Francis and Associates Lawyers in Karratha, Western Australia | Legal service

Francis and Associates Lawyers

Locality: Karratha, Western Australia

Phone: +61 8 9339 8041

Address: Level 1, 18 Hedland Place 6714 Karratha, WA, Australia

Website: https://francisandassociates.com.au

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20.01.2022 Are you living in a remote or regional area and need personalised and expert Family Law advice? Locally based in Karratha, our trusted team of family lawyers specialise in assisting people living regionally in WA. We understand the extra challenges involved when going through separation or divorce and are determined to help provide you access to high quality family law services, no matter where you're located. ... With the choice of in-person, phone or audio-visual appointments, take advantage of our 25% off Initial Fixed-Fee Family Law Appointments. Contact us on (08) 9339 8041 or [email protected] See more

13.01.2022 Communication is key in a co-parenting relationship but that doesn't mean it's always easy. Before you speak (where possible) ask yourself these questions: Is what I am about to say kind? Is what I am about to say true, not just factually but true to MY personal and family values?... Is it necessary? Do I have to speak about this now or can it deferred? Do I really need to say this? Is it securing? Will what I am about to say make my child feel secure? If the answer isn't yes to any of these questions, DON'T say it. It doesn't mean that what you have to say is not important or relevant but perhaps there is another way of wording it or maybe there is a better time to have the conversation. Remember that you always have the ability to change the direction of the topic and the intensity of the conflict. It's important to recognise if you and your ex-partner aren't communicating effectively, our lawyers are here to provide clarity surrounding your co-parenting roles following separation to help minimise fallout for vulnerable family members. Please contact us on 9339 8041 or at [email protected] See more

11.01.2022 AGE OF INHERITANCE Do you have children under the age of 18? If you passed away and your children were to inherit, at what age would you want them to receive their inheritance? Typically, people consider 18, 21 or 25 years ~ however it can be any age that you specify.... Your child can still receive financial assistance from your Estate however this is controlled by, and at the discretion of your Executor/s. For example, funds could be released for education needs or to help them purchase a car when they qualify to drive. The CRUCIAL FACTOR is that your child does not receive their inheritance directly into their bank account until the age you determine. What age would you think suitable? Leave a comment below. See more

10.01.2022 When was the last time you updated your legal and financial housekeeping? One of the biggest burdens faced by relatives or next of kin following the death of a loved one, involves locating and collecting important personal information. To prevent additional stress, help your family and your executor by listing all of the documents you have and where they're kept. ... As well as having a will and an enduring power of attorney, other key documents to keep include: Birth certificate Marriage certificate Life insurance Medical insurance Medicare card Pensioner concession card House deeds Home and contents insurance Deeds and insurance policies for any other real estate you own Bank account details Superannuation papers Investment documents (securities, share certificates, bonds) prepaid funeral plans See more

07.01.2022 This depends on whether the money from your parents is a loan or a gift. A frequent example is where there is a debt that is allegedly owed to a family member. Often upon separation, one party will claim that the ‘loan’ was intended as a gift, with no expectations of repayment, while the other party will claim that the ‘loan’ was genuine and required to be repaid. Commonly, loans from family members are: ... undocumented and legally unenforceable; made on unclear or uncertain terms; and given with little or no expectation of repayment. In these circumstances, the Court will often disregard or discount the liability from the property pool but will instead treat the loan as a financial contribution that has been made on behalf of the party whose relative provided the money. In this case, the loan is not ignored and appropriate adjustments to the division of assets will be made in favour of that party. It would then be up to that party to repay the ‘loan’ on their own. There are of course many circumstances in which the Court will include a loan from a family member. In order to ensure that a genuine family loan is included in the asset pool, it is crucial that appropriate evidence be put before the Court to prove that there is an expectation of repayment. Evidence can include: a formal loan agreement and registered mortgage over property owned by the parties; evidence (in Affidavit form) of the lenders/borrowers as to the terms agreed, intentions and time-frames for repayment, etc; evidence of repayments being made; evidence of previous loans by the same family members being repaid by the parties. If you require advice in regards to how this issue will affect your property settlement matter, please contact us on 9339 8041 or email [email protected] See more

06.01.2022 As of 1 July 2008, new legislation was introduced that reformed the way Child Support is calculated and the way and types of Child Support Agreements that can be entered into. The Child Support formula was replaced by several formulas that now take into account the different types of family units that exist in Australia and identify that as children grow, they are more costly to provide for. Child Support is payable by all parents... who are responsible for contributing to the wellbeing and maintenance of their children who do not provide care for them on a daily basis. Arrangements can still be made to meet this liability by arranging for a formal assessment to be conducted by the Child Support Agency or by coming to an agreement with your partner and entering into a private Child Support Agreement. There are now two types of Child Support Agreements, Limited Child Support Agreements and Binding Child Support Agreements. If your ex doesn’t want to pay child support or you require assistance with the issue, contact us on : 9339 8041 or : [email protected] See more

06.01.2022 Determining the value of the marital assets is a vital step when resolving family law property matters. This can however cause great tension between parties to family court proceedings. Several categories of property for which the value is often controversial include: Real Estate, Businesses, Motor vehicles; and Furniture & Jewellery. Real Estate (Land/Houses and Buildings): Considered a ‘big ticket’ item for many couples and their assets..., it is critical that the accurate value of property is determined. In some situations, parties are able to agree to a value for property through the use of appraisals obtained from real estate agents. While this can often be a quick and inexpensive alternative, it has the range of being inaccurate. The most common tactic to determine the value of property is through an independent valuation by an expert engaged jointly by both parties. While this comes at an additional cost, the value is often returned in the precision of the report. Businesses: If one or both of the parties own a business this can also often represent a significant portion of the value of their assets. An independent expert can provide guidance to obtain a valuation for a business. In some cases, the value of the business will simply be the value of its assets minus its liabilities. Motor Vehicles: If there is a dispute about the value of a motor vehicle there are a number of websites such as Redbook and Carsales which can provide relevant information. These websites will generally provide a value range. If the issue remains, a joint expert can also help to obtain the correct value. Furniture & Jewellery: The family law courts tend to adopt a conservative approach when placing a value upon items like jewellery and furniture. The value they adopt will be the second-hand sale value of the items, not the insured or replacement value. See more