About Me

From Traditional to Innovative: Blogs About Legal Matters

There have been a few times in my life that I have needed a lawyer, and during those times, their help was invaluable. I worked with lawyers during the custody battle for my kids, when I dissolved the partnership for my business and after I suffered an injury at work. In this blog, I plan to write about the law from a range of angles. I may share posts inspired by my personal experiences, what's popular in the news or what strikes my fancy when I'm writing. I have a daughter, Oliva. I manage a medical clinic, and I love blogging. I hope you like the results. My name is Melinda, and thanks for reading!

From Traditional to Innovative: Blogs About Legal Matters

law

Top 3 Instances When You Should Consider Changing Your Will And How To Go About It
Once you have drafted all your estate planning documents, that is not the end of it. You can revise or review these documents from time to time to ensure that they are current and truly reflect your wishes. With the help of qualified wills and estates lawyers, you can amend your will and other estate planning documents and ensure that you do it such a way that it will hold in the legal sense.

Common Issues That May Crop up Over a Deceased's Estate
Most people will assume that as long as there is a will in place, then the estate can be shared out as stipulated by the deceased. Nonetheless, even when there is a will, there is still a possibility of disagreements that could crop up, and you will need the expertise of a deceased estate lawyer to help you navigate the law regarding the settlement of a will. If a loved one has recently passed away and you are unaware of what potential issues you may have to face, read on for a few of the common issues that typically crop up over a deceased's estate.

Are You Thinking About Getting Workers Compensation? Consider These Critical Phases
All employees should be properly covered to ensure that they get compensated in case of any injuries in the course of their work. However, a claim can only be valid if proper steps are followed once an incident has occurred. Failure to consider these timelines can result in the insurance company refusing to make the required payments. As such, below are several phases that you should think about whenever you want to make a claim.

Three Tips for Leaving Assets to Your Grandchildren But Not Your Children
If you have decided that you want to leave your assets to your grandchildren rather than to your children when you die, you can do that, but you need to tread forward carefully. There are a number of factors you should keep in mind to ensure you handle this maneuver successfully. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 1. Work with a lawyer who specialises in wills to avoid challenges.

When It's Good to Have a Property Lawyer Help You Through a Home Purchase
In many areas, it's not a requirement that you have a property lawyer help you through the home buying process; you may not even need a real estate agent to negotiate pricing and other such aspects of buying a home. However, just because it's not a legal requirement doesn't mean that it's a good idea to forego the use of an attorney when you're purchasing a home, and especially in certain situations that could complicate the process.

How to protect deceased estates from identity theft
As the executor to a deceased's estates, you are tasked with administering the deceased estates, repaying debts and taxes, as well as distributing the properties of the estate to the rightful beneficiaries. One of the problems faced by executors is identify theft of the deceased. Identity thieves have no respect for anyone, not even the recently dead. They use the identities of the deceased to deceitfully open credit card accounts and apply for new loans.

The types of benefits covered under workers' compensation
If you sustain work-related injuries or develop an illness because of the nature of your work, you can be entitled to workers' compensation from your employer. The key question for injured workers is what are the benefits covered under workers' compensation? Read on for further insight. Medical benefits Medical treatment is usually provided for injured workers under workers' compensation insurance. Such treatment carries on until the employee recovers fully from their injury or illness.

3 Legal Problems That Arise When a Loved One Dies
Dealing with a loved one's death can be physically and emotionally draining. Handling complicated legal matters can make this difficult period even worse. Here are three common legal problems that arise after a person dies and why seeking professional legal help is crucial. 1. A Will is Contested Many Australians die without leaving a will. Recent figures from the Western Australian Public Trustee suggest that two-thirds of adults in the state do not have a valid will, which could leave their families with legal problems when they die.

Wills Versus Trusts - A Helpful Overview
Estate law can be confusing, especially when it comes to deciding between wills and trusts.  Although it's a good idea to consult an expert in estate planning for professional advice on such matters, it also helps to have a basic understanding of the two options.  Here's anl overview. Trusts There are a number of things that revocable living trusts can do that wills cannot.  Although trusts can apply certain provisions whilst you are still alive, they can also play a part after you have died.

Complying With New Laws Around Reporting Potential Child Abuse
New criminal offenses have been introduced to improve the reporting of potential child abuse. These include offenses which apply to any adult who fails to report possible child abuse, any organisation that doesn't act on child abuse reports and any adult that befriends children or their parents with the intent of abusing these children. Here are some things you should keep in mind if you want to stay on the right side of the law.

Situations You May Need the Services of a Family Lawyer
When most think of family law, there first thought is proceedings that work toward the dissolution of a marriage. Although divorce and family mediation are a large aspect of family law, this not the only situation that you may require the services family lawyers. The following are some of the other situations where you may need to hire a family lawyer. Adoption proceedings If you are looking to adopt a child, you will need to ensure the process is carried out within the legal requirements.

Parenting Responsibilities and Divorce
If you are divorcing or separating then you may not agree on custody (living arrangements) and care of your children.  It is not uncommon for such disputes to occur and a family lawyer usually has to be brought in to help work out an agreement. Causes of Disputes A dispute is likely to ensue over: Who is to have custody on special days such as school holidays and birthdays Who makes decisions on religion, health and matters education How much time each parent spends with the children What happens when one parent resettles in another country Best Interests of the Child

Finding a criminal lawyer to defend your stalking charge
Stalking can be a misunderstood crime. In a world where romantic books and movies praise characters' efforts in continually striving to win the affection of their loved one, it's all too easy for someone to find himself the victim of stalking charges. Here are some tips if you find yourself facing stalking charges.  Gather context to your communication If the person who charges you has a large volume of communication that you have sent them, it's important to provide context for the court.

When You May Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident
It may not be necessary to contact a lawyer after every minor fender bender, if you can easily get your car fixed and aren't suffering any types of injuries. However, this doesn't mean that you should go without legal counsel if the accident has been serious and if you are injured, even if you have insurance and are getting medical treatment. Note when it may be good to call a lawyer after a car accident and why their advice can be so valuable.

Questions to Ask Your Conveyancer About the Buying and Selling Process
Conveyancing refers to the exchange of property between parties, such as when you're buying or selling a house. A conveyancer works as a sort of assistant through this process, to ensure everything is done properly and legally and you as the buyer or seller know all the steps involved. If you've hired a conveyancer as either a buyer or seller, note a few questions you might ask them to ensure you understand what to expect and know the process is being handled properly.

Buying Residential Land? Here are Must-Have Things in Your Contract
Purchase of properties is such a huge financial undertaking and therefore it is important the sale contract meets all the legal requirements. This is vital for the process to proceed without legal hiccups. Basic information such as the parties to the contract, the price of the property, details of the property itself, as well as the promise, should all be clearly featured in the contract. Starting from the opening page of the sale contract, the following particulars must be included;

Licensed Conveyancers or Certified Solicitors- Which Is Your Best Option?
Unless you are lucky enough to one day purchase something like a private jet, purchasing a home is probably the most expensive and serious investment many people will undertake in their lifetime. This is why you need everything to go right. Conveyancing can be described as the legal process involved when transferring ownership of property from a seller to a buyer. Conveyancing encompasses all the legal requirements that dictate the buying and selling of property within a jurisdiction.

I've Been The Victim Of A Crime. Can I Get Criminal Compensation?
As a victim of crime, you may be entitled to criminal compensation. To find out if you're eligible, the following information will help. The First Steps Before you consider taking legal action against the defendant, you must contact the police and report the crime so they can identify and prosecute the offender. When you make the initial report, write down the name of the police officer and the report number. While you can still make compensation claims against the offender without reporting the offence, it can be far more difficult, as you may have to justify why you never helped with the police enquiry.

What to Do If Your Ex-spouse Takes Your Children Overseas
The recent arrest of news reporters trying to bring back children from an overseas home with a parent has reemphasised how important it is to work within the law when dealing with custody issues. Here are some things you can do if your ex-spouse takes your children overseas without your permission. Determine if the country is a party to the Hague Abduction Convention Around the world 94 countries have signed up to the international Hague Abduction Convention which prevents parents from taking their children across international borders to find a more favourable court system for a custody claim.

Sharing The Gift Of Parenthood: FAQs About Adoption In Western Australia
Children are a gift and a blessing. Unfortunately, a large number of children don't get to enjoy the perks that come with being part of a functional family unit for one reason or the other. The concept of adoption provides the mentioned category of children a second shot at having what would be referred to as a "normal" childhood. Discussed herein are answers to two common questions that one may have when looking to share the gift of parenthood in Western Australia.

Accidents Involving Articulated Vehicles: What Limits Liability?
When an accident occurs, road traffic authorities come in to determine who is at fault. The person responsible for the accident has to compensate you for any damages resulting from the accident. In some situations, it is easy to identify the person liable to pay damages to another. For example, all drivers are supposed to keep a safe distance from the vehicles ahead of them to avoid rear end collisions. If such a collision occurs, then the person driving behind you is liable because they are not driving safely enough.

When to hire a lawyer after a car accident
If you've been in a car accident, there are a lot of things you need to think about. You need to tend to injuries, damages on your car and possible insurance issues. Most smaller accidents are possible to solve in a fairly simple manner if you and the other driver or drivers involved agree on the circumstances of the accident. However, sometimes you might need the help of motor vehicle accident lawyer to make sure your interests are protected and that you don't take on any blame for something that isn't your fault.