Articles
Superannuation Death Benefits and Deceased Estates
Many people are not aware that a person's superannuation is not an asset of that person's estate when he or she dies. Upon the death of the superannuation fund member, the fund will pay a death benefit, which can be a considerable amount of money, to either a person...
Can You Get a Contract Changed Before an Auction?
There are two ways for a property to be sold; either by private treaty or by public auction. In the case of private treaty, a property is advertised by an agent with a set price or price range. Buyers can negotiate the price and, once an offer is accepted by the...
The Need for Landlords to Register and Return Leases
When it comes to retail or commercial Leases, it is not unusual for a landlord to take forever to register a Lease and return the signed (executed) original to the tenant. What are the landlord's obligations, what can be done about the delay and why is it important?...
Solicitors and Conflict of Interest
Tricky situations can arise when a solicitor is asked to act for more than one party to a transaction. It is a breach of a solicitor's fiduciary duty to act where the solicitor is in a position of conflict between the duty owed to one client and the duty owed to...
Voting Power and Eligibility at Strata Meetings
If you own a strata property like a home unit then you are entitled to vote at strata meetings, such as the annual general meeting, where all the owners make decisions about the strata scheme including setting levies and upcoming repairs and maintenance. However,...