It feels like we only wrote to you, our valued clients and readers, just last week! But here we are at the end of another busy month.
This month we’ve been doing a lot of professional development to improve our skills for our clients. There is also plenty happening in our community and in the law that we will let you know about as well.
You might have seen on our social media (follow us on Instagram and Facebook if you aren’t!) that this month, Kathryn and Seth have been successfully registered on the High Court of Australia’s Register of Practitioners. As part of their licence to be a solicitor, they also must register with the High Court to be able to practise in our federal court system, particularly the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
If you aren’t already aware, there have been several amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) which have been coming into effect. Most notably are some changes to how the Court deals with pets during a separation and divorce. Pets are no longer property and now considered companion animals under the amendments. If you are affected by domestic violence, the amendments also will require judges to make considerations for this in their rulings with respect to property & financial proceedings, and with respect to pets. These amendments take effect on 1 June 2025.
On 12 March, our conveyancer Sarah attended the Conveyancing Symposium to understand more about the nuances between defects in title, complications in disclosure obligations which might arise during the conveyancing process. Sarah is one of our two super conveyancers, and she is more than ready to tackle your next property sale or purchase.
Also this month, Kathryn and Seth attended a seminar on adapting to Family Law Trends. This seminar took them through some useful tools to help clients in their financial settlements to ensure an easier and more efficient process. If you are needing assistance in a financial settlement for your Family Law matter, reach out to us to see how these tools could help you.
Harriss Jones Lawyers is also proud to be sponsoring the Oyster Bay Art & Craft Festival for another year. This great event is an opportunity to support the local community and the Oyster Bay Public school with handmade craft stalls, art competitions, awesome rides, and plenty of great food. We are so thankful for our community and their support, so it’s important to ensure we give back. The festival is on from 23 to 25 May and we hope you’re as excited as we are.
In the spirit of supporting great causes, this month we donated to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation in memory of a valued member of our community. The ACRF provides vital support to scientists in this space to provide them with cutting edge tools to save lives and push the boundaries of medical research on cancer. Cancer is estimated to affect around 1 in 7 people in our community and so it’s vital we support these organisations and their ever-important research.
Last but by no means least, Kathryn and Seth have offered their time to volunteer at the Family Co to provide the opportunity for people to obtain some preliminary legal advice in family law matters who may not otherwise be able to see a lawyer. The Family Co offers a variety of family support services and is such a valuable organisation in our community. We are glad to be supporting this community organisation provide access to justice and to provide legal services to the broader community.
We are also keen to hear from you, our valued readers and clients, about your experiences with us. If we’ve helped you with a new will or updated an old one, coached you through the purchase of your property, or maybe assisted you with obtaining a Grant of Probate, we would love your feedback. You can leave a Google or Facebook review or write to us at admin@hjlaw.com.au.
