Other Articles
Marriage and divorce – don’t forget your will
It is not something necessarily at the top of our list when you are excitedly planning a wedding or sadly contemplating divorce, but it is very important that when you start or end a significant relationship that you review and, if necessary, update your Will. When...
Time to Downsize?
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Reducing Pressure on Housing Affordability Measures No. 1 Act 2017 commenced operation on 1 July 2018 and provides that if you are 65 years or older and meet the eligibility requirements, you may be able to contribute up to $300,000 from...
Lost trust deed and the presumption of regularity
You arrive at work early Tuesday morning grateful for the peace and quiet of your office after a morning of melodramatic tantrums by your two year old son. You’d given him 3 strawberries, turns out he only wanted 2, and the morning went downhill from there. You check...
Can Text Messages or Video Recordings Constitute a Valid Will?
We are living and breathing in a digital age where pen and paper is becoming something of the past. A recent decision handed down by the Queensland Supreme Court in 2017 proved that an unsent text message satisfied the requirements of a person’s last Will. The...
Thinking of buying or selling a Residential property?
A ‘Residential property’ cannot be advertised for sale, either privately or by an agent, until a Contract for Sale, also known as a listing contract, has been prepared. The listing contract must contain at least: a copy of current title documents (title search, plan...
The Importance of Storing Valuable Documents
In the wake of the NSW bushfire crisis it is an appropriate time to reflect on how we can better prepare for the unexpected and protect what is most valuable to us. Not only should you have a thorough bushfire survival plan in place and appropriate insurance, you...
How not to destroy the Christmas Cheer…
For many, Christmas is a time to gather with family and friends, enjoy good food, good wine and (mostly) good company. Whilst estate planning probably isn’t the most enjoyable subject to discuss over Christmas lunch, the holiday period can be an opportune time to make...
Foreign Surcharges and Discretionary Trusts, the clock is ticking…
The State Revenue Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2019 (“Bill”) proposes to amend the duties and land tax legislation so that all discretionary trusts are considered ‘foreign persons’ for duties and land tax surcharges unless the terms of the trust prevent a...
Home Insurance Traps
When homeowners leave their homes unoccupied for extended periods of time, insurers have found that the risk of break-ins, burglaries and property damage through robbery and vandalism increases. An insurance policy is a contract where the insured party must disclose...
Why your initial choice of entity is so important
It all began when Fred saw you about buying the farm next door. His existing farm was held by a family company set up years ago. Fred wanted to buy the new farm in the family company to keep things together. You wisely said you should speak to Fred’s accountant,...