Making a Will if capacity is in question
It is well known that a Will is a legal document which sets out how a person wants their assets to be distributed once they die. If you are over the age of 18 you can make a Will – provided you have capacity. In general terms a person will have the necessary capacity if […]
Making Your Will Count – Healthy Will Checklist
It is important for everyone over 18 to have a Will to make sure their wishes are followed and their assets are distributed as they would want after they die. If you don’t have a Will your assets will be divided according to how the law dictates in the rules of intestacy, that is, when […]
Things to consider when partners separate
Do you have a friend or relative who has just separated? If so, the information below should help. What is meant by separation? Separation in Family Law is defined as the bringing to an end of a marriage or de facto relationship (which also includes same sex couples). There is no need or ability to […]
Family Law Property Settlements Is a 50/50 split the starting point?
Following the breakdown of a marriage or de facto relationship, it is common for separated parties to be unsure and therefore anxious about their entitlements in a property settlement and the assets they are likely to retain. This is only natural given that Family Law is a complicated and emotional area of law which is […]
Fact or fiction – top 5 myths about family law property settlements
Most people know someone who has been affected by a family breakup. It is usually a very stressful and emotional time where people are anxious about the divorce, the property settlement and the emotional wellbeing and care arrangements for children. Unfortunately this is reflected in a great quantity of inaccurate statements, often regarded as fact […]
Extension of the unfair contracts regime to small businesses
The Federal Government has enacted legislation extending the unfair contract term protections of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) to the small business sector. Under the new laws, a Court is able to declare that a term of a standard form small business contract […]
Enduring Powers of Attorney explained
A lot of people have heard of a Power of Attorney however most do not fully appreciate the extent of its power, the benefits it delivers or the types of Powers of Attorney that exist. A Power of Attorney is a useful legal document used to allow someone to handle your affairs in a variety […]
Don’t let your Site Problem turn into a Court case
Each construction project will have its own challenges. Often a significant portion of these challenges will arise from the particular conditions of a given site and it is important that any potential site difficulties are addressed as early as possible in the planning stages of any project. Some of the most common site issues that […]
Social Media and Defamation Tweeters and Posters Beware!
Anyone who uses social media has almost certainly come across a post or tweet where your immediate reaction was to suck in your breath and go “Ouch” while simultaneously being glad you weren’t the one on the end of the tirade. Perhaps you have been guilty of firing off such a post or tweet yourself […]
Debt recovery basics for business
If you are owed money for goods or services, the first step in attempting to recover it is generally to send a letter of demand to the other party setting out the amount of money outstanding and giving them a defined period of time within which to settle the matter by paying you the money […]