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Since 1882 Robertson Hyetts Solicitors has been recognised as one of regional Victoria’s most respected firms. Our solicitors and specialists prepare articles to offer insights into how changes in the law may affect you.
Our articles detail legal matters as they relate to our business and private clients on a variety of subjects:
5 top tips for updating your Will before you travel
Not long now until holiday season is in full swing. If you’re travelling you’ve most likely arranged your passport, flights, travel insurance…..but have you made or updated your Will? Not to put a dampener on the excitement that comes...
Restorative Practice in the Workplace
Robertson Hyetts is a proud supporter of the Bendigo Regional HR Network. At their latest event, Angela Ballard discussed Organisational and Restorative Justice and what will work best in your workplace. While most organisations have...
Special Counsel John Wellington joins Robertson Hyetts in the Castlemaine community
Robertson Hyetts Solicitors welcomes a new solicitor and leader to its Castlemaine Office. John Wellington, Special Counsel Business and Property, is an experienced lawyer living in Castlemaine. He will be assisting clients with their...
Mount Alexander Seniors Festival
Trent McGregor & Vesna Pocuca, Associates at Robertson Hyetts Solicitors, will be at the Mount Alexander Seniors Festival on Saturday the 5th & Sunday the 6th of October. Come and talk to Trent & Vesna to discuss all things...
What is a Section 32 Statement?
A Section 32 Statement, or Vendor Statement, is a legal document originating from Section 32 of the Sale of Land Act, which requires vendors to disclose certain information to prospective purchasers before a contract of sale is signed....
Robertson Hyetts Solicitors Prize – La Trobe University
The Robertson Hyetts Solicitors Prize is awarded to a La Trobe University student in the Bendigo Law Program in the final year of their degree who has demonstrated academic excellence and an exemplary commitment to rural and/or...
Employment Law Fundamentals
Robertson Hyetts is a proud supporter of the Bendigo Regional HR Network. At their latest event, Katherine Hietbrink, Employment Lawyer and HR Manager at Robertson Hyetts Solicitors, discussed some of the key pieces of legislation and...
Minimum Wage Set to Rise
Today the Fair Work Commission handed down its decision to increase the national minimum wage by 3%. This follows an increase of 3.5% last year. When the Fair Work Commission decides to increase the minimum wage from 1 July each year,...
Parental use of corporal punishment
There is no legislation concerning corporal punishment by parents in Victoria, however, there is a common law defence for parental use of corporal punishment. Victorian common law allows parents to administer corporal punishment to...
Wills and Young Families
It’s never too early to think about having a Will in place, advises Trent McGregor, of Robertson Hyetts Solicitors. “Anyone above the age of 18 should consider having a Will” he advises. “From this age onwards, we can start building...
Setting the law straight on easements
What is an easement? An easement is a set of rights to use a section of land in a particular way. It gives someone else the right to use the land for a specific purpose even though they are not the landowner. Easements over land may be...
Dying without a will
Lawyers are often asked: ‘What happens if I die without a will?’. The answer is not always straightforward, as Vesna Pocuca, Wills and Estates Lawyer explains. When a person dies without a will that means that the person did not make...
Wills for Artists
The commercial consequences of making a living as a professional artist in any creative field extend beyond our life As an artist, why do I need a Will? A Will enables you to:- direct your property to your intended beneficiaries...
News Flash – Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties
Alleged and convicted perpetrators of domestic and family violence are now prohibited from directly cross-examining their victims in family law proceedings. The Family Violence and Cross-Examination of Parties Scheme requires that...
Substitution of Debt in Family Law Property Proceedings
The High Court has confirmed in the recent case of Commissioner of Taxation v Tomaras [2018] HCA 62, that debts owed to the ATO can now be assigned to another party in family law property proceedings pursuant to s90AE Family Law Act...
TIME TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION – WILLS AND ESTATE PLANNING FOR FARMERS (PART 3)
Estate Planning for farms – avoiding disputes In my final article I will be looking at four common causes of disputes and suggesting some solutions. Cause of disputes #1 – Undocumented and unfulfilled promises “All this will be yours...
TIME TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION – WILLS AND ESTATE PLANNING FOR FARMERS (PART 2)
Wills and Estate Planning for Farmers “What’s in the toolkit?” Getting started In our previous article, we wrote about what can go wrong without careful planning. In this article, we discuss some strategies to avoid common problems,...
Time to have the conversation – Wills and Estate Planning for Farmers (Part 1)
A lot of hard work goes into successfully running a farm. Typically, farms are a complex combination of valuable assets including land, equipment, commercial relationships and highly specialised knowledge, accumulated carefully and...
New Leave Entitlements for Domestic and Family Violence
A Fair Work Commission ruling made on 6 July 2018 has resulted in a model term being inserted in all modern awards effective 1 August 2018. Eligible employees now have the right to access unpaid domestic and family violence leave. As a...
Family Law & Property
Many people contemplate separation from their partner, wife or husband, at one time or another. However, before you decide to broach the subject with the other party and before you leave, you should obtain legal advice. A family lawyer...
Separated families, Christmas and contact with the children
Instead of Christmas being a happy time for families, the Christmas period can be a time of conflict for separated parents and their children. Christmas is a time of heightened emotions for many people and this may result in people...
Special Disability Trusts
Special Disability Trusts assist immediate family members to plan for the future care and accommodation of a vulnerable family member, particularly someone in receipt of a Disability Support Pension. They have two very unique...
Making a Will – Assets in and out of the Estate
It is not uncommon to see a Will where a Will maker gifts assets that actually cannot be dealt with through the Will. When making a Will it is important to understand that there are assets that you can give away in a Will, and those...
Understanding Binding Financial Agreements
What is a Binding Financial Agreement? A Binding Financial Agreement is an agreement about property, superannuation and/or maintenance, made in contemplation of separation. A Binding Financial Agreement can be made at various times...
Discussing the big issues
When starting a relationship with someone with children, careful planning can assist in avoiding serious future issues. “Couples who have re-partnered later in life are generally honest and pragmatic,” Robertson Hyetts’ estate planning...
Special Conditions in a Contract of Sale
What are the three most common special conditions that purchasers include in a contract of sale? We ask Anna Doughan, property expert from Robertson Hyetts Solicitors. Subject to finance? If you need a loan to purchase property you may...
