Wollongong Legal

At Wollongong Legal we believe that understanding a client’s legal situation and needs is absolutely vital in delivering a high quality service. That is why we promise to:

Listen without judgement or prejudice
Advance your interests above our own
Maintain the highest standard of integrity, honesty and fairness in all our dealings
Ensure an efficient and proper administration of justice
Charge fair prices for our work
Our solicitors are accredited members of the Law Society of NSW and our licensed conveyancer is certified with the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (NSW). Our legal team consists of Principal Peter Noveski, solicitor Darren Chennell, conveyancer Ashley Braz and receptionist Jamie Milinkovic.

Property Law & Conveyencing

The Wollongong Legal Property Law Team including its highly skilled licensed conveyancers, paralegals and administrative staff are led by Peter Noveski who has over 15 years’ experience in property law.
Our conveyancers and property lawyers are committed to providing affordable conveyancing services efficiently. Our services include all areas of sale and purchase of commercial and residential properties including houses, units, apartments and residential land.
Wollongong Legal also act for both landlords and tenants in commercial leasing, including retail leases.
Our Property Law team understand that often timing is everything, and to this end guarantee that practical and efficient advice is given to our client’s in all of their property transactions.

Our Property Law team’s experience in property transactions includes:

• Buying and selling off the plan
• Purchasing through self-managed superannuation funds
• Private property transactions
• Mortgages and leasing
• Property and/or building disputes
• Caveats, covenants and easements
• Joint venture agreements
• Land development and subdivision, and
• Strata and community title.

Construction & Development

Wollongong Legal acts for numerous clients who are in the building, construction and development sector.

Whether you are embarking on a small residential development or a large multi-use development, our experienced Property Law lawyers can provide you with efficient and professional advice. From the initial pre-development phase through to sales and leasing, our lawyers can assist at every critical stage of the project.

Our team has vast legal experience with residential developments, acting and advising developers on every stage of the development process and support clients through:

• pre-development and concept phase
• land acquisition
• planning and development
• local government authority approval phases
• financing and tax-effective structures
• marketing phase of development
• “off the plan” sales
• staged developments
• redevelopments
• mixed use developments
• unit and lot consolidations
• strata plans and sub-divisions.

Wollongong Legal can also advise and prepare agreements including associated deeds, options, and construction contracts including Australian Standards, AS4000 HIA and Master Builder’s contracts.

We are also experienced in advising on Home Warranty Insurance Claims and claims under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act, including preparing payment claims, payment schedules and adjudication applications.

Business & Commercial Law

Wollongong Legal have a wealth of experience in assisting client’s with their business related transactions and regularly advise upon, prepare and negotiate a large range of agreements.
From structuring a new business to purchasing an existing business Wollongong Legal can assist and advise clients to best suite their specific needs. Our team can work with clients to ensure that their business transactions go smoothly.

Wills, Estates & Probates

At Wollongong Legal, our lawyers can provide you with the following services:

We can help ensure your wishes are carried out

Our experienced lawyers can help draft a will to give proper legal effect to your intentions in a will. This is particularly important where you have family or loved ones that you wish to provide for. We will aim to make the process of drafting your intentions efficient and clear, and ensure that your will is accurate and valid will. We can advise you on how to make adequate provision to your chosen beneficiaries. You may consider getting a new will or changing your old will when circumstances change such as getting married, separated, or when you have children.

Providing advice on the administration of estates and trustee services

We can advise you on choosing an executor and trustee and help you better understand what are the rights and roles of trustees, executors and beneficiaries.

Can you claim a benefit under a will where you haven’t been provided for?

If you believe you haven’t been provided for, we can offer advice and representation in contesting a will. There are several ways in which a person can contest a will including:

• It is alleged the will incorrectly executed or tampered with,
• The will was executed under pressure or the deceased was incapable of making a will
• Insufficient provision has been made for a spouse, domestic partner, children or others to whom the willmaker has an obligation,
• The will has been incorrectly administered.

You must fit into one of the ‘eligible person’ categories under the Family Provisions Act 1982 (NSW).

An applicant contesting a will may receive a Family Provision order in favour of their application if the court decides that:

(a)  the applicant is an eligible person

(b) adequate provision for the proper maintenance, education and advancement in life of the applicant has not been made by the deceased person, and

(c) there are sufficient funds in the estate or notional estate to provide for the applicant after considering the needs of beneficiaries named in the will.

Typically claims should be made within 18 months of the date of the deceased’s death.

What happens when there is no will?

The Supreme Court has the power to appoint an administrator and grant letters of administration where there is no valid will. The Succession Act 2006 provides a formula for calculating what proportion of your assets your family members will receive. However, only ‘eligible persons’ will receive a benefit and it is the administrator’s duty to establish who are the family of the deceased. Usually, where your spouse survives you, they will inherit the whole of your estate. However, if you have children from another relationship then your estate will be divided between your spouse and children.

Avoid this complicated, messy situation by making an appointment with one of our experienced lawyers today on (02) 4225 8611

Useful link:

http://www.lawsociety.com.au/resources/areasoflaw/ElderLaw/WillsestatesFAQs/index.html

Family & Relationship Law

Wollongong Legal have the knowledge and practical skills to assist with the complex and sensitive issues involved in Family Law.
Each matter and each client is unique to which we apply high professional standards and a personal approach. We are committed to helping resolve our clients’ matters promptly, cost-effectively and where possible, without the need to attend court.
Our experienced lawyers can assist clients to resolve property settlements by way of Consent Orders or Binding Financial Agreements, understand and work towards obtaining appropriate parenting arrangements regarding their children and preparing and proceeding with Court applications if necessary.