It’s a fact of life that some of us will end up dying without a Will. Some of us may simply never get around to making one. Or some others may make a Will, but unbeknownst to them it may become revoked by law (such as if that person gets married). When a person dies…
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From 1 February 2020, the penalties for using your mobile phone while driving in Queensland will increase significantly. The fines for any kind of illegal mobile phone use will increase from a $400 fine to a $1,000 fine. The number of demerit points incurred will also increase from 3 points to 4 points. If a…
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Much like the family home, valuables and investments, many couples will split their superannuation during the process of separation or divorce. The Family Law Act 1975 provides arrangements for splitting superannuation entitlements after a marriage or de facto relationship breakdown, under what is commonly referred to as “splitting orders”. Just like other assets, superannuation can…
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A do-it-yourself Will – be it one purchased from a newsagency, a template you’ve found online, or one you’ve prepared yourself from scratch – may seem like a cheap and simple way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after you pass away. Our experience though is that they are fraught with danger and…
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As an employer, any employee of yours that completes ten years full time continuous service with you is entitled to an additional form of leave, known as long service leave. A total of 8.6667 weeks leave is available to your employee, and is paid at the employee’s usual rate immediately prior to them taking the…
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The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme has just been announced by the Federal Government’s National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (“NHFIC”). By way of background, most banks and lending institutions require borrowers to have a deposit of at least 20% of the purchase price. If a borrower has saved greater than 5% of the purchase…
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