News

Dying intestate – the perils of not making a Will

A valid Will determines how your estate is dealt with after you die. Your Will can appoint an appropriate family member or trusted friend to administer your estate (your executor), nominate guardians for young children, determine who will receive your assets and give...Read More

Why it’s a bad idea to write your own Will

It is relatively easy to find a free Will template on the internet and fairly cheap to buy a Will “kit” from a newsagent or online. There are also websites that have “data collectors” that take your information and create a Will for you seemingly without any legal...Read More

Can your ex de facto inherit under your Will?

Once upon a time you were happily living together with your de facto partner. Roses were bought, dinners were cooked, finances were shared and Wills were signed leaving all your assets to the other partner in the event of what you then thought of as the far away time...Read More

Due Diligence when Buying an Existing Business

If you are thinking about a new venture, expanding an existing business or entering a new market, one option you might consider is to buy an established business. There are advantages and disadvantages when buying an existing business compared with starting your own....Read More

Estate planning for blended families

Most of us appreciate the importance of making a Will and having an estate plan that sets out how we would like to provide for our loved ones when we die.  If, like many Australians, you belong to a blended family, there are additional considerations when planning...Read More

Protecting business interests in family law proceedings

Family law issues can be disruptive to a business entity, with the potential to adversely affect its activities, cashflow, and financial viability. Problems can stem from a relationship breakdown between domestic co-owners, or the divorce or separation of a...Read More

Bankruptcy and Family Law: What if you Become Bankrupt?

Dividing property after partners separate is generally stressful, with each party concerned about his or her financial future. The bankruptcy of one party adds a further dimension of complexity to a family law property settlement. Even partners whose relationship is...Read More

What Happens if I Don’t Attend Family Law Mediation?

Separating couples should make reasonable attempts to agree on the future living arrangements, care and responsibility for their children. The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) provides that, unless there are extenuating circumstances, dispute resolution is compulsory if...Read More

What happens when a contract is breached?

Contracts are a common tool used throughout our lives to create legal relationships between parties to define what actions people will take. If you have entered a contract with another party, you are obligated to abide by the terms and conditions of the contract. Any...Read More

Do You Need a Solicitor to Execute a Will?

An executor is a person who will carry out the instructions in your Will once you have passed away. In general, you can appoint any person as executor of your Will, this includes will solicitors. It is not uncommon for a solicitor to be appointed executor of a Will....Read More