Useful Information & News

Peter Dooley passed away on Saturday, 14 December 2019. Peter had been battling a brain tumour for the last couple of years. Peter was a prominent solicitor in Western Sydney. He established the firm of Matthews Dooley& Gibson at Blacktown and practised there for many years. He left that firm to become a sole practitioner at Penrith.

Last Friday, 22nd of November 2019, Terry Willis, a former director of Lamrocks Solicitors, passed away. Terry was a former partner, and director, of Lamrocks. He left Lamrocks to take up practice as a Barrister at the bar in 1988. He practiced as a barrister from that time, up to the time of his unfortunate death. Many people in Penrith will remember Terry from the time he spent living and working in Penrith.

SECTION 60AA OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT 1987

When most people think about family law parenting matters, they imagine a mother and a father in dispute about the care and welfare of their child or children. But if you are someone who is concerned about the care, welfare and development of a child, then you may also be able to play a role in parenting proceedings.

It is now in excess of 18 months since the Premier of this State announced on 19 June 2012 that his Government intended to make significant changes to the New South Wales Workers Compensation scheme.

Superannuation is now often the most significant asset of many families, after the family home. How is it treated in a property settlement?

There has been significant media attention recently about the increase to the filing fees in the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court. However proposed changes which were due to be implemented on 1 July 2015 were initially blocked in the Senate. Following further negotiation with the Government The Family Law (Fees) Regulation 2012 has now been amended by the Family Law (Fees) Amendment (2015 Measures No. 1) Regulation 2015 and the fee increases became effective from 13 July 2015.

Following a separation, there will often be issues to work out concerning the property settlement which may include assets such as the family home, any investment properties, shares, cars, furnishings and superannuation. How can couples go about negotiating an agreement?

The Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act on 19 June 2012 have left many injured workers uncertain as to whether or not they can claim additional lump sum compensation if their condition deteriorates. Two recent cases have shed some light on the matter, however we are still waiting on the outcome of one (Goudappel V Adco Constructions Pty Ltd) which has progressed as far as the High Court of Australia.

Purchasing a property can be both exciting and somewhat daunting! Regardless of whether you are buying a home to live in or an investment property, there are a number of considerations and issues you need to think of before you sign on that dotted line...

Recent high-profile cases have raised awareness of an issue that faces more families in Australia than you might think - international parental child abduction.

Lamrocks Solicitors is proud to announce its support of the 2013 Women with Altitude Awards and, in particular, our sponsorship of the "Sky's the Limit" Award.

Unfortunately, when someone passes away, a situation can arise in which one or more people feel that they have not been fairly treated in that person's Will.

When a family breaks down and parents separate, the children are often the ones who seem to suffer most. In recent years the media has reported on many family law cases involving issues such as child abduction, absentee parents, domestic violence and child abuse. Every case is heartbreaking for those involved and many of us are left thinking "who's looking after the children's best interests?".

Making the decision to separate or divorce is difficult for any couple, but for those who also own a business together that decision can be even more complicated. Whether the business is a small trade-based firm, or a large manufacturing business, the issues are the same:

Everyday the Supreme Court of New South Wales deals with disputes about the distribution of an Estate. On 13 July 2015 the New South Wales Court of Appeal handed down a decision relating to a claim under the Succession Act 2006. It was an Appeal from a decision of a Supreme Court Judge who had previously heard the case.

At Lamrocks, we have the knowledge, skills and experience to identify any potential issues before they become a problem and we make sure you understand your rights and obligations every step of the way when buying a property.

There appears to be a growing need for granny flats as more ageing parents are considering moving in with their adult children - but what should you consider before rushing into a granny flat arrangement?

On Wednesday, 1 October 2015, Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law, Steve Groves, appeared in the Western Weekender to discuss the legislative changes that have retrospectively stripped Injured workers in New South Wales of their right to claim lump-sum compensation, despite assurances from the government that changes to the Workers Compensation Act would have no such outcome.

On Wednesday, 23 September 2015, Steve Groves of our office appeared on the ABC Evening News to discuss the harsh, unfair and unnecessary amendments to the Workers Compensation Act made by the New South Wales Government in light of the Court of Appeal Decision in the matter of Cram Fluid Power Pty Ltd v Green [2015] NSWCA 250.

An Open Letter to Mike Baird, Premier of New South Wales

In a decision handed down on 27 August 2015, the Court of Appeal has effectively clarified the meaning of “claim” for the purposes of section 66 (1A) Workers Compensation Act 1987.

The decision to buy into a retirement village can often be difficult. Whether you are looking for yourself, or another family member, there are so many options and so many new villages and facilities being built that it can be confusing trying to work out which one is right for you.

A subpoena is a document issued by the Court to require the production of evidence or documents from an individual or an organisation (the 'named party'). In the family law courts, this often takes the form of a request to produce documents.

A Will is a legal document that stipulates your wishes as to who will receive your property and possessions when you die. It is important that you have a valid Will to ensure your estate is distributed to those you wish.

Lamrocks recently acted in a compensation matter on behalf of a man who was employed as a cleaner at a High School in Western Sydney.

One of the most stressful issues to settle following a separation or divorce is often that of child support: how much financial support a child needs from each parent, and how it will be paid.

One of the most common fears and misconceptions surrounding the family law system today is that every separating couple has to attend a Court to finalise their divorce, divide their assets, and make arrangements for where the children will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. Thankfully, there are other options available for couples.

If you die without a valid Will it can be a complicated and time-consuming process for your family and loved ones, and could result in unnecessary expense and hardship for them.

With Easter just behind us, and the school holidays looming, it can be a difficult time for separated families who have to juggle arrangements and decide how much time the children will spend with each parent.

Lamrocks Solicitors conducts regular boardroom briefings for accountants and mortgage brokers to keep them up to date with the latest legal issues.

Read our Fact Sheet to help you understand the radical changes to the Workers' Compensation Scheme in NSW. The amendments are retrospective and apply to all claims made before or after 19 June 2012.

If your relationship with your spouse has broken down and there are school-aged children involved, you need to consider a number of issues.

What factors do you need to consider when deciding whether to buy or build?

Given the importance of parenting arrangements and the health and welfare of children following a family breakdown, the family law system in Australia encourages families, wherever possible, to resolve their parenting arrangements without the intervention of the Court.

Whilst the majority of family law matters do not require the parties involved to attend Court, if you find that you do have to attend we have prepared some useful information and tips on what to expect on the day.

When a person passes away and has left a Will, they have usually appointed an Executor in the Will to oversee the distribution of their assets and make sure that the conditions of the Will are met. In some instances a person will appoint a Solicitor as their Executor, in other cases the role will fall to a loved one.

At Lamrocks we can take the stress out of the legal process by managing your sale transaction and negotiations on your behalf so that you can focus on the task at hand!

We help you to understand the importance of having a valid Will and consider the benefits of additional protection in the form of a Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship.

“Duty of disclosure” is a legal requirement on the parties involved in a family law dispute regarding property issues to provide each other with all of the financial information relevant to their case. When parties are involved in a property dispute arising from a breakdown in a relationship, they are required to provide one another with all relevant information about their financial circumstances. This requirement is to give them the best possible chance of reaching an agreement themselves, and also to ensure that the Court has all of the relevant information if no agreement is able to be reached.

The most important issues for families when a relationship breaks down concern the children – where will they live, how often will they see the other parent, who is responsible for the day-to-day decisions concerning their welfare and so on.