Some residential properties attract Vacant Residential Land Tax (VRLT) in Victoria because the tax is not really about whether a property looks residential from the street. It is about whether the land is treated as “residential land” under the Land Tax Act 2005 (Vic) and, if so, whether it was “vacant” in the relevant preceding...
Quote: “Whatever one thinks of Mr Trump and his decision to initiate hostilities, a quick and comprehensive American victory offers the best hope for a peaceful future in the Gulf and beyond”. WSJ 08 04 26 Frank Herbert’s Dune is, at its core, a profound critique of messianic leadership, resource wars, and the illusion of...
To protect our clients and the Australian financial system from financial crime, Hayton Kosky Lawyers complies with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. From Jul 01, 2026, new requirements apply to all legal services involving property transfers, high-value transactions, or the management of client funds. Please use this checklist to ensure your matter...
The current US-Iran conflict is often described in the corridors of power as a “Grandmaster chess game,” but for those of us in the legal profession, it looks more like a match where one player has flipped the board and the other is playing from another room entirely. Here is a breakdown of the “legal”...
For many purchasers, the final inspection feels like the last step before settlement. Finance is in place, moving arrangements are underway, and the keys seem close. Then a problem appears. It may be a water stain, a faulty appliance, damage that was not obvious before, or a property that has not been properly cleaned or...
Preamble The signatories acknowledge that the conflict has inflicted profound suffering on civilian populations across the region and beyond. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost. Families have been shattered. Communities have been destroyed. No military objective, no strategic gain, no political victory can restore what has been taken from those who bore no...
Based on recent reports and the drafted “Tripartite Framework for the Restoration of Regional Stability,” here is a legal blog post summarizing the potential agreement. As diplomatic efforts intensify in the Middle East, a drafted Tripartite Framework for the Restoration of Regional Stability has emerged as a potential roadmap for ending current hostilities between the...
In the relentless world of Victorian litigation and probate, where “suspicious circumstances” and “testamentary capacity” are the daily bread, it’s easy to let the pressure cook. Chronic stress affects 79% of adults, and in the legal field, the expectation to just “suck it up” often leads to dire consequences. We’ve seen what happens when the...
Entering into a mortgage guarantee is a profoundly serious legal commitment. Often required by lenders, a guarantee makes you, the guarantor, responsible for repaying a loan if the borrower fails to meet their obligations. It’s crucial to understand that this is not a secondary commitment. If the borrower defaults, the lender is typically entitled to...
Jumping into the property market as a first-home buyer is exciting, but the journey is often filled with hidden traps. A key pitfall is underestimating the financial reality beyond the deposit. Lenders will scrutinise your ‘serviceability’—your income’s ability to cover the loan—so failing to clean up other debts or not accurately assessing your income can...
