Victoria is in a precarious financial position. Labelled the “nation’s debt dunce”, the state’s gross debt reached a staggering $213 billion as of July this year. This figure represents nearly a third of the total debt owed by all Australian states and territories combined. While new, unpopular taxes on property and payrolls have managed to...
Elder abuse is a confronting issue, often hidden behind closed doors. With one in six older Australians experiencing some form of abuse, it’s a growing concern for families across Victoria.1 Most perpetrators are not strangers but trusted individuals, often family members.2 Financial abuse, in particular, is one of the most common forms, frequently involving...
He was a decorated hero of World War II. Norman William Maddock signed up to fight at 17, served in Tobruk, and was captured during the fierce Battle of Crete before making a daring escape back to Allied lines. In his later years, however, this tenacious soldier faced a different kind of battle—one of failing...
Published by Hayton Kosky Lawyers Date: 13 August 2025 When the Great Australian Dream Becomes a Financial Nightmare It’s a story that sends a shiver down the spine of any aspiring property owner. A Melbourne mum recently made headlines after her dream apartment purchase left her $30,000 out of pocket. The culprit? A single, seemingly...
There’s a special kind of gobsmacking irony in the Australian government’s latest brain bubble: slapping a new tax on the very people who are actively trying to do the right thing. Federal MP Tanya Plibersek has called the idea of a new road tax for electric vehicle (EV) drivers “sensible” 1, a sentiment flagged earlier...
If you’ve ever fallen in love with a property at auction, only to discover the vendor’s reserve price was far higher than the advertised guide, you’re not alone. In Victoria, underquoting — advertising a property at a price lower than it is reasonably expected to sell for — has long been illegal under the Estate...
Selling property in Victoria can be a long game. From the day of sale to the settlement date, months can pass, and for many vendors, the deposit sitting in a trust account can feel tantalisingly close yet frustratingly out of reach. It’s no surprise that the question often arises: can we get that deposit released...
Elder Abuse, Legal Capacity and Document Control: A Cautionary Tale for Victoria At Hayton Kosky Lawyers, we’ve recently dealt with a concerning matter that highlights a growing problem in Victoria’s ageing population: elder abuse involving legal documents, including wills and certificates of title. While we must keep the details confidential, the situation involved a 90-year-old...
It’s a scenario every commercial landlord dreads. A tenant defaults on rent, the lease is terminated, and upon re-entering the premises, you discover a warehouse full of the tenant’s property. Faced with significant financial losses, the temptation to seize those assets—to hold them as leverage or sell them to recoup unpaid rent—can be overwhelming. However,...
Coping with the loss of a loved one is challenging enough without the added complexities of Victorian probate and estate law. Many families find themselves in a daunting legal landscape, uncertain of their rights and obligations. This is especially true when considering a challenge to a will or trying to understand the role of family...
