News & Publications

When leasing commercial property, it is important for tenants and landlords to understand the relationship they are entering and the rights and obligations they have. In Victoria, retail leases are regulated by the Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic) (the ‘Act’). Generally,...

The term “buying off the plan” usually refers to purchasing a property that is not yet registered as a single lot with the government department responsible for land title registrations, or not yet built. Buying off the plan can mean a block of vacant land that is...

  Business Structures: Company When commencing a business venture, it is necessary to consider the most appropriate type of business structure to put in place. Different business structures have different benefits and disadvantages. This article looks at...

E-conveyancing the way of the future For the past 150 years when completing a property settlement it has been necessary for lawyers and banks to meet up to check and swap documents and bank cheques. The party that ended up with the documents then had to lodge them at...

Technology and your estate Most people are aware that a valid Will determines how their assets are dealt with after they are gone. Your Will can appoint a trusted executor to administer your estate and provide gifts to your chosen beneficiaries. You may also appoint...

Estate Planning – what is an Estate Plan? An estate plan involves more than signing a Will and storing it in a ‘safe place’. Estate planning requires a holistic approach in consideration of a person’s present circumstances and foreseeable future. A plan needs to...

GST and Residential Property Transactions The responsibility for remitting Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) generally falls on the party making the ‘supply’. In a property transaction, this has traditionally meant the vendor or...

Debt recovery basics for business If you are owed money for goods or services, the first step in attempting to recover it is generally to send a letter of demand to the other party setting out the amount of money outstanding and giving them a defined period of time...

There are 4 main types of business structures for doing business in Australia, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. A person can carry on business as a sole trader, partnership, trust and company. The choice of business structure is an important decision...

Why everyone needs a Power of Attorney Most people over 18 years of age should consider having a Power of Attorney in place. A Power of Attorney is a legal document made by a person (known as the principal) that authorises one or more others, on behalf of the...