NEWS + BLOG
Trusts and Blended Families: Protecting Your Partner Without Leaving Your Children Exposed
Estate planning is rarely simple, but it can be particularly sensitive for blended families.
You may want to make sure your spouse or partner is financially secure if you pass away first. At the same time, you may also want to protect an inheritance for children from a previous relationship.
Estate Planning Across Borders: Avoiding Pitfalls with Overseas Assets
Living on the Sunshine Coast, it’s easy to see how connected our local community is to the rest of the world. Many locals have family living overseas, hold property in another country, or have accumulated international investments over a lifetime of hard work. But when it comes to estate planning, those international connections can make things more complicated than you might expect.
One Voice or Many? Choosing the Right Power of Attorney Structure for Your Family
Parents frequently ask, “Can you have multiple powers of attorney?” While the short answer is yes, the more important question is whether having multiple attorneys is the right choice for your family. Each option has its own advantages and potential challenges. The right structure depends on your family dynamics, the people you've chosen, and how you want important decisions to be made.
Understanding the New Changes to SMSF Property Purchases
If you’ve been keeping a close eye on the property market and federal retirement policy lately, you might have noticed a major shift. Following recent federal budget negotiations, a monumental policy decision has emerged to reshape how everyday Australians build wealth for retirement.
Celebrating Jacob's Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Award
We are delighted to announce that our Director, Jacob, has been recognised as one of five finalists in the Queensland Law Society's 2026 Excellence in Law Awards in the category of Regional Practitioner of the Year Award.
Navigating the Legal Realities of Handshake Agreements and Verbal Contracts in QLD
Are handshake agreements legally binding in QLD? Many businesses still rely on verbal agreements and informal “handshake deals” built on trust and good relationships. But when things go wrong, the legal reality can become much more complicated. Learn how contract law handles verbal agreements and the challenges of proving them without a written deal.
Survivorship Rights: When a Joint Tenant Passes Away
If you owned a home or a block of land with the person who passed away, you might find yourself wondering what happens to that property now. In Queensland, the legal outcome largely depends on how the property’s title was set up.
Executor’s Discharge: The Right to a Release After Finalising an Estate
Stepping into the shoes of an executor of a Will in QLD is a profound act of service, but it can also feel like an overwhelming second job. There is one final, crucial piece that often catches people off guard. Before you transfer that final dollar, you need to consider how to protect yourself from future personal liability.
The Difference Between Administration and Liquidation
Both administration and liquidation are formal insolvency processes for companies. Both involve control moving away from the directors and into the hands of an independent external appointee. But they are used for different purposes, and the difference matters.
Buying Property with a Business Partner
One vital piece of advice before any documents are signed: you need to agree on how to exit the investment before you ever walk through the front door. This is what we call the “Exit First” rule, and skipping it can put both your venture and personal relationships at risk.
The Legal Limits of DIY Wills: Protecting Your Legacy with Professional Advice
When you want to get your affairs in order, picking up a pre-formatted Will kit from any number of outlets feels like a quick, cost-effective way. It might seem straightforward on the surface, but the legal reality under Queensland law is vastly different
Lease Disputes: How to Resolve Them Without Going to Court
When a commercial lease dispute hits, it’s easy to assume you’re headed straight for a messy legal battle. Learn how you can navigate a rental dispute smoothly, keep your sanity intact, and achieve a resolution that actually works for your business.
Australia’s New Anti-Money Laundering Laws: What Clients Need to Know Before 1 July 2026
Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws will expand significantly. For the first time, many legal, accounting, conveyancing and property-related services will fall within the scope of the AML/CTF regime administered by AUSTRAC.
What Happens If My Property Contract Falls Through After Signing?
The property contract law is quite specific about what happens when a deal goes south. It isn’t just about losing a dream home; there are real, often expensive, legal consequences that follow.
Understanding Rent Reviews and Market Rent Adjustments in Commercial Leases
Understanding how a rent review in commercial leases works can be the difference between a predictable budget and a financial headache.
Handling Early Termination of a Commercial Lease: Penalties and Processes
Walking away from a commercial lease involves much more than just handing back the keys. In Queensland, these contracts are binding legal obligations, and breaking the lease early can trigger financial penalties if you don’t have a clear exit strategy in place.
Business Planning: Wills for Business Owners
We often see a great business plan accompanied by an unsound estate plan. Many entrepreneurs assume their standard personal Will covers their commercial interests, but the reality is that estate planning for businesses requires a much more meticulous approach.
Understanding Commercial Leases for Landlords in QLD
A QLD commercial lease is a completely different prospect compared to residential property. The stakes are higher, the documents are more comprehensive, and a set-and-forget mentality can lead to expensive disputes if you aren’t careful.
Signing the Guarantee: What Every Director Needs to Know About Personal Liability
Whether you’re securing a lease for a new shop or opening a credit account with a major supplier, you’ll likely be asked to sign a Director’s Guarantee. But before you pick up the pen, you need to understand exactly what you are putting on the line.
Recent Awards
