CWS Newsletter – April -June 2009

Changes to the de facto relationships act
Family agreements – money for love
The effect of an inheritance on a centrelink benefit
Staff

CWS Newsletter – July - September 2007

Gifts to family & friends
Abolition of Mortgage duty
Binding death benefit nomination
President of the Law Society
Some light relief

CWS Newsletter – April - May 2007

Living with a reverse mortgage
New Partners
Special Disability trusts
Some light relief

CWS Newsletter – January - March 2007

Beware of Trustees' Commission
Family law issues
Staff changes
Welcome Casey Abel
Some light relief

CWS Newsletter – July-August 2006

Protecting your Assets
New Tasmanian Laws on Building and Plumbing
Family Law shakeup
Some light relief

CWS Newsletter – April-June 2006

Family Court to Decide Bankruptcy Cases
Third Party Property Orders
Future Parenting Changes
New Parenting Cases Procedure
Some Light Relief
Privacy Policy
History

CWS Newsletter – July 2005

Abolition of non-real-property business conveyances
Mortgage Duty Changes
Miscellaneous Amendments
Abolition of Debits Duty
Land Tax Relief announced in State Budget
Some Light Relief
First Home Buyer’s Duty Concession Scheme to continue and to be extended to vacant land
Do I need to Appoint a Guardian – by James Walker

CWS Newsletter – March 2005

Purchasing or Selling Real Estate or a Business?
Family Law
Clerk Walker would like to welcome Paul Mason
Beware Of Executor’s Commission !
New Arrivals

CWS Newsletter – June 2004

Purchasing a Property?
Civil Disbursement Fund
First Home Buyer Duty Concession
Clerk Walker Website
Free 15 Minute Legal Advice
A little light relief

CWS Newsletter – January 2004

Change of name
James (Jamie) Hurburgh
Australian Young Lawyer of the Year 2003
Farewell to Brit Bullard
Point to Pinnacle
Power of Guardian
See us before you sign...
Free 15 minute legal advice

CWS Newsletter – April 2002

Changes To Workers Rehabilitation
and Compensation Legislation - July 2001
Assessment of Lease Instruments - How to Estimate Costs
New Private Sector Provisions in the Privacy Act 1988
Superannuation and Family Law Act Changes
Pensions and Trusts - Jan 2002

CWS Newsletter – August 2001

Changes To Stamp Duties Legislation
Changes To Criminal Injuries Compensation
Goods & Services Tax
New Powers Of Attorney Act
Taxation
Borrowing And Investing

CWS Newsletter – October 2001

Changes To Stamp Duties Legislation - July 2001
Changes to Criminal Injuries Compensation
Goods & Services Tax
New Powers of Attorney Act
Taxation Services 
Borrowing and Investing

Change of name 

We have changed our name from Clerk Walker & Stops to Clerk Walker and now have a new logo. We hope you like the change.

James (Jamie) Hurburgh

As many of you may already know, our senior partner, Jamie, passed away on 8th October 2003. Jamie had been a partner of the firm for 34 years and will be sadly missed by all his clients and our staff. We encourage all of you who were clients of Jamie’s to call James Walker or Alison Wiss.

Australian Young Lawyer of the Year 2003

Ms Edwina Gelston of this office was recently awarded the honour of being the National Young Lawyer of the Year. Edwina was presented with her award by the President of the Law Council of Australia at a gala dinner in Melbourne on the 21st November 2003. The award is in recognition of Edwina’s continuous and outstanding contribution to the Legal Profession and the community.

Some of Edwina’s current responsibilities include:

• A Commissioner of the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania (appointed by the Attorney General of Tasmania).
• Secretary of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Tasmania and various sub-committees attached to the Association.
• Secretary of the Hobart Community Legal Service Committee. Edwina also provides volunteer pro-bono advice to clients of the service and to their staff members.
• A member of the Committee who monitors the progress of the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997.
• A member of the Childrens’ Advisory Group at the Childrens’ Contact Service.
• A member of the Pathways Advisory Group which looks at various alternatives to litigation.

We congratulate Edwina on her outstanding achievement and ask that you contact her should you wish to obtain any advice in relation to Family Law, Childrens or Criminal matters.

Farewell to Brit Bullard

In a previous edition of our Newsletter, you may remember that we welcomed Brit Bullard to our firm. In July 2003 Brit left Tasmania with her husband to travel overseas. Both Brit and her husband (who is also a solicitor) are currently working at a prestigious law firm in London. We wish Brit all the very best in her future.

Point to Pinnacle

Approximately 10 staff from our office recently participated in the Point to Pinnacle from Wrest Point Casino to Mount Wellington raising $6,500.00 towards Cancer Research.

Power of Guardian

A power of attorney authorises someone to act on your behalf in financial matters such as the purchase or sale of real estate; purchase and sale of shares; operating bank accounts; managing investments; dealing with Centrelink; etc. A guardian appointed under an enduring power of guardian is authorised to make what are termed lifestyle decisions. In effect, the person making the appointment is placed in a position similar to that which exists for a child under the age of 18 years in that the guardian can make decisions such as giving consent to any medical procedures or operations which may be required; providing authority for ongoing medical treatment or care; etc. Any major decisions such as withdrawing medical treatment aimed at prolonging or sustaining life can only be given with the express consent of two independent doctors. This is a requirement of the Guardianship & Administration Board.

See us before you sign...

When buying or selling property, we strongly advise you to make an appointment to see one of our solicitors before you sign a Contract, or indeed any other form of Agreement.

In relation to buying property, we generally add additional clauses to Contracts in order to protect our clients as much as possible from problems which may arise in respect of building, plumbing, planning or environmental issues.

For example, the property you may be purchasing may not comply with all necessary Council requirements. For instance, there may be no downpipes connected to the guttering and the garage may have been constructed without an appropriate permit. Unless there is a specific clause in your Contract in relation to those issues, and if they do not prevent you from using that property for the purpose of a residential dwelling, it is unlikely that you would be able to terminate the Contract or require the Vendor to rectify those matters at their own expense.

Please contact Alison Wiss or Cameron Lee if you wish to discuss that matter further.

Free 15 minute legal advice

We have a policy of offering both existing and prospective clients a free 15 minute interview to discuss any potential legal matter. If you are not sure whether you have a case or a matter with which we may be able to assist.

Take advantage of this no obligation offer. If you would like to make an appointment to see one of our solicitors, please contact our receptionist for details of the solicitor practising in that area.

Disclaimer : The information contained in this bulletin is intended to be only general background information and we recommend that any specific question that you may have in relation to any matter be discussed with one of the partners or our staff.