Are you considering going guarantor for a family member who requires your assistance to get a home mortgage or loan?
You may suffer financial hardship should the borrower be unable to repay the debt. Ensure you are fully aware of how a guarantee works and the possible risks to your personal security (e.g. your home listed as security against the loan) should the borrower default or be unable to meet their obligations. In most cases, the lender will require you to seek independent legal advice before entering into any form of guarantee.
At Newton’s Law we will explain all relevant aspects of the guarantee. Should you wish to proceed with the guarantee, we can facilitate witnessing of your signature for all relevant documentation. If required by the lender, we will also provide a Solicitor’s Certificate.
Whilst you don’t plan for a relationship breakdown – Newton’s Law can assist you and your partner to plan for future financial rights and responsibilities.
You can make a binding financial agreement, whereby a contract is entered into between both parties – either before, during or after a marriage or de facto relationship breakdown. For a binding financial agreement to be legally binding, both parties must sign the agreement and have received independent legal and financial advice prior to signing.
Should you be considering entering into a binding financial agreement, Newton’s Law can assist you in preparing your agreement to reflect your individual circumstances.
We can also assist you in strata law issues, subdivision work, easement and covenant disputes and leases.
When a person is accused of a crime, they may face the possibility of paying a huge fine or even going to prison. Getting straight forward legal advice is crucial. If you or a loved one has been charged with a criminal offence, we can assist.
So much of what occurs in the employment field today is essentially linked to either individual contracts of employment or work-place relations tied to collective bargaining on a group basis.
Employment Law and unfair dismissal needs to be looked at from both employer and employees’ points of view. Issues such as, termination payment, remuneration, employment policies and human resources management impact everybody in the employment sphere.
We offer advice on the full range of employment/contractor/union legal and practical issues.
Whether you are an employer or employee, it is critical that you make the right decisions throughout your employment whether it be at interview, in contract negotiations to managing performance or termination.
In order to achieve the right balance in an employment context it is important that your adviser not only understands employment law but has the necessary skills to cover these issues which are important to you whether they be commercial, industrial or individual – Newton’s Law can help you.
Family disputes such as divorce or separation can be an emotional period of your life, especially when there are children involved.
At Newton’s Law we will tailor our services to your individual situation, and (where possible) minimise the financial burden by helping you reach an amicable agreement with your spouse/partner.
We are able to assist you in all areas of Family Law including defacto relationships, consent orders, divorce applications, care of children and division of property. Contact us to discuss how we may be of assistance.
A reverse mortgage allows a ‘house-rich-but-cash-poor’ homeowner to convert the equity in their home to cash while retaining their home ownership. Under a reverse mortgage the homeowner gets money from the lender and does not have to repay it for as long as they live in their home. In exchange, the lender will normally hold onto all of the equity in the homeowner’s property.
It is a requirement that after the loan is approved and you receive your reverse mortgage/equity release documents that you take these to your lawyer for independent legal advice.
Newton’s Law will aid you in fully understanding the implications of this mortgage agreement – especially as it is a lifetime loan.
We can help you in applying for your extra-ordinary licence application, any driving charges or road traffic offence claims.
Newton’s Law can assist you in the preparation of your Will and Estate Planning.
A Will is a legal document that directs how your assets should be distributed and appoints guardians of any children. It appoints an executor/s to oversee this process. A properly drafted, up-to-date Will is the only way that you can be sure your estate will be dealt as per your wishes.
You should review your Will whenever your circumstances change (e.g. a change in marital status; when a child is born, when there is a substantial change in the value or nature of your assets or when a beneficiary or executor dies). Unless specifically provided for in your Will, marriage will automatically revoke any existing Will, and divorce may achieve a similar result, depending on the terms of your Will.
(Please Note: The word ‘attorney’ in these instances does not mean a lawyer – it means a person you appoint to legally act on your behalf)
A Power of Attorney and an Enduring Power of Attorney are documents that provide for a time when you are unable to make decisions for yourself (e.g. mental incapacity caused by an accident or old age etc).
It is an agreement which gives another person the power to make decisions on your behalf. ‘Enduring’ simply means that the power continues even after you lose capacity to make decisions for yourself.
You may give your attorney or other responsible person power to make decisions about personal/health decisions and/or financial matters.