If you leave a small gift for someone in your Will, does that mean they can’t make any further claims? In short, no it does not. Of course, you’re free to leave your property and assets to whomever you choose, but there are risks involved in excluding a person from your Will or trying to…
When deciding parenting orders, the court’s first and most important consideration is what is going to be best for the children. If a judge feels a child might be in danger as a result of spending time with one parent, orders could be made that will prevent that parent from seeing their child. In a…
Leaving behind a last Will and Testament expressing your wishes is vitally important. A current Will provides you and your family with peace of mind. But where are you meant to keep your Will? If you leave it where your executor can’t find it, you may as well not have prepared a Will at all,…
Sorting out financial obligations in the wake of separation and divorce can be complicated, and as interest rates continue to rise, repayments on a home you’re no longer living in can be stressful. Essentially, if you and your ex are the registered owners of a property, it’s likely you’re joint account holders of the home…
A trademark is an excellent way to protect your business’s intellectual property. Trademarks set your product or service apart from others and can take several forms, including words, phrases, letters, numbers, logos, pictures, distinctive packaging, or signage, sounds or jingles. Some famous trademarks include the McDonald’s “golden arches”, the Nike “swoosh” symbol, and the Apple…
In this busy property market, it’s important to keep track of all the forms and paperwork necessary to buy and sell. One of the most important documents, is called the release of a mortgage. If you are selling your home, the bank which originally lent you the money will sign a document to release the…
We all love our pets and consider them as part of the family. However, when it comes to separation and divorce, those delightful “fur babies” are in fact property, not people. In a recent case, the court said “parenting proceedings” would not be conducted in relation to family pets.
Can someone who is not a parent apply for a parenting order? Yes, they can. According to the Family Law Act, “any other person concerned with the care, welfare, or development of the child” can apply for a parenting order. But what does that mean exactly? Courts are usually quite strict when looking at applications…
The Queensland Government is working to make amendments to land sales legislation, which will affect sunset clauses in off the plan sales contracts. A sunset clause in an off the plan sales contract provides a party with the right to terminate if the contract is not settled within a particular time frame. Earlier this year,…
There are various factors that the Court considers when deciding if parties were in a “de facto” relationship. One of those factors is whether there are any children of the relationship or if the parties support and care for children. This factor, however, does not always mean that there is in fact a de facto relationship. …
