How to co-own property without conflict, confusion, or costly mistakes
Buying property with family or friends is becoming increasingly common in today’s market. It’s an exciting achievement, but without the right legal framework co-owning property can lead to conflict, financial stress, and damaged relationships. You shouldn’t have to choose between getting into the property market and protecting your relationships with the people you care about. […]
You’ve been told to make a family trust election. Here’s what that actually means.
If you’re running a family business or managing family wealth through a trust, chances are your accountant has recommended that you “make a Family Trust Election” (or FTE for short). If your response was, “Sure… what exactly is that?”, you’re not alone. Let’s demystify what this election is, why it’s coming up now, and why it’s worth talking to a lawyer before you commit. What is a […]
Changes to trust taxation in the Federal Budget: Is there still a case for keeping a family trust in my structure?
We’re hearing this question from many of our clients since the Federal Budget announcement on 12 May 2026 introduced proposed changes to how family trusts (also called discretionary trusts) are taxed. Small to medium-sized businesses, family business owners and individuals who have taken steps to limit their personal liability are now questioning the value of […]
How we built our AML/CTF compliance into the way we already work
If you have read our overview of the new AML/CTF rules starting 1 July 2026, you will know the reforms put significant new compliance obligations on firms like ours. This piece is about how we have chosen to meet them, and why we made the build decisions we did. We started in 2025, and […]
Australia’s new AML/CTF rules: what changes from 1 July 2026
If you have engaged a lawyer, accountant, conveyancer or real estate agent recently, you may already have been asked for more identification than usual. From 1 July 2026, those asks become standard practice across the profession. Your advisers will need to verify who you are. They will also ask about the source of funds in […]
The clock is ticking: why your estate plan could be undermined by forgotten loans
If you’ve loaned money to a child, a family trust, or to entities within your personal investment or business structure, you might assume those debts will be honoured, or at least recognised, when you pass away. However, unless steps are taken to formally record and maintain those loan arrangements, your executor may discover too late that the loans are no longer legally enforceable. This article explains how the six-year limitation […]