Conveyancing Guidelines for First-Time Home Buyers | Infographic

In Sydney, there are property solicitors and conveyancing professionals who offer comprehensive conveyancing services. With their help, they can take care of the whole home buying process on behalf of the buyer. They also provide valuable advice and support. Working with a conveyancer ensures that the buyer’s rights are protected.

For more information on conveyancing in Sydney’s Inner West, contact Alex Sapounas on 02 9568 6266, or visit CM Lawyers

By Alex Sapounas

The First Criminal Trial

It is hard to think that a lawyer or solicitor in the Inner West of Sydney is the latest in a long line of lawyers working for justice in Australia. When we learn about Australian history, either as children or adults, what is often missed is the development of the criminal law system, including the first recorded criminal law trial in Australia’s history. It actually occurred quite soon enough the first colonists arrived in Australia and it is eerily similar to what a criminal lawyer in the Inner West would see as a case today.

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It was February the 6th, in 1788. After a long and harsh sea voyage, the female convicts came ashore at Sydney Cove. During the ship’s voyage from England to Australia, the male convicts had been kept apart from the female convicts. However, after successfully making it to Sydney Cove, continuing this separation would be impractical for the day-to-day work required by colonisation. In the coming months and years, many convicts married, but on the night of February the 6th, many men celebrated.

One such man was Samuel Barsby who had stolen 40 shillings worth of cloth, earning him a sentence of seven years of transportation. Barsby was drunk for two days and on the afternoon of the 8th, he personally abused the Drum Major, Benjamin Cook, and he repeatedly abused the sentinel and other guards while in custody after striking another drummer from the marines, John West, with a cooper’s adze (a woodworking tool similar to an axe).

Source:http://www.motherbedford.com/Adze2.jpg

And so the first criminal trial in Australia began. Cook and another marine gave evidence stating that Barsby had been fighting or attempting to fight with another convict while he was drunk. When he was confronted by Cook, Barsby began to argue and tried to hit Cook with his adze. Other officers and West came to help control Barsby, and that is when he hit West. A number of other witnesses corroborated this story.

Barsby claimed he had broken his adze while working, and while going to get it fixed, some seamen asked him where the women’s camp was and gave him nearly a full bottle of rum. After drinking it, he met the other convict and he could not remember his actions. Barsby was found guilty and received 150 lashes.

From that day, justice has been a priority in Australia. If you are interested in a lawyer in Sydney’s Inner West, visit CM Lawyers or call (02) 9568 6266.

By Alex Sapounas

Common Questions People Ask about Divorce | Video

One of the most challenging aspects of family law has to do with dealing with divorce issues. In this post, let’s talk about some of the most common questions people ask us about divorce.

For more information on filing for a divorce or any other issues relating to family law, contact Christine Manolakos at CM Lawyers today or call 02 9568 6266.

By Alex Sapounas

Solicitor in Sydney’s Inner West Understands: Coping with Stress after a Divorce | Infographic

It’s almost be guaranteed that no couple wishes for their marriage to end in divorce, but life is simply full of difficulties that lead people to make very tough decisions.

With divorce comes stress that takes a heavy toll on people both psychologically and emotionally. The emotional stress that comes with it negatively affects people's ability to move on with life and work meaningfully.

As experienced solicitors in Sydney’s Inner West, we understand how difficult divorce cases can get. That’s why we’ve come up with some steps you need to take in order for you to cope with the challenges of divorce. They include the little things that you may have been ignoring such as taking the time to relax and staying fit.

Call us for expert legal advice about divorce issues. You can talk to Christine Manolakos of CM Lawyers by calling 02 9568 6266 today.

Top 11 Most Interesting Laws Around the World

It is important to have some basic knowledge of the laws of wherever you might be travelling. Sometimes the criminal laws in these countries may not seem logical nor obvious however pleading ignorance will not suffice if you are caught breaking them. Share your interesting experiences of other strange laws from around the world.

To be aware about criminal laws, visit CM Lawyers or call 02 9568 6266

By Alex Sapounas

Preparing Wills on Your Own or with a Lawyer

Having a lawyer prepare your wills on your behalf is always a smart idea. However, there may be some instances when you have to write it on your own. The nice thing about wills is that they don’t have to be peppered with legal jargon. They just have to be simple and clear to all concerned.

Source:www.ae-law.co.uk

But when writing your wills, there are some formal prerequisites that you need to keep in mind:

• It must be in writing, either typed or hand-written
• Your signature must be affixed at the bottom of the every page
• You must have witnesses sign together. Take note, however, that witnesses cannot be the beneficiaries.

Writing your wills on your own

You can use any of the wills writing kits available on the market, but remember that they may not be specific to your requirements.

If you do decide to write your own will, it may be a good idea to have a lawyer check it for you to ensure that whatever you intended in writing will be carried out. Remember that the will is one of the most important documents you will ever write in your entire life.

Getting the help of a lawyer

Most family lawyers can write wills on their clients behalf, and also offer estate planning services. It may be a good idea to hire a lawyer who specialises in wills and estate planning for the following reasons:

• There may be a significant number of people concerned in your will
• Children and children with disability are included in special considerations
• You have joint assets with other people
• You have a family-run business
• You have assets outside the state or abroad
• You want to have your beneficiary protected against other circumstances such as divorce
• You earn income from a trust or family-owned company
• You want someone to be removed from the will
• You are concerned about the amount of taxes you may have to pay on your assets

Where wills should be kept

Protect your will from the prying eyes of individuals with ill intentions. Keep it somewhere safe. If the lawyer is the one preparing it for you, request to have them keep it at their office. Remember to ask for a copy.

Keeping it in a safety deposit box in a bank is also a good option.

For more information on wills and estate planning in Sydney, visit CM Lawyers at or call 02 9568 6266 today. Look for Christine Manolakos

Conveyancing Issues in Sydney’s Inner West: Challenges Homebuyers Could Face

Buying your first home says a lot about your capabilities as an individual. It makes you realise that you are able to stand on your feet. It also makes you feel secure that you are investing into something that you can call your own that appreciates in value over time.

But buying a home isn’t easy. There are lots of challenges that you could come face to face with, especially if you are a first time home buyer. If you’re buying a home in Sydney for the first time, it’s highly recommended that you consult with a highly qualified professional who specialises in conveyancing in Sydney’s Inner West.

Visit CMLawyers or call 02 9568 6266.

By Alex Sapounas

CM Laws Talks about Conveyancing in Inner West

Conveyancing is defined by law as the process of transferring a legal title from one party to another and or granting of encumbrance from one person to another that also involves the exchange of contracts. In simple English, it is the transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer. Generally conveyancing in Inner West Sydney is encompassed by the National Law of Australia that strictly implies all transfer of ownership done through a conveyancer should be carried out by a licensed practitioner, otherwise, will be subjected to legal actions.

By Alex Sapounas

Wills and Estate Planning Tips

Carefully drafting your wills and estate plan ensures that your assets go to people for whom they are intended. However, creating an estate plan may require that you get expert help to ensure that everything will go as planned when the time comes for your estate to be distributed.

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Here are some tips on successful wills and estate planning from Sydney’s Inner West professionals CM Lawyers.

Take the time to carefully plan

As with anything, time is crucial for estate planning. Many people put off planning until later, when others are already questioning their ability to make proper judgment and decisions. But for some, the real reason for the hold up is their lack of knowledge on how to get things started. The best way to get started is to consult with legal experts right away.

Draw up a solid plan

If you don’t have an estate plan, the government has one by default. However, it will lack all the considerations that you may already have in mind. A lot of your assets won’t go to the people concerned. In fact, a huge part of your asset will be used to pay the government taxes before your loved ones can obtain your properties.

Creating a plan now with the help of a lawyer will help ensure that all your assets will be distributed among the people you truly care.

Protect your assets from unscrupulous individuals

Some people with ill intentions are on the lookout for your every move when it comes to preparing your wills. That’s why, it is crucial to protect your assets with legal documents to ensure that only you and the people for whom your assets are intended will have access to them.

Consider your life insurance options

Getting a life insurance will also help protect your assets. In most states, life insurance benefits are tax-free, which means that the insurance proceeds that your loved ones will get should anything happen to you are paid in full.

If you haven’t drawn any estate plans, the insurance proceeds that your loved ones get after your death can be used to pay the taxes on your estate.

Regularly update your wills and estate plan

This is one of the things you need to do right away when there are changes such as your net worth, address, marital status, number of dependents and other legal obligations. Make a point of going over your estate plan once every year.

For more information on wills and estate planning with Sydney’s Inner West legal professionals, visit CM Lawyers or call 02 9568 6266 and look for Christine Manolakos.