News

Financial Agreements as an Estate Planning tool

A Financial Agreement is an effective tool for couples in managing their estate planning. Financial Agreements allow couples to pre-determine what they quantify as a fair distribution of their finances and assets, in the event of a relationship breakdown, death of one...

Options to renew in commercial leases – don’t get caught out!

An option clause is a term in a commercial lease that allows a tenant to renew their lease at the end of the original lease period, if they meet certain conditions. Landlords are not obliged to offer a renewal option. However, it is often in the interests of both...

FAQ on Estate Planning

While many people are unlikely to nominate estate planning aka “Thinking about what will happen to my assets when I die” as being on their “most wanted things to do” list in reality, this is something that should be on all our “must do” lists. Proactively planning for...

Understanding easements in your property contract

Identifying and understanding easements in a property transaction is an important part of the conveyancing process. Vendors are required to disclose all easements affecting the land they propose to sell in a property contract, and buyers should ensure they are aware...

A Guide to Buying Commercial Premises

Buying a commercial property (such as a warehouse, office building or retail space) is generally more complicated than buying a residential property. There are complex contract terms, detailed planning information and additional legal and commercial implications if...

What a Will Kit doesn’t do

There are various ‘Will Kits’ available on-line – most are cheap or ‘free’ and all you need to do is download them and fill in the blanks. Many websites boast that you can prepare your Will ‘without spending hundreds of dollars on legal fees’. Simple, right? Not...

New laws for Short-Term Rental Accommodation NSW

The New South Wales Government has introduced a statewide regulatory framework for short-term rental accommodation, titled State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) Amendment (Short-Term Rental Accommodation) 2021 (STRA). The framework regulates...

Choosing a Business Structure

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...