SMSF borrowing has changed: What you need to know about LRBAs
Most people running a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) reach a point where the fund’s balance and the asset they want are not the same number. Borrowing is the only lever that closes that gap, and superannuation law has always been reluctant to hand it over. As a general rule, SMSF trustees cannot borrow at all. […]
Buying property in a family trust: what you need to know
For many families, an investment property is the first asset bought with the next generation in mind. Holding property in a family trust can offer flexibility, asset protection and succession planning benefits. However, it also comes with important legal consequences, and the tax landscape has changed following the 2026 Federal Budget. Before putting a property […]
You’ve been told to make a family trust election. Here’s what that actually means.
If you’re running a family business or managing family wealth through a trust, chances are your accountant has recommended that you “make a Family Trust Election” (or FTE for short). If your response was, “Sure… what exactly is that?”, you’re not alone. Let’s demystify what this election is, why it’s coming up now, and why it’s worth talking to a lawyer before you commit. What is a […]
Changes to trust taxation in the Federal Budget: Is there still a case for keeping a family trust in my structure?
We’re hearing this question from many of our clients since the Federal Budget announcement on 12 May 2026 introduced proposed changes to how family trusts (also called discretionary trusts) are taxed. Small to medium-sized businesses, family business owners and individuals who have taken steps to limit their personal liability are now questioning the value of […]
Australia’s new AML/CTF rules: what changes from 1 July 2026
If you have engaged a lawyer, accountant, conveyancer or real estate agent recently, you may already have been asked for more identification than usual. From 1 July 2026, those asks become standard practice across the profession. Your advisers will need to verify who you are. They will also ask about the source of funds in […]
Set up a family governance framework or family office
Set up a family governance framework or family office We will put a structure around family decisions before the next one has to be made informally. Most family wealth is governed by habit rather than by any agreement. That works while one generation is making the decisions and stops working the moment there are several. […]
Check an investment before you commit
Check an investment before you commit We will tell you what the documents actually commit you to, before your money is in. An investment proposal is a sales document and a legal one at the same time. The returns are in the presentation. The terms are in the subscription agreement, the shareholders agreement or the […]
Set up and run a family trust
Set up and run a family trust We will draft a deed that matches what you actually intend, and keep the administration consistent with it. A family trust is only as protective as two things: the deed, and the decisions made under it. Most trusts are set up from a template and then run for […]
Set up or amend a unit trust
Set up or amend a unit trust We will set the unit trust up so the entitlements are certain and the amendments do not resettle it. A unit trust is the opposite of a discretionary one. There is no trustee discretion about who benefits: the units fix the entitlements, in proportion, in advance. That is […]
Prepare your trust distribution resolutions
Prepare your trust distribution resolutions We will have your resolutions prepared and signed before 30 June, with the beneficiaries checked against the deed. There is one date in the trust year that cannot be moved. If the trustee has not effectively resolved to distribute the trust’s income by 30 June, it can be assessed on […]