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Commercial Client Services

  • Plain English Guide to The Responsibilities of a Director
    Being appointed as a Director of a company is very important. Not only does it increase your personal day-to-day responsibilities, it also increases the responsibility and accountability you have to the company and its shareholders.
  • Plain English Guide to Buying and Selling a Business
    Buying or selling a business is a major decision (for both parties). Regardless of whether you are the seller or the buyer of a business there are a number of considerations that you should take account of to ensure a successful outcome.
  • Plain English Guide to Intellectual Property
    It is becoming increasingly common for intellectual property to be one of the most valuable assets of a business. Indeed, in many cases it is the most valuable asset of a business. It follows that the steps a business takes to protect its intellectual property can have a significant bearing on its goodwill and its ability to fully exploit the intellectual property.
  • Plain English Guide to The Responsibilities of a Director
    Being appointed as a Director of a company is very important. Not only does it increase your personal day-to-day responsibilities, it also increases the responsibility and accountability you have to the company and its shareholders.
  • Plain English Guide to Shareholders and Partnership Agreements
    Establishing a business is a challenging process. When two or more parties come together with a shared vision, it is common to focus on setting up the business in a logistical sense first and then selling and marketing the product or service.
  • Plain English Guide to Personal Property Securities Act - PPSA and PPSR
    The PPSA commenced on 30 January 2012, bringing with it significant changes to the area of security interests taken in personal property (generally, non-land assets).
  • A Plain English Guide for Directors on Insolvency and Safe Harbour
    Allowing a company to trade while insolvent could have serious ramifications for individual directors. If a director is found to have knowingly allowed a company to trade while in financial difficulty, he/she could be held personally liable for the debts incurred to liquidators or creditors - and could even be found guilty of criminal action.
  • Plain English Guide to Commercial, Industrial and Retail Leasing
    Leasing premises is a major investment decision, whether you are a landlord or tenant. What many people don’t understand, however, is how complex a commercial lease can be and how it can be fraught with potential problems.
  • Plain English Guide to Protecting Your Interest in a Property
    When you purchase real estate with a partner or spouse there are two ways in which your ownership of the property may be described: you can hold the property either as joint tenants, or as tenants in common.
  • Plain English Guide to Strata Schemes
    Anyone involved in property ownership, whether of a place they live in, of a commercial property, or as an investor, should be aware of the ins and outs of strata schemes. The following information provides an overview of what you need to know.

Personal Client Services

  • Plain English Guide to Divorce and Separation
    Separation is a stressful time for individuals and families. At Coleman Greig our family lawyers can help you through the process by providing the benefits of many years of practical experience in all aspects of family law.
  • Plain English Guide to Property Settlement under the Family Law Act
    If you and your partner separate, you need to consider what is to happen in relation to the division of any property that you own. The Family Law Act provides for property settlements between couples who are, or have been, married and also couples who have been in a de facto relationship.
  • Plain English Guide to Child Support
    When parents separate, proper arrangements need to be made for the financial support of their children. The obligations of parents to provide for their children are governed by the Child Support Scheme. This Plain English Guide sets out some of the more commonly asked questions regarding child support.
  • Plain English Guide to Parenting Issues
    This Plain English Guide sets out some of the key provisions of the Family Law Act as it relates to children and what the Court will take into consideration when determining what arrangements should be made and who will have responsibility for the children.
  • Plain English Guide to Parenting Plans
    The law encourages separating parents to reach agreement about matters concerning their children. Parents are encouraged to take responsibility for their parenting arrangements and for resolving parental conflict; to use the legal system as a last resort rather than first resort; to minimise present and the possibility of future conflict by reaching a negotiated agreement; and to regard the best interests of the child as the paramount consideration.
  • Plain English Guide to Pre Nuptial and Pre Relationship Financial Agreements
    The Family Law Act makes provision for binding financial agreements between parties to a marriage and between parties to a de facto relationship. These agreements can be made before, during or after the marriage or de facto relationship. Agreements entered into before a marriage are colloquially known as ‘prenuptial’ agreements.
  • Plain English Guide to Superannuation and Property Settlement
    The treatment of superannuation in a property settlement between separating couples has previously been a problem area because of the special qualities of superannuation interests. Because of strict rules in relation to superannuation interests, it has sometimes been difficult to arrive at a settlement which is fair to both parties.
  • Plain English Guide to Protecting Your Interest in a Property
    When you purchase real estate with a partner or spouse there are two ways in which your ownership of the property may be described: you can hold the property either as joint tenants, or as tenants in common.
  • Plain English Guide to Family Law Mediation
    The long delays and backlogs in the Family Courts have been well-publicised. These delays no doubt cause frustrations, and can be very costly for the parties involved. For this reason, the court endorses that parties resolve their disputes privately through Family Mediation, one of the more popular Alternate Dispute Resolution ('ADR') processes.
  • Plain English Guide to Family Law Arbitration
    Family law matters can place serious financial and emotional stress on all those involved in the related court cases. It is therefore no surprise that the long delays and under-resourcing of the Family Court system has placed a significant strain on parties and their families. This stark reality has led to a recent 'blitz' in the Family Court, which has placed emphasis on finalising matters through Alternate Dispute Resolution ('ADR') processes, such as Family Arbitration, in order to tackle the immense backlog in Australia's Family Court system.
  • Plain English Guide to Preparing for Family Mediation
    Effectively preparing for your Family Mediation conference will help you to get the most out of the Family Mediation process. This Plain English Guide provides an overview of the steps that Coleman Greig suggests you take in the lead up to your Family Mediation, and discusses a range of things that you should take the time to properly prepare for.
  • Plain English Guide to Family Law Mediation
    The long delays and backlogs in the Family Courts have been well-publicised. These delays no doubt cause frustrations, and can be very costly for the parties involved. For this reason, the court endorses that parties resolve their disputes privately through Family Mediation, one of the more popular Alternate Dispute Resolution ('ADR') processes.
  • Plain English Guide to Family Law Arbitration
    Family law matters can place serious financial and emotional stress on all those involved in the related court cases. It is therefore no surprise that the long delays and under-resourcing of the Family Court system has placed a significant strain on parties and their families. This stark reality has led to a recent 'blitz' in the Family Court, which has placed emphasis on finalising matters through Alternate Dispute Resolution ('ADR') processes, such as Family Arbitration, in order to tackle the immense backlog in Australia's Family Court system.
  • Plain English Guide to Preparing for Family Mediation
    Effectively preparing for your Family Mediation conference will help you to get the most out of the Family Mediation process. This Plain English Guide provides an overview of the steps that Coleman Greig suggests you take in the lead up to your Family Mediation, and discusses a range of things that you should take the time to properly prepare for.
  • Plain English Guide to Making a Will
    Most of your life is spent working to build up assets. Making a Will is an essential step in ensuring that your assets pass to the people that you choose.
  • Plain English Guide to the Role of Your Executor
    This Plain English Guide answers some of the more commonly asked questions about the role of Executor, but remember that your Lawyer is available to answer any other questions or provide advice when you need it.
  • Plain English Guide to Power of Attorney
    This Plain English Guide answers some of the more commonly asked questions about granting Power of Attorney, but remember that your lawyer is available to answer any other questions or provide advice when you need it.
  • Plain English Guide to Estate Planning
    The aim of Estate Planning is to ensure ongoing financial security for you and your spouse during your lifetimes; and to secure a cost effective and seamless transition to your nominated beneficiaries after your death.
  • Plain English Guide to Enduring Guardianship
    We all prefer to decide for ourselves where we live, who we see, which doctor we go to, what medical treatment we will receive and what services we will have. Unfortunately this is not always possible. Every day people are involved in accidents or become sick. Sometimes this can lead to them being unable to make decisions for themselves.
  • Plain English Guide to Special Disability Trusts
    The Federal Government introduced Special Disability Trusts into social security legislation in 2006, aiming to encourage private provision of accommodation and care for people with a disability. In the right circumstances, using a Special Disability Trust allows parents (and other family members) to provide assets for a person with a severe disability without affecting the person’s entitlement to the disability support pension.
  • Plain English Guide to Testamentary Discretionary Trusts
    There are many structural benefits associated with Testamentary Discretionary Trusts including asset protection and taxation. This Plain English Guide answers some of the more commonly asked questions about creating a Testamentary Discretionary Trust, but remember that your lawyer is available to answer any other questions or provide advice when you need it.
  • Plain English Guide to Family Business Succession Planning
    The issue of succession planning for family businesses is critical. In fact, research shows that only 30% of family businesses survive in the second generation, and 15% survive in the third generation. Given the number of family businesses in Australia, the failure rates are serious and it is important that families address the issues within their family companies.
  • Plain English Guide to Buying Residential Real Estate
    There are few more important transactions than buying real estate. You are making a major financial investment and the purchase is likely to result in changes to your personal life. Buying real estate is usually an emotional process and it is important to make sure that you are not “blinded” by this emotion.
  • Plain English Guide to Selling Residential Real Estate
    The sale of your home is likely to be one of the most important transactions you enter into. Not only will substantial amounts of money be involved but the event will involve a significant change in your personal affairs.
  • Plain English Guide to Community Living
    Most home units, town houses or villas in New South Wales are held under Strata or Community Title. Strata and Community titles are particular types of Torrens Title. When you own a house or a block of land you usually have absolute ownership of not only the house and land but also the air space above the land and the earth underneath. This is known as “absolute” ownership of the whole vertical column.
  • Plain English Guide to Buying Off the Plan
    This Plain English Guide answers some of the more commonly asked questions about buying real estate 'off the plan' and should be read in conjunction with Coleman Greig's Plain English Guide to Buying Real Estate.
  • Plain English Guide to Protecting Your Interest in a Property
    When you purchase real estate with a partner or spouse there are two ways in which your ownership of the property may be described: you can hold the property either as joint tenants, or as tenants in common.
  • Plain English Guide to Selling your Property with your Neighbours to a Developer
    The days of a property developer approaching individual owners to purchase their properties is fast becoming a distant memory. Increasingly, owners are taking the initiative and joining forces to offer their properties as a package deal.
  • Plain English Guide to Retirement Village Living
    As an increasing number of Australians move into retirement villages, or the popular “Over 55 Lifestyle Estates”, it is important to view the issues that can arise and the complexities that are often involved in this type of move.
  • Plain English Guide to Seniors Living
    Independence is one thing that we strive to maintain as we get older. However, at one stage or another, we may all face the possibility of moving into a Retirement Village or Aged Care Facility, or arranging the move for a family member or loved one.