There are many trusts available for many different situations. For business purposes a trust where a person is legally appointment to hold assets for that business on behalf of the beneficiaries. What are the advantages of a trust? A trust agreement looks too good to be true; on the surface it might appear that way,…

Here is a common scenario. You have been served with a Claim issued by a Court. It says on it that you have 28 days to file a defence. You are in ill-health and cannot afford to pay a lawyer, so you do nothing. After the 28 days have passed, the plaintiff enters judgement by…

Often community groups are upset at planning applications which will change their area, such as commercial development in a residential zone. There is understandably an expectation that the existing zoning is sacrosanct and no departure should be allowed. It doesn’t quite work that way. The Courts have held that zoning should be construed broadly as…

Lawyers often come across disputes between beneficiaries as to the costs that the executor has run up in finalising the estate. The Succession Act provides that the executor can pay “proper and reasonable expenses”. What does that mean? It is well settled that where someone has paid funeral expenses he/she is entitled to reimbursement. However,…