gets paid back to you first.

A simple loan agreement costs very little to put in place. It can save your family years of stress.

If you're thinking about helping a child into their first home, get advice before the money moves — not after.

This is general information, not legal advice — every family's situation is different, so get advice specific to yours.

22/07/2026

Most people think leaving money straight to their kids is the safest option. Sometimes it's the opposite. 👇
A testamentary trust costs nothing to build into your will — but it can protect an inheritance from separation, bankruptcy, and business risk, and save your family real money in tax along the way.
In this week's episode of The Unsolicitor's Opinion, I break down:
✅ What a testamentary trust actually is
✅ Who genuinely needs one (and who doesn't)
✅ What the new 2026 trust tax reforms mean for your family
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ij8tX1BwTIRQz36bn4LcY
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z9rmN__7PhE?si=gjHWpLuHZo8Oe7Oy
Link in bio for both.
This is general information, not legal advice — every family's situation is different, so get advice specific to yours.
KnowYourRights LegalTips TheUnsolicitorsOpinion EWLaw

22/07/2026

Two Victorian families. No Will. Two outcomes that changed everything. Swipe to read their stories — then ask yourself when you last reviewed yours. 🔗 Book a consultation at the link in bio.

20/07/2026

The day your child turns 18, every parental right to step in quietly disappears.

Most young adults don't know that an Enduring Power of Attorney and Medical Treatment Decision Maker exist — or why those documents matter for them. Not for their parents. For them.

It's their choice to make. The conversation is yours to start. 🔗 Link in bio.