While most lawyers draft Wills, unfortunately (and it pains me to say this), not all of them do this well. This begs the question, what does a good estate lawyer do, and, how do I know if the person drafting my Will is any good? It is important to note that if you die without a Will you die intestate. Essentially this means that, since you fail to express your wishes, there can be no … [Read more...]
Wax Seals and the Law
My fascination with the wax seal started about the same time as my fascination for all things related to Wills and Estates. In fact, if you were to ask my wife she might suggest that they emerged from the same passion. A few years ago she purchased me an old Probate document, circa 1880, that she came across on ebay. The document, relating to the settlement of an estate near Murray Bridge, was … [Read more...]
The Plain English Top 10 Questions About Wills
1)What is a Will? A Will is a legal document that outlines how you want your estate to be distributed when you die. Wills are not just for people who own property or have lots of money. We all need a will. Having one allows you to: appoint a person you trust to carry out the instructions in your will (your executor) provide for the people you care about leave particular items to … [Read more...]
Celebrity Wills Blog Series (5) – Jim Morrison
James Douglas “Jim” Morrison died in July 1971 aged just 27 years from a heroin overdose. Most people know him as the lead singer of The Doors, a band who, between the years 1966 and 1971, released a plethora of music. Their work remains popular to this day with the music and associated marketing materials continuing to generate huge income in the form of album re-releases, live albums and … [Read more...]
Jobs for Graduate Lawyers: An Open Letter
Dear Graduate, So you have your Law degree but are yet to secure a position in a law firm? Join the club; it seems that you are in good company. Since I graduated from Law in 1998 the number of students graduating from Australian universities in this discipline has more than doubled. Such an increase in graduates (while not in line with population growth) reflects the situation facing … [Read more...]
Top 10 Skills Every Lawyer Needs That May Surprise You
Kids are cute. I don’t have any of my own as yet, but I can’t help noticing that they have this wonderful propensity to offer us a window into the ways that many people think. A few weeks ago I had the immense joy of watching Greg Welden’s youngest daughter in action as she played a wonderful game of pretend. She was chatting away to herself (as kids do) and scribbling nonsense on a piece of … [Read more...]
Retail and Commercial Lease: What you Must Know Before Signing
So you have your business plan mapped out, have secured funding for your venture and are now ready to take a giant leap and secure premises for your operation. Before signing on the dotted line make sure that you know all there is to know about Retail and Commercial Leases. Firstly, Retail and Commercial Leases are governed by the Retail and Commercial Leases Act 1995 (SA). Before you enter … [Read more...]
Top 8 Reasons Why Legal Advice is Expensive
There is a universal assumption that lawyers charge too much for their services. To some extent this is a misnomer. I mean, some lawyers most certainly charge ‘too much’ for their services, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all lawyers operate with an unscrupulous intent to part their clients unfairly from their hard-earned cash. Here are my top 8 reasons for why legal advice can be … [Read more...]
The Loss of a Loved One: Where to Next?
The loss of a loved one is a profound and overwhelming experience. Not only do you need to deal with your personal grief and the roller-coaster of emotions, but you may also be responsible for finalising the financial affairs of the deceased. The most common question we hear from our clients when they have lost their loved one is, “What do I need to do now?” Such a question, tinged with … [Read more...]
Shining as an Estate Specialist: A Formula for Success
As a Principal at Welden & Coluccio Lawyers, this article explores my belief in the importance of expertise and how this motivated my decision to direct my energies towards the field of Estate Planning and Litigation. There is a tendency in the legal profession, particularly for small firms and sole practitioners, to accept any work which flows through the door. This activity, which is … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- …
- 19
- Next Page »
