Recently, businessman Geoffrey Edelsten left his only child just over $50,000 out of an estate worth over $1 million. Edelsten wanted to “limit the benefit” to his son as he was provided with substantial financial disclosure, regardless of there being limited contact between the father and son.

Edelsten’s Will also specifies that he left nothing to two of his ex-wives as he provided for them “substantially” and “excessively” during these marriages.

Surprisingly, Edelsten is said to have left a string of debts regardless of making $100 million after selling his chain of GP clinics. He was a man known for flaunting his lavish lifestyle, and regardless of making a series of disastrous financial decisions which left him bankrupt, he continued to take loans to maintain this wealthy lifestyle.

His final Will however has revealed the dire financial circumstances he was in prior to his death, finding that $998,614 of his $1 million estate was a private loan, with only just over $60,000 in his bank accounts. Creditors are now attempting to challenge Edelsten’s will in order to recoup millions of dollars in debt.

Ultimately, Edelsten's case shows how enforceable Wills can be, and how important it is that you have one in order to ensure your estate is distributed as to your wishes. There are two avenues through which property can be distributed after a person's death:

    1. If there is a Will: The estate will be distributed pursuant to the provisions of the Will, if the Will was validly executed; or
    2. If there is no Will: The estate will be distributed pursuant to intestacy laws.  Intestacy applies when a person has died without leaving a Will, or they otherwise fail to dispose of all of their property.  Chapter 4 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) outlines the order of priority with regard to this distribution.

If you or someone you know wish to retain our services in assisting you to make your Wills, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

Following Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' announcement for their surrogate baby, discussion surrounding surrogacy has been sparked.

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is the process where a woman agrees to carry a baby for another person who, by legal agreement, will become the baby’s parents after birth. There are two forms of surrogacy arrangements that are relevant to Australian law:

  1. Altruistic surrogacy arrangements are arrangements where the surrogate mother does not receive any financial reward or profit from the. However, the mother will be reimbursed for any expenses incurred due to the surrogacy (for example medical, legal, and general costs).
  2. Commercial surrogacy arrangements are arrangements where the surrogate mother receives financial reward that covers more than the associated expenses and makes a profit from the surrogacy.

Surrogacy in Australia

In Australia, altruistic surrogacy is currently legal across all states and territories. However, commercial surrogacy is banned in NSW, QLD, TAS, and the ACT. There are no uniform laws that cover surrogacy, but instead, each state has its own regulation. Therefore, it is critical to check your state’s surrogacy regulations if you require further information.

Generally, the intended parents of a surrogacy are eligible to enter a surrogacy arrangement if they are unable to conceive or carry a baby themselves. Age and other requirements are specific to each state.

Furthermore, a surrogacy arrangement is not enforceable. This means that if the surrogate refuses to hand over the baby or the intended parents do not accept the baby, neither party can be forced to do so under the agreement.

When the baby is born, the surrogate mother and her partner are recognised as the birth parents of the baby on the Birth Certificate. In order to transfer parentage, the intended parents must apply for a Parentage Order to the Court in the state they live in to confirm they satisfy the relevant requirements. The specifics in the process to transfer parentage from the surrogate to the intended parents differs in each state, and thus, you must check your state’s regulations and requirements for more information.

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

Shocking revelations surrounding the tragic death of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten have arised in the media over the past week.

Charlise was reported missing on Friday 14 January 2022, while spending her holidays at a Blue Mountains property owned by her mother’s fiancé, Justin Stein. A full-scale search involving the homicide squad, specialist and local police, and other volunteering services commenced immediately. On Tuesday 18 January 2022, police searched a site near the Colo River, and found Charlise’s body inside a barrel. Court documents allege that Charlise was killed between 7PM on Tuesday 11 January and 10AM on Wednesday 12 January. Mr Stein has since been arrested and charged with the murder of Charlise Mutten.

Both Charlise’s mother Kallista Mutten and Mr Stein have complex histories. Her mother was convicted and spent approximately two years in prison after being found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and driving with an illicit drug in her system in 2016. Mr Stein has been under long-term care for serious mental health problems and has been prescribed high doses of antipsychotic drugs for many years.

Child abuse is any form of ill treatment by someone in a position of responsibility, trust or power, that harms a child’s health, survival, development or dignity. It is a conversation that makes many people uncomfortable, but it is a conversation that must be taught in schools and spoken about in public discourse.

There are many platforms available to victims to be able to reach out:

If you or anyone you know might be experiencing family violence, please do not hesitate to reach out and call us on 02 8999 9809.

Novak Djokovic was recently deported from Australia ahead of the Australian Open due to the cancelling of his Visa on account of failing to prove why he was medically exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This recent controversy raises the question of what requirements are necessary to enter Australia.

Fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible Visa holders can now travel to and from Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. To be able to meet the proof of vaccination requirements, an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate must be obtained from the country in which the vaccine was received.

If you are unable to receive the vaccine for medical reasons and have a medical contraindication recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), you can show airline staff your Australian COVID-19 digital certificate, immunisation history, or a medical certificate that verifies that you are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition.

In addition to proof of vaccination, travellers will need to show evidence of a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result taken within 3 days before their flight’s scheduled departure to Australia.

Travellers must also complete an Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) at least 72 hours before they depart. This document requires:

Travellers must be prepared to provide any of the details mentioned above to airlines.

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

 

On 4 April 2021, changes to the Corporations Act 2001 saw to the implementation of the new requirement for company directors to have a director identification number.

What is a director identification number?

A director ID is a unique identifier given to a director who has verified their identity with the Australian Business Registry Services (ARBS) which can be valid forever regardless of changes in position, companies, countries, or other circumstances.

With the introduction of the director’s ID initiative, the government aimed to promote good corporate conduct by preventing fraud and hence facilitating confidence amongst a workplace.

Who needs to apply for a DIN?

Required for eligible officers (directors or alternate directors acting in that capacity) of:

The change will fully take effect on 5 April 2022, ensuring all individuals intending to take a directorial role must apply for their director ID before being formally appointed to this position. Failure to do so is a criminal offence to which the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) will be responsible for enforcing further measures.

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

In an online survey of 15,000 Australian women conducted in May 2020, 4.6% reported physical or sexual violence from a current/former partner in the three months prior to the survey. In the same time period, 5.8% were subject to coercive control from their partners. Yet what stood out from the study was that over two thirds of the women who experienced physical/sexual violence said that the violence had either started or escalated at the same time as the onset of the COVID 19 Pandemic and the subsequent lockdown regulations.

Let’s explore this trend further.

Upon taking a deeper look at this, this correlation is not solely confined to Australia. An article from The Guardian reports a worldwide spike in domestic violence rates, with Brazil seeing a rise of 40-50% in domestic violence incidents upon the outbreak of the Pandemic. In Spain, a spike in calls to helplines by 20–30% was reported within the first few days of an introduced confinement period.

This leads us to pose the question of whether there is a correlation between the pandemic and the increased rates of domestic violence. From the evidence, it is almost undeniable that it is the case.

Firstly, the onset of the Pandemic inevitably led to home lockdowns where families were legally required to remain inside the home mostly.  Due to physical restrictions, governments are forced to lock down the economy, creating a work-at-home population. When we consider the idea that “when families spend more time together, violence may occur … a dynamic that can be attributed to human psychology”  (Booth 2017; Nofziger and Kurtz 2005), this seems to provide an explanation for the spike in rates.

Further, the Pandemic has undeniably caused economic distress, with events such as layoffs jeopardising the financial situations of many households. Following this, it would be logical to assume that the Pandemic raised stress levels among many couples. When we consider that couples with high stress levels are estimated to be 3.5 times more likely to experience domestic violence than low stress couples, we see a clear reason for the jump in domestic violence rates.

There appears to be a direct correlation between the COVID-19 Pandemic and rates of domestic violence across the world, and if you or a loved one are victims of domestic violence, it is important that you obtain both medical and legal advice. Call us on (02) 8999 9809 to find out more.

 

With this being my first real taste of the corporate 9 to 5 world, I had no idea what to expect. What’s more, I had to specifically buy a pair of shorts and a collared shirt for this, seeing that I had hardly worn a formal outfit in my life before. In short, my 4-day long work experience at Freedman and Gopalan Solicitors was terrific and extremely valuable, providing me with an idea of the environment and inner workings of a law firm.

Across my 4 days at the firm, working from 10am to 4pm with a rather generous 1-hour lunch break, I was given plenty of opportunities not only to help out with any tasks required, but also to learn law-specific skills and knowledge. I had the privilege of writing articles on topics of my choice, which surprisingly passed Mittu’s inspection. On top of this, I was given tasks such as scanning, filing, archiving, and uploading documents as well as drafting affidavits. The highlight would probably have been the deliveries, in which I was tasked with making runs to deliver gifts, getting an excuse to travel to level 33 of a nearby skyscraper.

The staff here were excellent and friendly, cultivating a welcoming environment. Jasmin and her colleagues were all a dream to work with, frequently checking in to see how I was doing and if I needed any help. Mittu was particularly warm and encouraging, taking time out of her busy schedule to check up on me and ask how I was going.

Overall, to those looking to pursue a career in law in the future or looking to get an idea of the work environment at a law firm, I would definitely recommend Freedman and Gopalan. From your time here, you will be immersed into the world of law and be given responsibilities pertaining to real law cases. I feel very lucky to have been given an opportunity to have work experience at this firm.

If you or someone you know wish to gain some work experience at a law firm, then please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 8999 9809.

After separating from your spouse, you may encounter disagreements in regards to the parenting arrangements for your children.

This guide will describe the ins and outs of Family Law in Australia, helping you to understand the various routes to take in order to dissolve your relationship and resolve child custody issues amicably.

  1. Attempt to resolve the disagreement before starting court proceedings

This can be done by undergoing counselling and making a genuine effort to contact the other party.

Note that mediation (also known as Family Dispute Resolution), is compulsory before undergoing court action. Exceptions to this include factors such as domestic and family violence which render the case urgent. In most cases, the court will need a Certificate from a Family Dispute Practitioner to allow the case to continue in court.

  1. Taking the matter to court

There are two ways you and your spouse can determine the terms of custody: a Consent Order and a Court Order.

A Consent Order is when both parties agree to a set of terms and submit the agreement to court.

A Court Order is used when the two parties can not come to an agreement, and a judge is required to decide the outcome.

It is important to note that both Orders are legally binding and enforceable by the Court.

  1. Decision Process

Child custody disputes in Australia are governed by the Family Law Act 1975.

The primary consideration of the court in deciding custody is the child’s wellbeing and best interests.

The number one factor dictating the outcome is the safety of the child, both physical and psychological. Issues such as neglect, abuse, and domestic violence fall under this bracket.

Other factors taken into consideration when deciding custody include:

If you and your ex-partner have not yet agreed or are unable to agree on arrangements with your child, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

Having commenced 1 September 2021, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia are now equipped with a dedicated electronic Court list to investigate and manage non-compliance with Family Law Orders.

This change follows a recommendation from the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Family Law System in March this year, with Chief Justice William Alstergren noting “compliance in family law has long been a real problem for our system” and “it is perhaps the worst jurisdiction in Australia for compliance.”

Non-compliance has significantly impacted the effectiveness of the Court and has subjected parties to further frustration and delay following long Divorce, Parenting and Property proceedings.

Under the new National Contravention List, applications will be administered by Registrars at first instance, who will assess each application and where appropriate, refer to either a Senior Registrar or Judge.

The key objectives of this new list are:

  1. To efficiently deal with applications on a national basis in a timely, cost effective and safe way for all litigants;
  2. For applications to be given a first return date within 14 days of filing;
  3. To ensure compliance with Court Orders by all parties;
  4. To impose appropriate penalties or sanctions where a contravention has been proved and where a party has failed to demonstrate that they had a reasonable excuse for non-compliance with Court Orders;
  5. To proactively facilitate the resolution of underlying issues in disputes that lead to the filing of such applications;
  6. To triage appropriate matters to dispute resolution; and
  7. To be responsive to a party’s wishes to resolve matters without recourse to litigation.

It is hoped the National Contravention List will provide speedy and cost-efficient mechanisms for parties to enforce compliance with Family Court Orders.

If your ex-spouse is not complying with Family Court Orders, our solicitors are able to assist you in making a Contravention Application to the Federal Circuit and Family Court. Please contact our offices on (02) 8917 8700 should you require assistance.

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