Expert Advice

If you're thinking of taking the big leap into property ownership in the ACT or surrounding regions, engage a conveyancing lawyer first-up. Seeking conveyancing advice as soon as you start looking for a home will ensure you know exactly where you stand, and what to do, once you finally find the property of your dreams. Only lawyers are allowed to...

A will should represent a person's wishes, in writing, as to how they want to distribute and leave their assets after death. But what happens when the terms of the will are ambiguous or for some reason, seem unacceptable? Maliganis Edwards Johnson (MEJ) partner Craig Edwards says many people don't realise the application of a will can be changed after...

With living costs and interest rates on the rise, the future might be looking a little tough, but it's not too late to kick start a very happy new financial year. RSM Financial Services Australia senior financial adviser Chris Oates says while it may be hard to save money right now, there are some steps to help keep your head...

Buyers and sellers of investment properties have a lot to think about come tax time. Rules around investment properties are complex and always changing, so it is crucial for landlords to seek advice about what they can and cannot claim. And with many first-time investors snapping up properties in Canberra during the COVID-19 pandemic, there's a risk they could be...

Gone are the days of 'death by PowerPoint' – tailor-made training seminars are fun, interactive and engaging at Canberra's Conflict Resolution Service (CRS). Legal Aid ACT staff are still buzzing after recently completing a training course custom-designed by their CEO John Boersig and CRS trainers. Mr Boersig said he was looking for a fresh training model that was interactive and...

Be smart when navigating instant asset write-offs, conscious of where JobSeeker and pandemic payments may have placed you, and aware of changing super guarantees. And if you're hoping to cash in on COVID-related deductions that characterised the past two financial years, tread warily. As the end of FY21/22 approaches, taxpayers should carefully consider their next moves. RSM in Canberra accountant...

After 28 years running his successful IT company, a series of events, including a failed acquisition, left former Dataflex managing director Brian Evans scrambling to save his business from collapse. After enduring almost two years of financial and personal stress, he said seeking the assistance of a professional business restructuring and recovery team helped him negotiate and survive the hard...

A family member or close friend has entrusted you to handle their affairs after their death, which is a huge honour, but do you want the responsibility and stress of being an executor to an estate? If you are appointed an executor, it doesn't mean you have to accept the role. Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers partner Tanya Herbertson says it is...

Being a people person is not a job requirement most would associate with banking. Steven James might not sound like the type of guy to sit behind a desk with a calculator in hand, a stack of home loan documents by his side, and with fingers furiously flicking off emails. But that's some of what he does in his new...

Dealing with a relationship breakdown is tough no matter what the circumstances, whether it comes about through mutual decision or a necessary escape from family violence. Apart from the emotional upheaval, working out how to share financial assets, determine custody arrangements or seeking protection from family violence is unfamiliar territory for most people. And seeking help or advice from a...

Under laws introduced in 2019, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is now issuing warning notices to businesses with tax debts above $100,000 that are now 90 days or more overdue. Business owners have 28 days to engage with the ATO to discuss a payment arrangement or face having the debt disclosed to credit agencies. While it may seem like a...

The past decade has seen a huge boom in a new form of currency, different from the physical notes and coins humans have used for centuries. It's cryptocurrency, the currency of 1's and 0's. But with its digital, non-physical form comes the danger it can be lost forever. Someone will need to have access to it when it comes time...

A shocking story about a relationship between a Victorian magistrate and his junior court clerk has highlighted the need for people to seriously look at their superannuation death benefits and their overall estate planning regardless of their age. Magistrate Rodney Higgins and Ashleigh Petrie, 45 years his junior, began a relationship in 2019. The multi-decade age gap sparked frenzied media...