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Since 1882 Robertson Hyetts 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:
Update to the HomeBuilder scheme
With the enforcement of Level 4 lockdown restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and Level 3 lockdown restrictions in regional Victoria the Government has recently announced a three month extension to the time to commence construction...
John Wellington talks tree changes with Denis Walter on 3AW
Last night our own John Wellington was invited to take part in ‘Nights with Denis Walter’ on 3AW to discuss his (and our conveyancer Leanne Laracy’s) tree changes from Melbourne to Castlemaine. You can listen to the...
Award-winning La Trobe law student keeps tracking through pandemic challenges
The Robertson Hyetts prize is awarded to a Latrobe University Bendigo student who performs with excellence in rural and regional law and legal practice. Our partners see the value in supporting people in regional areas in their study...
COVID 19 Update
Robertson Hyetts Lawyers & Conveyancers remains open for business and we are committed to providing advice and support to new and existing clients throughout this challenging time. We are continuing to work on all new and existing...
Enduring Powers of Attorney and Appointment of Medical Treatment Decision Makers Q & A
As part of a comprehensive estate plan, it is important to remember two key documents:- Enduring Power of Attorney and Appointment of Medical Treatment Decision Maker. What is an Enduring Power of Attorney? This document allows you to...
Victoria’s new Wage Theft Bill and what it means for employers
On 16 June 2020, the Victorian Wage Theft Bill 2020 was passed by the Victorian Parliament and will be known as the Wage Theft Act 2020 (Vic) (“Act”) when it is introduced next year. The new wage theft laws will establish...
Minimum Wage Increase
On 19 June 2020, the Fair Work Commission increased the national minimum wage by 1.75% (equivalent to $13.00 per week). This follows an increase of 3% last year. The new minimum wage will be $753.80 a week or $19.84 per hour and comes...
New Workplace Manslaughter laws come into effect on 1 July
Whether you are running a farm or a coffee shop, keeping your workplace safe for your workers, customers or visitors must be your number one priority. With Workplace Manslaughter laws coming into effect in Victoria on 1 July 2020 this...
What you need to know about the HomeBuilder scheme
With the Government’s HomeBuilder package announced on 4 June 2020, home owners or those looking to build could receive $25,000 for the purpose of renovating an existing house or building a new one. So what is the eligibility...
What is Adverse Possession?
In Victoria it is possible to acquire title to land by way of an adverse possession claim. To successfully make an adverse possession claim you will need to be able to prove that you (including any previous owners) have had...
Estate Disputes
If you feel like you have been left out of a Will, or haven’t been left a fair share, you may be eligible to make a claim for an additional share out of the estate. This is generally referred to as a “Part IV” or...
Property Law Update: Electronic Signing of Leases and Mortgages During COVID-19
Social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have posed challenges for individuals and businesses needing to execute important legal documents. The legal formalities required for the execution of a document often require the...
When should I include a trust in my Will?
Trusts can be adapted to a variety of situations when preparing Wills, says Trent McGregor, Associate and estate planning specialist with Robertson Hyetts Solicitors and Conveyancers. Described very simply, a trust is a way of giving...
Q&A with Trent McGregor, Wills & Estates Lawyer
Are you still open for business? Yes, and we’re seeing a surge in enquiries via our website and by telephone about Wills and Powers of Attorney. I think a lot of people are taking the opportunity to work through their ‘boring...
Conveyancing made easy
At Robertson Hyetts, we’re all about making your property, leasing and land development transactions as easy as possible. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated health recommendations our adoption of...
New COVID-19 Commercial Leases and Licences Regulations
As you may be aware, the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) (Commercial Leases and Licences) Regulations 2020 were passed on 1 May 2020 which provide a framework for commercial landlords and tenants if rent relief is required....
Talking COVID 19 – Navigating Employment Law Challenges
On 5 May I had the opportunity to present a webinar for the City of Greater Bendigo and BE.Bendigo, talking about employment law challenges during COVID-19. I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on how businesses can work within the employment...
Guide to estate administration and acting as an executor or estate administrator
Dealing with the estate administration process can be a difficult time, especially after the recent loss of a loved one. Robertson Hyetts can guide you through the process and procedures if you have been nominated to administer the...
Can I buy, sell, lease or otherwise deal with property during this time?
We’re still within the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but you can still buy, sell, lease or otherwise deal with property during this time. The government has pressed the pause button on group physical inspections and auctions but...
JobKeeper Payments – a welcome relief for businesses
The Federal Government yesterday passed the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020 to enable the JobKeeper wage subsidy to be paid to eligible businesses. It also made amendments to the Fair Work Act...
Property Law Q&A with Anna Doughan
Anna Doughan, Property and Commercial Lawyer at Robertson Hyetts, answers some important questions asked before buying or selling property. What new disclosure obligations do Vendors have when selling a property? The Sale of Land...
The Impact of COVID-19 on Retail Leases and Employment Law
The Impact of COVID-19 on Retail Leases and Employment Law – A Guide for Tenants, Landlords and Employers As the Government and banks have now announced a number of relief measures available to small businesses affected by the...
Have you thought about your Farm Succession Plan yet?
Farm Succession planning ensures wealth is passed to the next generation – during life or after death. There are three key reasons why farming businesses need to consider estate planning. Firstly, farms are often made up of assets like...
Contesting a Will
Kayla Kristensen, Dispute Resolution Lawyer at Robertson Hyetts, answers the most common questions asked before contesting a Will. Q. Who can challenge the distribution of an estate under a Will? A. A claim for a share, or a...
Understanding Unfair Dismissals
Unfair dismissal is when an employee is dismissed from their job in way that is deemed to be harsh, unjust or unreasonable. In order to be protected from unfair dismissal and eligible to make a claim to the Fair Work Commission, an...
Discretionary Trusts to be automatically deemed foreign trusts
The State Revenue Office of Victoria (SRO) has recently announced that from 1 March 2020 it will no longer apply its current ‘practical approach’ to determine if a family or discretionary trust is a foreign trust. This new...
