Can my stepchildren contest my will? Under Victorian Law there are limitations to the types of persons that can contest wills. These days with the increasing divorce rates there are more and more "blended" families and hence stepchildren. Does a stepchild have standing to challenge a...
The Victorian Government announced that it intends to increase the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) from $10,000 to $20,000 for new homes built in regional Victoria and valued up to $750,000. This will apply for contracts signed from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2020. Eligible first-home...
The Consumer Acts and Other Acts Amendment Act 2016 No 23 (Vic) was assented to on 10 May 2016. This act updates both the Sale of Land Act 1962 and the Property Law Act 1958 to amend anomalies in these Acts. These amendments will come...
Dealing with the Funeral Director There are often funeral arrangement disputes between family members as to who can arrange the funeral of a deceased loved one. The poor funeral directors have to then work out who can they legally take as their client. The law, at least...
Like many other lawyers, we get enquires regarding Bank Mortgages and Guarantees and the paperwork a borrower or guarantor needs to be completed with a lawyer, sometimes called a Solicitor Certificate. A lot of clients ring up and say “we just need to sign this in front of...
How to contest a will Discover our top 6 tips on how to contest a will and how to know can will be contested. Get a copy of the Will This is not always possible if the executor is resisting. However, if you are an immediate family member...
What is a testamentary trust will and do I need one? You’ve worked hard to build your wealth, and don’t want the assets to go to the tax man, or be collected by your beneficiaries’ creditors. Why have a testamentary trust in a will? You can spend a...
After 25 years of legal practice, I have come across a lot of myths about wills and common misconceptions that people have about Wills. Here are some of the common myths about wills I hear frequently. Myths about wills #1 - My wife and I can just make one...
Some of my clients who have separated a very short time after their wedding, ask about getting an annulment instead of divorce. It's not as easy as some think. Difference between annulment and divorce A "decree of dissolution of marriage" is what is commonly known as divorce. A...
The following update has been released from the Australian Institute of Conveyancers Victoria (some notable deadlines have been underlined). It details information on the move to digital conveyancing or electronic conveyancing in Victoria. Transitioning to 100% Digital Conveyancing As we have been saying for a couple of years,...
If you own your property but it is subject to a registered mortgage, that title will automatically become an electronic title (or paperless title) controlled by the mortgagee (the bank). What happens to my title now it may go paperless? Even if you had paid off your mortgage...
What is an unqualified legal practice? Many people are not aware of this concept: that the preparation of most legal documents is not permitted to be done by another type of professional, only a qualified lawyer. And this is for good reason, as great damage an be done by...
