Archive for December 2017
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LAWS WILL AFFECT FAMILY LAW, WILLS AND MORE
Same-sex marriage is now legal in Australia. This will mean that marriages between same-sex couples will have the same legal recognition as any other marriage and there may be significant consequences for a range of legal areas, including family law, wills and deceased estates. Here’s a summary of how the new laws will operate and…
Read MoreDECEASED ESTATES: CAN SHORT-TERM DOMESTIC PARTNERS MAKE A CLAIM?
Although domestic partnerships are increasingly common these days, the legal issues that may flow from them can be complicated. For example, if you have lived with your partner for only a short time before they die, can you make a claim against their estate if you haven’t been included in their will? This was an…
Read MorePOLICE CAUTIONS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
Have you ever heard of a person being let off with just a caution after allegedly breaking the law? Cautions have been around for a long time, but in South Australia they were previously only used when dealing with youth offenders or, on a very limited basis, adults. But since December 2016, South Australia has…
Read MoreWORKER’S COMPENSATION: IF I’VE BEEN INJURED UNDER THE PREVIOUS LAWS, CAN I CLAIM?
After a woman injured her arm at work, she made a worker’s compensation claim for weekly payments. Her claim was complicated because her injury spanned the period in which the old worker’s compensation laws were replaced by the new laws. This case shows how important it is to get legal advice when making a worker’s…
Read MoreCONVEYANCING: INSURE AGAINST UNKNOWN RISKS OF BUYING PROPERTY
Buying a home is a big investment which means that it can also be a big risk. It’s smart to try to reduce that risk by getting building inspections before committing to buy a house, but even then, there are some defects or faults in the property that may not be obvious. That’s why it’s…
Read MoreFAMILY LAW: WHAT IF MY EX REFUSES TO HAND OVER MY BELONGINGS?
“If she wants it, tell her to take me to court.” These were costly words from a husband who refused to hand over a chandelier to his wife as part of a family law property settlement. There are plenty of parties who may find themselves unwilling to hand over property to their ex-partner, but what…
Read MoreTAFE SA’s WOES MAY LEAD TO LEGAL ACTION BY STUDENTS
It was a bombshell that rocked TAFE SA, one of the most revered institutions in the South Australian education sector. Just recently, an audit report was released with findings that 16 TAFE SA courses were falling short of appropriate standards. In the aftermath, the head of TAFE SA has been sacked and hundreds of students…
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