Cecilia Castle

Instances where wills should be reviewed include marriage, separation, the passing of executors or beneficiaries, children reaching adulthood, the birth of grandchildren, and de-registration of charities benefitting from the testator’s will. Legal guidance and advice is always recommended.

Just as entering into a marriage or de facto relationship is a pivotal life decision, so are the financial repercussions of relationship breakdown and property settlement after separation. The high cost of engaging lawyers to assist in closing the financial door between separating couples takes on a different perspective when...

There are various ways of buying property, including off a plan of subdivision pending construction and/or registration of the property. This is known as buying “off the plan”. Buyers of off the plan properties enter into a binding contract for an agreed price pending the completion and registration of the...

There are contrasting legal contexts in which children are represented in court. The Family Court deals with private matters at a federal level where parents are the disputing parties, whereas the Children’s Court deals with state based public law matters. The main focus of the Family Court is on the...

Identifying elder abuse can be a challenging process, especially as it usually creeps in insidiously over time. It is a subject rapidly expanding as its own legal jurisdiction. In NSW there are five recognised types of elder abuse that may co-exist simultaneously: Physical abuse: Intentionally inflicting physical pain, injury or...

Spring usually launches an annual flurry of activity in the property market. Vendors are busy styling their properties to advertise them, and buyers are engaged in open house inspections and assessing their borrowing capacity. For vendors their checklist includes interviewing suitable agents and engaging a suitable conveyancer to prepare a...

Traffic infringement notices or penalty notices are issued for various traffic violations such as parking offences, drink driving, and speeding. Penalties include fines and demerit points. Challenging penalty notices can be dealt with in various ways, including: Where the offender is not the driver at the time of the offence,...

Aged Care facilities will come under greater scrutiny with a new Aged Care Act starting on 1 November 2025. The new Act will overhaul the sector to benefit residents and workers. The new legislation provides for improved quality and safety relating to aged care, incorporating a Statement of Rights for...

Legislative changes to property settlements in Family Law come into force on 10 June 2025. The changes affect how the court determines post-separation property settlements and what it must consider when making determinations that are just and equitable between the parties. Key changes relate to the impact of family violence...

Parliament is comprised of members elected by their community to represent their interests. Government passes laws in accordance with those interests after bills are put to the parliament and debated by its elected members. If passed, they become law. Majority government by a single party or coalition is one way...