Insights
Stay informed with the latest legal updates, expert commentary and practical advice from the team at Miller Harris Lawyers.
Bon Voyage! Travelling overseas with your children after separation
While it is not uncommon for a parent to want to travel overseas with their children following a separation it can sometimes be a point of conflict between parents. Applying for a passport The first hurdle for many parents will be applying for a passport for their...
Who stays in the family home after separation?
The family home is often the most significant asset that a person will own. Couples often disagree about who should remain living in the family home following separation. Both parties to a separation have a right to occupy the family home, regardless of whose name is...
Recent changes to Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
As part of their transition to the new Temporary Skills Shortage (‘TSS’) visa announced in April 2017, the Government has been progressively rolling out changes to the existing visa schemes. The first quarter of this year has seen significant changes to the existing...
4 Tips for Buying into a Retirement Village
Are you considering moving into a retirement village? At first the numerous facilities and up front prices may seem to be perfect for you but it is important that you are aware of all of costs of retirement living. The most important piece of advice for those...
Don’t get bitten by a Zombie DA
A recent High Court case has highlighted that development approvals are not dead and buried once a development is substantially complete. In Pike v Tighe, some land was subdivided pursuant to a development approval which included a condition requiring an easement to...
Beware Before Consenting to Development Approvals
In a recent case, a property owner was stuck with a $400,000 infrastructure charges bill because he consented to a development application without paying proper attention to the possible consequences. An infrastructure charge is something which councils can impose for...
Lauren Doktor joins QLS Early Career Lawyers Committee
Congratulations to Lauren Doktor on becoming a member of the QLS Early Career Lawyers Committee
Natural Disaster Assistance Loans
Following the disaster of last month’s flooding, the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority have announced two types of low interest loans to assist small businesses and primary producers in Far North Queensland. The Natural Disaster Assistance loans are...
National Advance Care Planning Week – Plan for tomorrow, live for today
Australia’s first ever Advance Care Planning week begins today, to raise awareness and encourage Australians, young and old, to engage in conversation about their preferred health care, if they were too sick to speak for themselves. Advance care planning ensures that...
Choosing a Guardian for your Child
Choosing a guardian to care for your child in the event of your passing is a tough decision to make as a parent. No one will seem like the perfect match – simply because they are not you. Although it may feel unnatural, appointing a guardian who you choose and trust...
Crackdown on Unpaid Child Support
A parent who owes the other parent money for child support can be prevented from leaving the country with Departure Prohibition Orders. The latest statistics from the Department of Human Services (Child Support) (“the Department”) reveal that in the 2016/17 financial...
5 things you need to know when buying your first home
You’ve been saving for ages, you have found “the one” and you want to make an offer. There is so much to think about when choosing to buy your first home – deciding if you want build, buying a renovator’s delight, co-ordinating the big move, getting funds in order...
Buying a Franchise – 5 Top Tips
Entering into a franchise arrangement and running your own business can be a very exciting time. You receive the benefits of the established brand, and usually a well-documented operations manual to assist you to run the franchised business. However, before you take...
Should I wait until I am divorced to update my will?
The effect of separation vs divorce on a will Last week over a latte, my friend and I were chatting about her recent separation from her husband and the need to update her will. Alarmingly, she told me that she had heard that there was no point in doing a new will...
You’ve been served!
A guide for professionals on what to do if you’ve been served with a family law subpoena We often receive calls from accountants, financial advisors, counsellors, business owners and other professionals asking us what they should do after being served with a subpoena...