{"id":17019,"date":"2026-10-20T03:06:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T16:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/family-loan-or-gift-estate\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T11:09:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T00:09:52","slug":"family-loan-or-gift-estate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/family-loan-or-gift-estate\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Advances: Loan or Gift?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ct-article\" data-no-translation>\n<p>In wealthy families, money moves between generations all the time: a deposit for a son&#8217;s apartment, capital for a daughter&#8217;s business, a transfer to cover a grandchild&#8217;s fees in London. It is rarely documented. When the parent dies, the question becomes urgent. Was the $2 million a loan the estate can recover, or a gift the child keeps on top of an equal share?<\/p>\n<h3>How the law approaches it<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Evidence comes first.<\/strong> Loan agreements, bank records, emails, WeChat messages, tax returns, and how the parties treated the money over the years.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/en\/property-in-childs-name-resulting-trust\/\">The presumption of advancement<\/a>.<\/strong> Where a parent transfers money or property to a child, Australian law traditionally presumes a gift unless the evidence shows otherwise. The presumption can be rebutted, but someone has to prove it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repayment history.<\/strong> Interest paid, a schedule followed, or the loan recorded in <a href=\"\/en\/family-company-succession-founder-death\/\">a family company&#8217;s accounts<\/a> all point towards a loan.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Old loans and time limits.<\/strong> A loan may be too old to sue on. But under an old equitable rule, the rule in <em>Cherry v Boultbee<\/em>, an executor can often still deduct the unpaid debt from the borrower&#8217;s share of the estate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The will itself.<\/strong> A will can forgive loans, require them to be brought into account, or treat lifetime gifts as advances on inheritance. Many do not say anything.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Typical disputes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/sibling-estate-disputes\/\">One child received a house deposit<\/a>, the others did not, and the will splits the estate equally.<\/li>\n<li>A child&#8217;s business borrowed from the parent&#8217;s company, and the company is now controlled by a sibling.<\/li>\n<li>A parent&#8217;s account was used to pay a child&#8217;s mortgage <a href=\"\/en\/estate-planning-victoria\/\">under a power of attorney<\/a> in the last years of life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Getting it right while alive<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Put significant loans in writing: amount, interest, repayment and what happens on death.<\/li>\n<li>If you intend a gift, say so, and say whether it should be taken into account when the estate is divided.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/accountants-family-business-ledger-succession\/\">Keep a family ledger of advances<\/a> and give your executor access to it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ct-faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Is money a parent gave a child a loan or a gift?<\/h3>\n<p>It depends on the evidence, including loan agreements, bank records, messages, tax returns and how the parties treated the money over the years. Where a parent transfers money or property to a child, Australian law traditionally presumes a gift unless the evidence shows otherwise. Interest paid or a repayment schedule followed points towards a loan.<\/p>\n<h3>Can an executor recover an old loan the deceased made to a child?<\/h3>\n<p>Often, at least in part, even if the loan is too old to sue on. Under the rule in Cherry v Boultbee, an executor can often deduct the unpaid debt from the borrower&#8217;s share of the estate. The outcome depends on the evidence that the money was a loan and on what the will says.<\/p>\n<h3>Are lifetime gifts counted when an estate is divided?<\/h3>\n<p>Only if the will provides for it or the evidence shows the money was a loan. A will can forgive loans, require them to be brought into account, or treat lifetime gifts as advances on inheritance, but many wills say nothing. If you want earlier gifts counted, say so clearly in your will.<\/p>\n<h3>How can parents avoid loan-or-gift disputes between their children?<\/h3>\n<p>Put significant loans in writing, including the amount, interest, repayment and what happens on death. If you intend a gift, say so, and say whether it should be taken into account when the estate is divided. Keep a family ledger of advances and give your executor access to it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Chua Tan Associates advises families, executors, trustees and their professional advisers on estate planning, estate administration and estate disputes, in Australia and across borders. To arrange a confidential consultation, please contact our Melbourne office on +61 3 9602 3988 or submit an <a href=\"#ct-enquiry\">enquiry<\/a>. Advice is available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"ct-byline\"><em>Justin Chua (\u8521\u667a\u52cb), lawyer and mediator, Chua Tan Associates, Melbourne. General information only, not legal advice. Victorian law unless stated otherwise.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"ct-enquiry\" class=\"ct-eq\" data-no-translation>\r\n<style>.ct-eq{background:#f4f1ea;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:10px;padding:22px 24px;margin:32px 0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.6}.ct-eq h2,.ct-eq h3{margin:0 0 6px}.ct-eq p{margin:0 0 12px}.ct-eq form{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:12px}.ct-eq label{display:block;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px}.ct-eq input,.ct-eq select,.ct-eq textarea{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;border-radius:6px;font-size:16px;background:#fff}.ct-eq .full{grid-column:1\/-1}.ct-eq button{background:#8a6a3b;color:#fff;border:0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 22px;font-size:16px;cursor:pointer}.ct-eq .hp{position:absolute;left:-9999px}.ct-eq small{color:#5f5a50}.ct-eq .ok{background:#e7f3e8;border-left:4px solid #3c8d40;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .bad{background:#fbeaea;border-left:4px solid #b03a2e;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .ct-direct{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;margin-top:14px}.ct-eq .ct-direct a,.ct-eq .ct-direct button{background:#fff;color:#2b2b2b;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;padding:9px 14px;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;font-size:15px}@media(max-width:640px){.ct-eq form{grid-template-columns:1fr}}<\/style>\r\n<h3>Tell us about the estate<\/h3>\r\n<p>A short message is enough. We reply in English, Mandarin or Cantonese, and quote fees in writing before any work starts.<\/p>\r\n<form method=\"post\" action=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-admin\/admin-post.php\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"action\" value=\"ct_estate_enquiry\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_ts\" value=\"1792501203\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_lang\" value=\"en\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_page\" value=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/family-loan-or-gift-estate\/\">\r\n<div class=\"hp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><label>Website<input type=\"text\" name=\"ct_website\" tabindex=\"-1\" autocomplete=\"off\"><\/label><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_name\">Your name *<\/label><input id=\"ct_name\" name=\"ct_name\" required maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_email\">Email<\/label><input id=\"ct_email\" name=\"ct_email\" type=\"email\" maxlength=\"160\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_phone\">Phone, WeChat or WhatsApp<\/label><input id=\"ct_phone\" name=\"ct_phone\" maxlength=\"80\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_language\">Preferred language<\/label><select id=\"ct_language\" name=\"ct_language\"><option>English<\/option><option>Mandarin<\/option><option>Cantonese<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_type\">What do you need help with?<\/label><select id=\"ct_type\" name=\"ct_type\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is a Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is no Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and I am not sure if there is a Will<\/option><option>Making or updating a Will or estate plan<\/option><option>Executor or trustee question<\/option><option>A dispute about an estate<\/option><option>Other<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_state\">Where are the assets?<\/label><select id=\"ct_state\" name=\"ct_state\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Victoria<\/option><option>New South Wales<\/option><option>Queensland<\/option><option>Western Australia<\/option><option>South Australia<\/option><option>Tasmania<\/option><option>ACT<\/option><option>Northern Territory<\/option><option>More than one state<\/option><option>Overseas as well<\/option><option>Not sure<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_time\">Best time to contact you (optional)<\/label><input id=\"ct_time\" name=\"ct_time\" maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_msg\">Brief details (optional)<\/label><textarea id=\"ct_msg\" name=\"ct_msg\" rows=\"4\" maxlength=\"3000\"><\/textarea><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><button type=\"submit\">Send enquiry<\/button><br><small>We use your details only to respond to your enquiry. Sending this form does not create a lawyer\u2013client relationship. <a href=\"\/privacy-policy\/\">Privacy<\/a><\/small><\/div>\r\n<\/form>\r\n<div class=\"ct-direct\"><strong style=\"width:100%\">Or contact us directly<\/strong>\r\n<a href=\"tel:+61396023988\">Call +61 3 9602 3988<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"mailto:chuatan@tpg.com.au\">chuatan@tpg.com.au<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/61490369102\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp +61 490 369 102<\/a>\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"ct-wechat\" data-msg=\"WeChat ID copied\">WeChat: chuatan262<\/button>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\t\n\n<div class=\"ct-guides\" data-no-translation><style>.ct-guides{margin:28px 0}.ct-guides ul{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(230px,1fr));gap:10px;list-style:none;padding:0;margin:10px 0 0}.ct-guides li{margin:0}.ct-guides a{display:block;padding:12px 14px;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;height:100%}<\/style><h3>Estate guides<\/h3><ul><li><a href=\"\/en\/do-i-need-probate\/\">Do I need probate? 2-minute check<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/what-to-do-when-someone-dies\/\">What to do when someone dies: 30-day checklist<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/letters-of-administration-victoria\/\">No Will? Letters of administration and who inherits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/estate-planning-victoria\/\">Estate planning: Will, power of attorney, medical decisions<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/testamentary-trusts\/\">Testamentary trusts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/\">Superannuation and your Will<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/executor-disputes\/\">Executor problems and disputes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/professional-executor-trustee\/\">Professional executor &amp; trustee services<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/%E5%AE%A2%E6%88%B7%E8%AF%84%E4%BB%B7\/\">Client reviews<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Money advanced to children is rarely documented. How Australian law decides whether it was a loan or a gift, the rule in Cherry v Boultbee, and how to get it right while alive.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-25"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.2 (Yoast SEO v28.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Family Advances: Loan or Gift? | Chua Tan Associates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Money advanced to children is rarely documented. 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