Wills, Estates & Succession Planning 20 July 2018 Will my Will be upheld? The position of “informal Wills” is put to the test again

If you have prepared a Will with a Lawyer, you may recall that there were clauses contained in your Will, probably containing some legal...

Wills, Estates & Succession Planning 15 June 2018 Has the Testamentary Trust lost its appeal?

The 2018 Federal Budget was handed down by the Treasurer Scott Morrison on 8 May 2018. One of the areas addressed in the Budget...

Corporate & Commercial 13 June 2018 GST, is it hiding in the (Amazon) jungle?

New legislation will come in to effect on 1 July 2018, meaning that global suppliers, like Amazon, will be required to charge GST on...

Family Law 13 June 2018 I have separated from my partner. Do I need to go to Court?

The short answer is “no.” In fact, an overwhelming majority of matters resolve without having to set foot in a Court room. If you...

Corporate & Commercial 18 May 2018 Picking the structure that is right for you and your business

If you are looking to start, purchase a business or are already operating a business, you need to consider what structure is appropriate for...

Family Law 9 May 2018 I am divorced, am I able to seek a property settlement?

People often ask “I am divorced, can I still seek a property settlement?”  The short answer is “yes.” Under the Family Law Act 1975...

Workplace Relations 27 April 2018 Outer-Limit Contracts and Unfair Dismissal

A Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission in Saeid Khayam v Navitas English Pty Ltd t/a Navitas English FWCFB 5162 (Navitas)   has...

Corporate & Commercial 6 April 2018 The power of the Appointor: Choosing convenience over risk

In a family trust, the role of the Appointor is to ensure that the Trustee exercises their powers and duties in the best interests...

Conveyancing 6 April 2018 Land Tax in Victoria

Owning property in Victoria may incur land tax. Generally if a property is classified as an individual’s principle place of residence than the property...

Conveyancing 29 March 2018 Stamp Duty in Victoria

What is stamp duty? Stamp duty is a transfer duty imposed by the State Revenue Office when you purchase or acquire a property in...

Corporate & Commercial 23 March 2018 The colour of beer

In a decidedly marketing stroke of genius, a Brewery has filed a trade mark application for the colour of beer.  Specifically, Pantone 142, or...

Wills, Estates & Succession Planning 15 March 2018 Planning for your future medical treatment

On 12 March 2018, the new Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 came into force. The legislation is designed to provide us with...