Recent News
Principles of Stamp Duty
Aggregation Stamp duty aggregation provisions are anti-avoidance measures designed to stop the splitting of dutiable transactions in separate parts to take advantage of the sliding scale on which duty is assessed. The practical effect of aggregation is that uses...
Domestic Violence Orders
Domestic violence is a growing problem in Australia. In order to help the victims of domestic violence a number of remedies now exist. One of these is the Domestic Violence Order. A domestic violence order is a civil order put in place by the court designed to protect...
Bankruptcy: Is your super safe?
Have you ever wondered what would happen to your superannuation if you were to go bankrupt? In the current economic climate, it is difficult not to worry! So, is your hard earned superannuation fund protected from creditors? Under typical circumstances the answer is...
Estate Planning for Business Owners
Have you thought about how your business partnership or company might affect your estate planning? For example, how will you fund the pay out of your business partner’s family if your business partner dies or becomes incapacitated? Many people who are involved in a...
ONLINE CRIME AND IDENTITY THEFT ON THE RISE
In 2007 Queensland made it a criminal offence to steal or forge the personal identification information of another person for the purpose of committing a crime. There is a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment and 5 years imprisonment if the information is provided...
Tax Deductions: What can you claim?
Deductions provide taxpayers with an opportunity to reduce their taxable income, therefore reducing the quantity of tax payable. They can however be tricky to work out and, as a result most people are very cautious about dealing with them or avoid them entirely! For...
Do you need a testamentary trust?
Trusts have long been recognised as having tax and asset protection advantages, particularly for people involved in business. Over time legislation and case law have whittled away many of the advantages. Regardless of this, trusts can still be an effective means of...
Looking past your settlement
Abraham Lincoln once said the best way to predict the future is to create it; a statement that resounds deeply when thinking about divorce and separation settlements. There can sometimes be a race to finalise a property settlement and move on with life but how often...
What is a Mutual Will?
As the incidence of blended families becomes increasingly common, the importance of making consideration for this in estate planning grows too. Blended families are expressed as one or both spouses/domestic partners ("spouses") with children from pre-existing...
Getting a Work License After Drug or Drink Driving
The Australian Transport Council reports that 30% of fatal crashes in Queensland are related to alcohol and drug driving and one in five drivers and bike riders killed in road accidents in Australia are over the blood alcohol limit. A road user that has been found to...
What is a First Home Concession and am I eligible?
First home buyers in Queensland are often confused and nervous when it comes to Stamp Duty obligations. Purchasing a property for the first time involves consideration of a large amount of factors which can sometimes be overwhelming to a first time purchaser. The...
Stamp Duty – Am I eligible for a Home Concession?
To reduce the costs of purchasing property in Queensland, the Office of State Revenue allows various concessions on Stamp Duty for different purchasers depending on their situation and the intended use of the property. One of these concessions is the “Home...
Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Readers should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this newsletter without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice. The content of this newsletter contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments, verdicts, or settlements. We expressly disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this newsletter.