Category: ABKJ Newsletters

It is common for any industry, including the legal industry, to be the subject of myths believed by the general population. This is not helped by the fact that the laws and regulations which govern our society are many and not always easy to understand, and that popular culture tends to provide more entertaining representations of actual roles. For example, popular legal dramas such as Suits, Boston Legal, The Good Wife, Rake, Law & Order and so on have provided audiences with memorable moments of witty legal humour and unforgettable characters and catch-phrases. As a result, audiences can have unrealistic… Continue Reading

The convenience and flexibility of split-payment arrangements are very enticing for many Australian shoppers. “Buy now, pay later” services such as Afterpay, ZipMoney and Ourpay offer retail consumers the ability to take home items instantly and pay them off in four fortnightly, interest-free instalments. Over the past three years since its launch, the popularity of Afterpay has continuously grown exponentially. More than 10,000 retailers offer Afterpay in-store and/or online, and over 2.3 million Australians have used the platform during a transaction. Recently, Afterpay has expanded from solely servicing the retail market, with airlines such as Jetstar now allowing customers to… Continue Reading

Phones the country over can be heard buzzing as emails filter through at an almost constant rate. Websites are reaching out to remind people to ‘stay in touch’ or ‘let them know that you want to hear more’. The reason for this sudden burst of contact from online service providers and websites is not merely a meaningless reminder of their existence, but actually a result of new and strict privacy laws implemented recently in Europe. These laws have been introduced under the EU General Protection Data Regulation (GDPR). What is the GDPR? The General Protection Data Regulation (or GDPR) is a… Continue Reading

Welcome to the March 2016 ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… Do you disagree with your property valuation? Reasonableness Of Body Corporate Decisions “The Long Road” Charity Event – 20 March 2016 ABKJ On Social Media Do you disagree with your property valuation? On 2 March 2016 the Valuer-General commenced issuing statutory land valuation notices for all land in Queensland. The effective date of the valuations will be 30 June 2016 and they will be the basis for determining your rates and any land tax. If you do not agree with the valuation, it is vital that you lodge an objection… Continue Reading

Welcome to the October 2015 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… Upcoming Deadline Under Pool Safety Laws Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge ABKJ On Social Media Upcoming Deadline Under Pool Safety Laws Since pool safety standards were introduced in Queensland in 2009: Owners of properties with newly constructed pools; Owners of properties with shared pools; and Owners seeking to sell or lease a property with a pool, were all required to hold a pool safety certificate confirming their pool complies with the new pool safety standards. An exemption did apply however, in that owners selling their properties… Continue Reading

Welcome to the July 2015 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… The Hunt For Illegal Downloading In Australia Recovery of Unpaid Body Corporate Levies Tour De Push Up The Hunt For Illegal Downloading In Australia Recently the Federal Court of Australia made orders to the effect that Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) must disclose to two American companies the names and residential addresses of the Australian account holders whose IP addresses had been identified as having shared the film, ‘Dallas Buyers Club’. An ‘IP address’ is a unique identifier assigned to a device (i.e. computer, iPad, etc) participating in… Continue Reading

Welcome to the April 2015 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… When Spouses Say “You’ll Get Nothing” Recovery of Unpaid Body Corporate Levies Supporters of “The Long Road” Charity Event When Spouses Say “You’ll Get Nothing” We are approached by clients on a regular basis who are undergoing relationship breakdowns and whose spouse or partner has said to them “I have spoken to a lawyer and they said that you will get nothing” This is rarely correct. Even if all the property is owned by your partner, you may be entitled to something. The amount of your entitlement… Continue Reading

Welcome to the September 2014 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… Nine Tips When Buying a Property Reducing The Risk Of Estate Litigation Nine Tips When Buying a Property Purchasing a home or an investment property can be both an exhilarating and stressful experience. Here are some tips to consider before you sign on the dotted line: Talk to your banker or accountant before you sign a contract to ensure the purchasing entity is correctly described. In particular, if you are obtaining finance, the name you place on your finance application must match the contract. Purchasers often omit… Continue Reading

Welcome to the July 2014 edition of the ABKJ newsletter. In this issue… “Do-It-Yourself” Will Kits Staff Announcements “Do-It-Yourself” Will Kits Members of the public are often presented with “Do-It-Yourself” Will kits from a variety of sources which are provided at little or no cost. The preparation of what is presumed to be a straightforward document for minimal expense, in comparison to the fee which would need to be paid to a lawyer to meet with you and prepare a traditional form of Will, can turn out to be a costly decision for your estate. The uncertainty of meaning, and… Continue Reading