Updates & Insights

First Home Guarantee: Buy Your First Home with Just 5% Deposit

Legal Insight from W & G Lawyers

At W & G Lawyers, we regularly assist first-home buyers with property transactions. The Federal Government’s First Home Guarantee (FHG) helps eligible buyers purchase a home with as little as a 5% deposit—but it is not without legal risks.

Many people mistakenly believe the scheme is a form of financial protection. In fact, the Guarantee is a contractual arrangement between the Government and your lender, not a safety net for you. This article sets out the core legal implications and how we, as your solicitors, can protect your interests throughout the process.

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Legally Binding or Vague Wish? How Courts Interpret Homemade Wills

Lessons from the Estate of Raveica Negrean

At W & G Lawyers, we regularly assist clients with disputes arising from informally prepared or poorly worded wills. A recent decision involving the estate of Raveica Negrean provides an instructive example of how courts determine whether a clause in a will is legally binding or merely expresses a non-enforceable wish.

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Understanding Co-Ownership: Joint Tenancy vs Tenants in Common

When purchasing property in Australia with another person – whether with a spouse, family member, or business partner – you must choose how the ownership is to be recorded. The two most common co-ownership structures are Joint Tenancy and Tenants in Common.

These structures can different significantly in their legal implications. Choosing the right form of ownership is critical for effective estate planning, asset protection, and future dispute resolution.

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New QLD Property Disclosure Law 2025: What Sellers Must Do

From 1 August 2025, all Queensland property sellers will be required to comply with the new Seller Disclosure Scheme under the Property Law Act 2023 (Qld). This includes residential, commercial, and vacant land sales. A failure to provide proper disclosure may lead to the contract being terminated or expose the seller to legal liability. If you’re new to this topic, we recommend reading our earlier article explaining the fundamentals: New Seller Disclosure Laws Coming to Queensland Property Sales

In this article, we focus on what sellers need to do in practice before listing or selling their property.

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Your New Financial Obligations – Changes to Australia’s AMF/CTF Schemes

New reforms to monetary disclosure are being finalised as part of a wider remodelling of Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing schemes. If you’re purchasing property, involved in a family law property settlement involving large financial transfers, or even just thinking about transferring funds from overseas, you need to understand how these new changes affect your ‘source of funds’ obligations.

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SMSF Trustee Changes, Death Benefits & Disputes: A Legal Guide for Trustees

Establishing a Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) is not the final step—it is the beginning of an ongoing legal and compliance journey. As life circumstances evolve—through marriage, death, separation, or the departure of members—so too do the legal obligations and risks associated with your SMSF. Without ongoing legal supervision, an SMSF can become vulnerable to serious disputes, compliance breaches, and unintended tax consequences.

This article highlights critical post-establishment issues trustees must be aware of, including trustee changes, death benefits, disputes, and questions about purchasing property through an SMSF using a custodial trust. At W & G Lawyers, we are committed to ensuring that your SMSF remains legally robust and aligned with your intentions, no matter what changes life brings.

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