As the end of the year approaches, it’s crucial for property owners in Victoria to ensure their land tax holdings are accurate and up to date. The State Revenue Office (SRO) My Land Tax portal provides a streamlined way to review and manage your property details. By acting now, you can avoid unnecessary issues or penalties in 2025.

At Grice Legal, we recently had the privilege of representing the de facto spouse of a deceased individual in a pivotal case under Part IV of the Administration and Probate Act 1958. This case underscores the importance of ensuring that all loved ones are adequately provided for in a will.

The subject-to-finance clause in a land sale contract in Victoria offers buyers additional protection, making the sale contingent upon securing finance. This clause allows buyers to terminate the contract and retrieve their deposit if they cannot obtain financing. This provision is crucial for buyers who may need to exit the contract if their loan application is rejected by lenders.

Over the past months, Grice Legal has been in the process of converting any paper certificates of title we hold to electronic copies, as the Victorian Register of Land has begun the movement of phasing out paper titles entirely. As the legal industry progresses towards being able to operate almost wholly electronically, it was inevitable that land titles do the same and paper copies are no longer needed to be physically stored at firms such as Grice Legal. Despite such a significant change in the operation of conveyancing and the large task involved in converting physical titles, the benefits of such a development are already being felt.

In our modern democratic society, some of the freedoms we cherish are the right to vote for a political party of our choice, to use a doctor whom we think will best care for our health, to have dental work done by a dentist of our choice and to retain a lawyer in whom we have confidence and will best act to represent us, either in a civil or criminal matter.

As the years go by, we accumulate more than just memories—we gather assets, relationships, and responsibilities. Whether it's your home in one of Melbourne's charming suburbs, your cherished family heirlooms, or the savings you've worked so hard to build, these are the things that make up your legacy. But what happens if you pass away without a will? The consequences might be more significant—and more complicated—than you think.

The ‘silly season’, as it is colloquially referred to, can often present quite a dangerous time with rates of family domestic violence hitting record highs.

It so follows that applications for family violence and apprehended domestic violence orders are prevalent at holiday time; and there are stark differences in the law and its application between Australian States.

Let's dive into an interesting case study where a potential penthouse buyer's enthusiasm for embracing electric mobility meets a plot twist. Picture this: our buyer is all set to snap up a swanky new penthouse off the plan. They've got two electric cars, so they ask the developer upfront if they can hook up an EV charger in the carpark. Exciting, right?

In the world of love and commitment, there's one thing we all hope for – the blissful promise of 'happily ever after.' But as we navigate the complexities of relationships, we must also be prepared for unforeseen challenges and twists in the journey. That's where a Binding Financial Agreement (BFA) comes into play – a financial safety net that can provide certainty and peace of mind for your future.

Testamentary trusts, testamentary discretionary trusts, TT, TDT - the legal terminology can be overwhelming, but at their core, they all signify a trust established in a will, springing to life after the willmaker's passing. Testamentary trusts bear striking similarities to family trusts, technically known as discretionary trusts, but they hold a unique quality: they remain dormant until the appointed time.