Newsletter – April 2015
Welcome to the April 2015 edition of the ABKJ newsletter.
In this issue…
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 will depend on the contributions (financial and non-financial) you have both made during the marriage/relationship, and other factors such as your income and earning capacity, your age and health, and the length of the marriage/relationship.
Set out below is a general guide to the way the division of property works in family law matters pursuant to the federal legislation, known as the Family Law Act 1975.
Recovery of Unpaid Body Corporate Levies
The recovery of unpaid body corporate levies is an issue close to the heart of most body corporate committees and managers. Experienced delinquent owners can in some cases drag out the process for many years and even avoid payment entirely.
This article (the first in a series of three on this topic) will focus on the practical steps a body corporate needs to take when issuing its levy statements to maximise the chances that its levies can be recovered quickly and efficiently.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for proper legal advice and, if you have any questions, we encourage you to contact us to discuss the matters raised in the article.
TIP 1. Make sure the levies are properly authorised by the general meeting
This may seem like a statement of the obvious, but we have seen situations where a clever delinquent owner has identified that a levy statement has not been properly authorised at general meeting and seized on that issue to avoid or delay payment.
The accommodation, standard and commercial modules all set out the process for raising levies, which in essence is as follows:
Supporters of “The Long Road” Charity Event
The Pyjama Foundation is a children’s charity that is breaking the cycle of disadvantage experienced by Australian children in foster care. The Pyjama Foundation recruits, screens, trains and supports Pyjama Angels – volunteer members of the community who work with the children in care and support their foster families. With over 39,000 children in care in Australia, it is a worthwhile cause that has the support of ABKJ Lawyers.
The Long Road walk is a series of 10-12km walks held in 12 different locations across Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne. The Gold Coast event was held on Saturday, 29 March 2015, through the Federation Walk Coastal Reserve, on the Southport Spit
After supporting the Long Road Event in its inaugural year in 2013, and again in 2014, ABKJ Lawyers was again proud to be an event partner of the 2015 Gold Coast event.
If you are interested in supporting or finding out more about the The Pyjama Foundation, please contact our office for more information, or visit The Pyjama Foundation website.
