OPINIONby Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.BSolicitorConsumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au In 1987 Igor and Nina Petrov purchased a home near Woollongong in New South Wales, and lived there for 19 years. Because they were in business at that time, and fearing potential trade creditors’ claims on their assets, Petrovs kept the property out of their own names by buying it in their daughter Olga’s name – apparently on legal advice. Petrovs would later fraudulently claim and receive pension...
Continue Reading »
The Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA) is warning conveyancers of their legal duty to declare any relevant interests on properties they deal with, following successful disciplinary action in the District Court. Today Judge Wayne Chivell officially reprimanded Bernard Ignatius Flood and fined him $2000 as a result of Mr Flood acting unlawfully and negligently in his practice as a conveyancer. Mr. Flood has operated a conveyancing business in Mount Gambier but the court...
Continue Reading »
OPINIONby Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.BSolicitorConsumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au The Queensland Law Society has happily informed its solicitor members that the Queensland Government does not intend to allow licensed conveyancers to practise in the Sunshine State. No matter that many solicitors here have long disguised themselves as conveyancers, and conduct their conveyancing practices under imaginative, less-than-imaginative and less-than-professional business names where the words “conveyancing’ or “conveyancers” feature prominently. Consider these crass examples: Affordable Conveyancing, Aussie Conveyancing,...
Continue Reading »
