Umbrella

About Umbrella

This author Umbrella has created 11 entries.

What is the difference between a Will, Power of Attorney and an Enduring Guardian, and do I need them?

Our firm receives a large number of enquiries from clients regarding why they would need a Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian if they have a Will. The three documents cover very different items, as I will outline below: Firstly, a Will is a legal document, which outlines the directives, given by yourself, in regards to who you wish to inherit your estate, be appointed as executor, who will hold the Estate on trust, who will be in receipt of any

Navigating Post-Separation Property Settlement When You’ve Received an Inheritance

Following a separation, dividing your assets can sometimes be a very stressful experience, especially in circumstances where there are additional assets, such as an inheritance, involved. An inheritance usually comes in the form of money, property, and personal belongings such as jewellery and appliances following the death of a family member or loved one. We have a number of enquiries regarding whether you can “hide” the fact of an inheritance from a former husband/wife/spouse/defacto in the context of family law property

Workplace Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment – Workers Compensation

All employers have a legal obligation to prevent workplace discrimination, bullying and harassment. It can often be challenging to determine what exactly is considered discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace. People often undermine incidents that occur due to a lack of understanding; and in many circumstances workplace culture can silence victims and diminish our experiences.   The responsibility of employers to ensure all employees are treated fairly is outlined in federal and state anti-discrimination legislation. The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)

Update For Parenting & Criminal Law Matters

 Note the following may be subject to change Family Court and Federal Circuit Court: Orders regarding parenting: Facilitating spend time orders of these courts is still considered  “essential”. You should keep a copy of your court order with you when attending changeover. If you are uncertain, contact Covid Hotline These courts are operating remotely via Microsoft Teams and via telephone. If you have an upcoming court attendance with these courts you will receive the link within 24 hours of your

Roadside Drug Tests, deterrent or detriment?

In the past five years New South Wales Police have tripled the number of road side drug tests they conduct in the hopes to protect the community from drug-driving related deaths. Police have announced that from 2021 onwards, they hope to administer at least 20,000 tests per year. However, recent studies, including one from the University of Sydney, have shown that the current road side drug testing model is significantly ineffective when it comes to accurately determining whether someone is

Eating, Drinking & Driving and the actual illegality behind it.

It is something we all do, whether it be grabbing an early morning coffee, getting a sneaky burger on the way home from work because you can’t wait for dinner, eating a protein bar on the way to the gym or simply having sip of water at the traffic lights on a hot day. But all of these occasions could place you in a position of losing those important demerit points or having to pay a hefty fine. In NSW

COVID-19: Can the government make me wear a mask?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia in March 2020, there has been much speculation about whether the government can make people wear a mask or isolate at home if they are unwell. All states and territories are afforded certain additional powers during a public health emergency, which includes a global pandemic. These powers include the ability to issue Public Health Orders that affect both individuals and the State. Most states have their own version of laws, for example

What’s Lurking Within the Legal Fine Print

If you’ve ever ticked the “I accept terms and conditions” box without reading, this one is for you! Let’s be honest. We are all guilty of it. You’re going through some relatively trivial online form or gym sign-up or fun-run enrollment. You’ve only got a few minutes to spare before you have to pick up the kids, get back to work etc. So when you see that little box “I accept terms and conditions” you tick it, right? But how many

But What About the Dog?

Admit it, you’ve been wondering- “Can I get visitation rights post-separation to see my dog?” Read on to find out… It is reported that over 50% of people view their pets as children. Some of these people have had children that have subsequently “left the nest”, others are simply choosing to have cats and dogs instead of “real babies”. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. There is however a rise of enquiries out there about “custody of the dog” and “can

Derogatory And Defamatory Material On Social Media And How To Deal With It

Many of you will be familiar with this scenario. You’ve come across someone in your life who is just not that into you, whether it be business or personal. Friends of friends are screen shotting defamatory and/or derogatory material from this person’s account making you well aware of their agenda to bring you down. So what can you do about it? Depending on the scenario, there may be a number of options: 1. In family law matters where there are current