Throughout the year, we try to give back to the community where we can. This might be in the form of monetary sponsorship for events, in kind donations of time right down to something very, very small like organizing to jump starting someone’s car in front of the office who’s battery has gone flat.
Read MoreThis month is our 5 year anniversary at John Willett Lawyers. As we reflect on the many accomplishments we have achieved for hundreds of clients over that time, it is hard to believe that it’s been 5 years…
Read MoreIt is that time of year again where we roll out the John Willett Lawyers banners in support of our rural community…
Read MoreThis is not my story but a famous story which also applies to resolving various types of family law conflicts or disputes…
Read MoreOver the years, we’ve helped countless rural families through legal conflict. We understand the challenges they face and will be forever grateful for the trust they place in us to deal with what can potentially be life changing legal problems…
Read MoreMany people go through their entire life only ever needing a lawyer to help them with the purchase of real estate, maybe a business or prepare their estate plan…
Read MoreThis is what good friend Rod Suthers proudly said to me when he recently handed me this old machine he bought from a second hand shop 25 years ago. As I undid the box and opened the lid, I observed what looked like a small typewriter, just with less keys…
Read MoreActive Listening results in an understanding of what others are going through on a deeper level. It is from this place of deeper understanding that lawyers like myself are able to help our clients obtain freedom & peace so they can move on with their lives, beyond legal conflict…
Read MoreAs I prepared for and appeared in my various Family Law cases in Hervey Bay last week, I noticed a distinct change in the air…
Read MoreI just want what’s FAIR. This is not an uncommon position taken by parties who become embroiled in Family Law property settlement disputes following family law separation or divorce…
Read MoreIn business, there are those tasks that cannot be done during work hours due to other pressing client demands. In our office foyer, there is a display of vintage dictation/transcription machines previously used by lawyers or other professionals in days gone by…
Read MoreIt’s getting to that time where I probably should let everyone know of our Christmas closure dates. Our office will close at 12 noon on 18 December 2023 and will re-open on 22 January 2024 at 9:00am. We have decided to take a slightly longer break this year taking into account client and court commitments at the end of 2023 and at the start of 2024…
Read MoreRecently, the Australian Bureau of Statistics have released the most recent statics on divorce in Australia. Interestingly, the facts for 2022 are that 49,241 divorces were granted in 2022, compared to 56,244 in 2021.
For 2022, the average duration of marriage for which divorce was granted was 12.8 years…
Many of the great lawyers I have encountered are very good at knowing what they don’t know. They are extremely good at recognising their strengths but more importantly, their weaknesses in certain practice areas…
Read MoreI have a large bookcase in my office full of Australian Law Reports. These books contain thousands of case law precedents with decided cases applying legal principles. Prior to the internet and the digital age of doing business…
Read MoreFamily Law in Australia is generally an adversarial system, with some exceptions. More than a decade of experience in legal practice tells me that at times, it can be come unnecessarily adversarial. Receiving voluminous correspondence raising debate about factual matters which do not advance…
Read MoreAs I leave the Maryborough office in the evening after another busy day, it dawned on me that we are only a month away from Christmas. 2023 has gone so quickly, it feels like only yesterday we were re-opening the office from the last Christmas break…
Read MoreWhile summer officially starts in December, it feels like it has arrived early this year. Some regional courthouses in Queensland (such as the Maryborough Magistrates Court) only have limited inside seating for parties to wait for their matter to be called. Sometimes the court is closed meaning non parties are prohibited from being inside the courtroom until their matter is heard…
Read MoreIn our practice, people rarely seek our advice and/or assistance during the good times in life. We are often called upon to help people at their darkest hour. Divorce, relationship breakdown, disputes over children, domestic violence issues and other major potential life changing “problems” are what we help clients with…
I’ve come to learn over the last 11 years in private practice that encouraging clients to take a deep breath, to step back and a look out the “window” to regain mental clarity and a position of composure can often be invaluable to them. External pressures and stressors experienced during separation can make this a difficult task however freedom and peace might not…
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