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  • Trust

    Trust

    • Acknowledgement of Trust (already own asset) - $165
    • Change Appointor and/or Guardian of Family Trust - $110
    • Change of Name of Family Trust - $88
    • Change Trustee of Family Trust - $110
    • Dealing with Forgiven Debts (White Paper) - $55
    • Debt Recognition (including pre-Div 7A Loans) - $33
    • Declaration of Trust (before you buy) - $99
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement - $55
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement for UPE - $55
    • Family Trust - $165
    • Family Trust - Streaming & Bamford Update - $165
    • Family Trust - Update to Allow Change of Appointor and Guardian - $165
    • Family Trust - Update to allow Sole Trustee - $55
    • Family Trust - Update to Exclude Foreign Persons (NSW) - $198
    • Family Trust - Vesting - $249
    • Forgiveness of Debt - $121
    • Opening Minutes for the Unit Trust - $33
    • Partnership Deed - $220
    • Release of Unpaid Trust Entitlement - $121
    • The new small business restructure roll-over rules in practice (White Paper) - $55
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2008/09 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2009/10 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2010/11 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2011/12 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2012/13 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2012/13 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2013/14 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2013/14 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2014/15 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2014/15 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2015/16 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2015/16 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2016/17 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2016/17 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2017/18 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2017/18 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2018/19 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2018/19 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2019/20 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2019/20 - Single-Use - $121
    • Unit Trust - $149
    • Unit Trust - Add New Member Kit - $110
    • Webinar Recording - All About Family Trusts - $66
    • Webinar Recording - Are Family Trusts “Done” as an Asset Protection Tool? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Asset Protection - Dealing with Risk in Hard Times - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Beneficiary Entitlements in Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Family Trust v Family Court - Not a marriage made in Heaven - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Fixing Family Trust Deeds - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Know Thy Business Structure - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Managing Trust UPEs - How to do it and potential tax exposures - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Powers and Problems of Trustees - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Pros and Cons of Unit Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The who, what, when & how of Family Trust Elections - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trust Tax Issues and CGT Small Business Concessions - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trusts - Asset Protection on Peptides - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trusts Revisited - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Unit Trust v Family Trust - Which is Better for Investing? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Untangling Discretionary Trusts – A Family Lawyer’s Perspective - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Winding Up Trusts and Tax Consequences - $77
  • Superannuation

    Superannuation

    • Acknowledgement of Trust (already own asset) - $165
    • Commercial Lease - $220
    • Declaration of Trust (before you buy) - $99
    • Derivative Risk Statement for SMSF - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 15/16 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 16/17 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 17/18 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 18/19 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 19/20 - $65
    • Pension Pack for Self Managed Super - $299
    • Product Disclosure Statement (general) - $66
    • Product Disclosure Statement (Pension only) - $99
    • Self Managed Superannuation Fund Deed - $149
    • SMSF - Minute to Appoint Administrator - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Appoint an Auditor - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements 07/08 - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements 08/09 - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements 09/10 - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Insure The Members - $33
    • SMSF - Update Rules - $165
    • SMSF Commercial Property Assessment - $415
    • SMSF Full Valuation - $585
    • SMSF Kerbside Assessment - $415
    • SMSF Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement - $220
    • Statutory Declaration - $0
    • Webinar Recording - Accountant Road Rules for Super - $77
    • Webinar Recording - How does the 2016 Budget affect SMSF Trustees? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Investment Restrictions for Self Managed Superannuation Funds - $75
    • Webinar Recording - Pitfalls that SMSF Trustees should avoid - $77
    • Webinar Recording - SMSF End of Year Essentials - $77
    • Webinar Recording - SMSFs and Related Party Loans - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Superannuation: Current status of the proposed changes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Protected Super Myth’Conception - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Time to Address the SMSF Sleeper - Estate Planning within the fund - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Tips and Traps for Property Investment in your SMSF - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Understanding the 2017 Superannuation Changes - $77
  • Estate Planning

    Estate Planning

    • Buy Sell Agreement Company - $197
    • Capital Gains Tax Asset Register kit - $33
    • Codicil to change the Executor - $99
    • Confidentiality Agreement (Non Disclosure) - $99
    • Debt Recognition (including pre-Div 7A Loans) - $33
    • Enduring Power of Attorney - NSW - $55
    • Enduring Power of Attorney - SA - $55
    • Enduring Power of Attorney - WA - $55
    • Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial, Personal/Health) - QLD - $55
    • Enduring Power of Guardianship - NSW - $55
    • Enduring Power of Guardianship - WA - $55
    • Power Of Attorney By Company - $99
    • Webinar Recording - Estate Planning Basics for Professional Advisers - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Time to Address the SMSF Sleeper - Estate Planning within the fund - $77
    • Webinar Recording - When a Will is not Simple - $77
    • Will - Married or Defacto No Children - $77
    • Will - Married or Defacto with Children - $77
    • Will - Single No Children - $99
    • Will - Single With Children - $99
  • Commercial

    Commercial

    • Advanced Legal Health Check for Businesses - $18
    • Buy a House with Friends Agreement - $110
    • Commercial Lease - $220
    • Commercial Property Valuation Request - $0
    • Confidentiality Agreement (Non Disclosure) - $99
    • Co-Owners Agreement - $110
    • Dealing with Forgiven Debts (White Paper) - $55
    • Debt Recognition (including pre-Div 7A Loans) - $33
    • Debt Recovery Kit - Qld - $44
    • Declaration of Trust (before you buy) - $99
    • Demand and Statement of Claim for Debt - NSW - $88
    • Demand and Summons for Debt - VIC - $88
    • Demand and Summons for Debt - WA - $88
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement - $55
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement for UPE - $55
    • Forgiveness of Debt - $121
    • Loan Agreement (No Security) - $99
    • Release of Unpaid Trust Entitlement - $121
    • Statutory Declaration - $0
    • Terms of Trade (Non ROT) - $132
    • The new small business restructure roll-over rules in practice (White Paper) - $55
    • Webinar Recording - Avoiding Business Disputes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Maximising your Business Value - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Navigating Small Business Restructure Roll-overs - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Small Business Tax and Financial Risks - $77
  • Employment

    Employment

    • Confidentiality Agreement (Non Disclosure) - $99
    • Employment - Conduct Issues Letter - $33
    • Employment - Employee Expenses Policy - $55
    • Employment - Performance Issues Letter - $33
    • Employment - Request for Medical Information - $33
    • Employment - Termination Letter - $33
    • Employment - Transferring Employee Letter - $33
    • Employment Contract - $99
    • Independent Contractors Agreement - $99
    • Partnership Deed - $220
    • Statutory Declaration - $0
    • Webinar Recording - Are you Ready for Bullying in the Workplace? - $66
    • Webinar Recording - Employee Engagement and Share Plans - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Employee v Contractor - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Social Media in the Workplace - $77
  • Company

    Company

    • Acknowledgement of Trust (already own asset) - $165
    • Adopt Committee Recommendations kit - $33
    • Appoint a Committee kit - $33
    • Appoint an Alternate Director kit - $33
    • Appoint Managing Director & Confer Powers kit - $33
    • Build a Company - $99
    • Build a Company (ELodgement) - $625
    • Buy a House with Friends Agreement - $110
    • Buy Sell Agreement Company - $197
    • Capital Gains Tax Asset Register kit - $33
    • Change Registered Office kit - $33
    • Commercial Lease - $220
    • Company Constitution Update - $99
    • Confidentiality Agreement (Non Disclosure) - $99
    • Co-Owners Agreement - $110
    • Debt Recognition (including pre-Div 7A Loans) - $33
    • Declaration of Trust (before you buy) - $99
    • Demand and Statement of Claim for Debt - NSW - $88
    • Demand and Summons for Debt - VIC - $88
    • Demand and Summons for Debt - WA - $88
    • Director‘s Indemnity Agreement - Compulsory Insurance - $197
    • Director‘s Indemnity Agreement - No Insurance - $197
    • Directors Conflict of Interest Kit - $44
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement - $55
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement for UPE - $55
    • Employment Contract - $99
    • Family Trust - Vesting - $249
    • Forgiveness of Debt - $121
    • Independent Contractors Agreement - $99
    • Loan Agreement (No Security) - $99
    • Minutes for Members to Inspect Books - $33
    • Minutes for Resigning Director - $33
    • Opening Minutes for the Unit Trust - $33
    • Partnership Deed - $220
    • Power Of Attorney By Company - $99
    • Release of Unpaid Trust Entitlement - $121
    • Remove a Managing Director kit - $33
    • Remove and Replace a Director kit - $44
    • Replace Company Secretary kit - $44
    • Self Managed Superannuation Fund Deed - $149
    • Statutory Declaration - $0
    • Terms of Trade (Non ROT) - $132
    • Transfer of Shares Kit - $0
    • Unit Trust - $149
    • Unit Trust - Add New Member Kit - $110
    • Webinar Recording - Companies - Things you should know, but probably don’t! - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Know Thy Business Structure - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Private Company Cash - Division 7A Complications for Professional Advisors - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Year End Tax Planning - $77
  • Webinars

    Webinars

    • Webinar Recording - Accessing Company & Trust Documents in Family Law - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Accountant Road Rules for Super - $77
    • Webinar Recording - All About Family Trusts - $66
    • Webinar Recording - Are Family Trusts “Done” as an Asset Protection Tool? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Are you Ready for Bullying in the Workplace? - $66
    • Webinar Recording - Asset Protection - Dealing with Risk in Hard Times - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Avoiding Business Disputes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Beneficiary Entitlements in Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Companies - Things you should know, but probably don’t! - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Dealing with Divorce - An Accountant’s Perspective - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Dealing with Mistakes and Variations in Family Trust Deeds - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Demise of the Accountants’ Exemption - Walking the line, post 1 July 2016 - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Distributing Capital from Family Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Do Pre-Nups Work Anymore? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Employee Engagement and Share Plans - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Employee v Contractor - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Estate Planning Basics for Professional Advisers - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Family Trust v Family Court - Not a marriage made in Heaven - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Fixing Family Trust Deeds - $77
    • Webinar Recording - How does the 2016 Budget affect SMSF Trustees? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Investment Restrictions for Self Managed Superannuation Funds - $75
    • Webinar Recording - Know Thy Business Structure - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Managing Trust UPEs - How to do it and potential tax exposures - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Maximising your Business Value - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Navigating Small Business Restructure Roll-overs - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Pitfalls that SMSF Trustees should avoid - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Private Company Cash - Division 7A Complications for Professional Advisors - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Project Do It - ATO Amnesty Information Session - $0
    • Webinar Recording - Small Business Tax and Financial Risks - $77
    • Webinar Recording - SMSF End of Year Essentials - $77
    • Webinar Recording - SMSFs and Related Party Loans - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Social Media in the Workplace - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Stimulus measures and year-end tax planning for companies and trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Superannuation: Current status of the proposed changes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Powers and Problems of Trustees - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Pros and Cons of Unit Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Protected Super Myth’Conception - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The who, what, when & how of Family Trust Elections - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Time to Address the SMSF Sleeper - Estate Planning within the fund - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Tips and Traps for Property Investment in your SMSF - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trust Tax Issues and CGT Small Business Concessions - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trusts - Asset Protection on Peptides - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trusts Revisited - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Understanding the 2017 Superannuation Changes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Unit Trust v Family Trust - Which is Better for Investing? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Untangling Discretionary Trusts – A Family Lawyer’s Perspective - $77
    • Webinar Recording - When a Will is not Simple - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Winding Up Trusts and Tax Consequences - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Year End Tax Planning - $77
    • Webinar Recording - You’ve Been Served! - How to deal with a family law subpoena - $77
    • webinar20201125 - Webinar Test 2 - $88
  • All documents

    All documents

    • Acknowledgement of Trust (already own asset) - $165
    • Adopt Committee Recommendations kit - $33
    • Advanced Legal Health Check for Businesses - $18
    • Appoint a Committee kit - $33
    • Appoint an Alternate Director kit - $33
    • Appoint Managing Director & Confer Powers kit - $33
    • Build a Company - $99
    • Build a Company (ELodgement) - $625
    • Buy a House with Friends Agreement - $110
    • Buy Sell Agreement Company - $197
    • Capital Gains Tax Asset Register kit - $33
    • Change Appointor and/or Guardian of Family Trust - $110
    • Change of Name of Family Trust - $88
    • Change Registered Office kit - $33
    • Change Trustee of Family Trust - $110
    • Codicil to change the Executor - $99
    • Commercial Lease - $220
    • Commercial Property Valuation Request - $0
    • Company Constitution Update - $99
    • Confidentiality Agreement (Non Disclosure) - $99
    • Co-Owners Agreement - $110
    • Dealing with Forgiven Debts (White Paper) - $55
    • Debt Recognition (including pre-Div 7A Loans) - $33
    • Debt Recovery Kit - Qld - $44
    • Declaration of Trust (before you buy) - $99
    • Demand and Statement of Claim for Debt - NSW - $88
    • Demand and Summons for Debt - VIC - $88
    • Demand and Summons for Debt - WA - $88
    • Derivative Risk Statement for SMSF - $65
    • Director‘s Indemnity Agreement - Compulsory Insurance - $197
    • Director‘s Indemnity Agreement - No Insurance - $197
    • Directors Conflict of Interest Kit - $44
    • Disclaimer - Email - $55
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement - $55
    • Div 7A Loan Agreement for UPE - $55
    • Employment - Conduct Issues Letter - $33
    • Employment - Employee Expenses Policy - $55
    • Employment - Performance Issues Letter - $33
    • Employment - Request for Medical Information - $33
    • Employment - Termination Letter - $33
    • Employment - Transferring Employee Letter - $33
    • Employment Contract - $99
    • Enduring Power of Attorney - NSW - $55
    • Enduring Power of Attorney - SA - $55
    • Enduring Power of Attorney - WA - $55
    • Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial, Personal/Health) - QLD - $55
    • Enduring Power of Guardianship - NSW - $55
    • Enduring Power of Guardianship - WA - $55
    • Family Trust - $165
    • Family Trust - Streaming & Bamford Update - $165
    • Family Trust - Update to Allow Change of Appointor and Guardian - $165
    • Family Trust - Update to allow Sole Trustee - $55
    • Family Trust - Update to Exclude Foreign Persons (NSW) - $198
    • Family Trust - Vesting - $249
    • Forgiveness of Debt - $121
    • Independent Contractors Agreement - $99
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 15/16 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 16/17 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 17/18 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 18/19 - $65
    • Investment Strategy for Self Managed Super 19/20 - $65
    • Loan Agreement (No Security) - $99
    • Minutes for Members to Inspect Books - $33
    • Minutes for Resigning Director - $33
    • Opening Minutes for the Unit Trust - $33
    • Partnership Deed - $220
    • Pension Pack for Self Managed Super - $299
    • Power Of Attorney By Company - $99
    • Product Disclosure Statement (general) - $66
    • Product Disclosure Statement (Pension only) - $99
    • Release of Unpaid Trust Entitlement - $121
    • Remove a Managing Director kit - $33
    • Remove and Replace a Director kit - $44
    • Replace Company Secretary kit - $44
    • Self Managed Superannuation Fund Deed - $149
    • SMSF - Minute to Appoint Administrator - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Appoint an Auditor - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements 07/08 - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements 08/09 - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Approve Financial Statements 09/10 - $33
    • SMSF - Minute to Insure The Members - $33
    • SMSF - Update Rules - $165
    • SMSF Commercial Property Assessment - $415
    • SMSF Full Valuation - $585
    • SMSF Kerbside Assessment - $415
    • SMSF Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement - $220
    • SMSF Subscription - $99
    • Statutory Declaration - $0
    • Terms of Trade (Non ROT) - $132
    • The new small business restructure roll-over rules in practice (White Paper) - $55
    • Transfer of Shares Kit - $0
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2008/09 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2009/10 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2010/11 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2011/12 - $99
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2012/13 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2012/13 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2013/14 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2013/14 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2014/15 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2014/15 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2015/16 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2015/16 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2016/17 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2016/17 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2017/18 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2017/18 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2018/19 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2018/19 - Single-Use - $110
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2019/20 - Multi-Use - $350
    • Trust Distribution Minutes Library for 2019/20 - Single-Use - $121
    • Unit Trust - $149
    • Unit Trust - Add New Member Kit - $110
    • Webinar Recording - Accessing Company & Trust Documents in Family Law - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Accountant Road Rules for Super - $77
    • Webinar Recording - All About Family Trusts - $66
    • Webinar Recording - Are Family Trusts “Done” as an Asset Protection Tool? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Are you Ready for Bullying in the Workplace? - $66
    • Webinar Recording - Asset Protection - Dealing with Risk in Hard Times - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Avoiding Business Disputes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Beneficiary Entitlements in Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Companies - Things you should know, but probably don’t! - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Dealing with Divorce - An Accountant’s Perspective - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Dealing with Mistakes and Variations in Family Trust Deeds - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Demise of the Accountants’ Exemption - Walking the line, post 1 July 2016 - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Distributing Capital from Family Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Do Pre-Nups Work Anymore? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Employee Engagement and Share Plans - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Employee v Contractor - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Estate Planning Basics for Professional Advisers - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Family Trust v Family Court - Not a marriage made in Heaven - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Fixing Family Trust Deeds - $77
    • Webinar Recording - How does the 2016 Budget affect SMSF Trustees? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Investment Restrictions for Self Managed Superannuation Funds - $75
    • Webinar Recording - Know Thy Business Structure - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Managing Trust UPEs - How to do it and potential tax exposures - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Maximising your Business Value - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Navigating Small Business Restructure Roll-overs - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Pitfalls that SMSF Trustees should avoid - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Private Company Cash - Division 7A Complications for Professional Advisors - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Project Do It - ATO Amnesty Information Session - $0
    • Webinar Recording - Small Business Tax and Financial Risks - $77
    • Webinar Recording - SMSF End of Year Essentials - $77
    • Webinar Recording - SMSFs and Related Party Loans - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Social Media in the Workplace - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Stimulus measures and year-end tax planning for companies and trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Superannuation: Current status of the proposed changes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Powers and Problems of Trustees - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Pros and Cons of Unit Trusts - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The Protected Super Myth’Conception - $77
    • Webinar Recording - The who, what, when & how of Family Trust Elections - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Time to Address the SMSF Sleeper - Estate Planning within the fund - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Tips and Traps for Property Investment in your SMSF - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trust Tax Issues and CGT Small Business Concessions - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trusts - Asset Protection on Peptides - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Trusts Revisited - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Understanding the 2017 Superannuation Changes - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Unit Trust v Family Trust - Which is Better for Investing? - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Untangling Discretionary Trusts – A Family Lawyer’s Perspective - $77
    • Webinar Recording - When a Will is not Simple - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Winding Up Trusts and Tax Consequences - $77
    • Webinar Recording - Year End Tax Planning - $77
    • Webinar Recording - You’ve Been Served! - How to deal with a family law subpoena - $77
    • webinar20201125 - Webinar Test 2 - $88
    • Website Terms And Conditions - $99
    • Will - Married or Defacto No Children - $77
    • Will - Married or Defacto with Children - $77
    • Will - Single No Children - $99
    • Will - Single With Children - $99
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Print Version Back

Accountants Liens

Issue: 567 - Thursday, 4 June 2020

In this Issue

  1. Accountants Liens

1. Accountants Liens

By John Wojtowicz (Director - Law Central Legal)

In general terms, a lien is the right to retain possession of someone else’s property as security for their unpaid debt to you. This bulletin will address liens in the context of accountants, but this will necessarily involve discussion around liens more generally. There are multiple ways in which the legal right to exercise a lien can arise. The right to exercise a lien can arise from the common law (case law); from a party’s rights under a contract; or under statute. Examples of statutory liens are the liens which arise in the sale of goods legislation enacted by various Australian states. However, those statutory liens have limited application to accountants and therefore will not be addressed in any detail in this bulletin.

Common Law Liens

Liens have long been recognised under the common law. Since the beginning of the 19th century the Courts in the U.K. have recognised the rights of various industries to exercise liens to ensure they receive payment for their work. These industries include (but are not limited to) arbitrators, architects, conveyancers, solicitors, bankers, stockbrokers and insurance brokers. There are two distinct types of liens which arise under the common law. The two types of common law liens are “general liens” and “particular liens”.

General Liens

General liens were considered by the Australian Courts in the case of Stapley v Towing Masters Pty Ltd (trading as Dynamic Towing) [2009] NSWSC 139 (“Stapley v Towing Masters”). In that case, the Court stated that “A general lien entitles the holder to retain the chattel as security for payment of the full indebtedness of the owner, no matter on what account the indebtedness may be due.” An important legal principle relating to general liens is that there is no restriction on what property the holder of the general lien may exercise the lien over, provided they have received possession of the property by lawful means.

The Court then stated in Stapley v Towing Masters that a general lien may arise in one of two ways. Firstly, because it has arisen in an occupation which is recognised under law as having the right to exercise a general lien. The Court set out those occupations in its judgment “Those occupations are: solicitors, bankers, factors, stockbrokers, insurance brokers and calico printers”. The second way that a general lien may arise is by custom or usage in the particular industry in which the lien holder operates. Of this second way of asserting a general lien, the Court in Stapley v Towing Masters stated, “the Defendant must prove that the industry uniformly acknowledges the right to a general lien.”

The Courts in Australia have generally formed the view that accountants do not satisfy either of the two ways of asserting a general lien. This was expressed by the New South Wales Supreme Court in the unreported judgment of Malouf v Rowley (1980) NSWSC (“Malouf v Rowley”). As such, accountants are unlikely to be able to lawfully exercise a common law general lien over property which they hold for their clients.

Particular Lien

A particular lien is a common law lien which limits the property which the lien holder can exercise the lien over. It has been decided by the Courts on several occasions that accountants are able to exercise a particular lien to ensure they receive payment for services which they have rendered. Notably decided by Lawton LJ in the U.K case of Woodworth v Conroy where he stated “I would adjudge that accountants in the course of doing their ordinary professional work of producing and auditing accounts, advising on financial problems, and carrying on negotiations with the Inland Revenue in relation to taxation and rating have at least a particular lien.”  

As a particular lien can only apply to certain property, it is important that accountants and their clients understand what that property is. This issue was addressed by Powell J in the Australian case of Malouf v Rowley where he stated that the accountant “could exercise a lien in respect only of those records or documents which he or his staff prepared or wrote up; no such lien could be exercised in respect of other records or documents in his possession.” As such, accountants are able to exercise a lien over a particular document provided they prepared or wrote up that document; and they are unpaid for that particular document.

A particular lien could be considered within the context of a tax return. The client provides their receipts and other tax related documents to the accountant to enable the accountant to prepare the tax return. The accountant prepares the tax return on the basis of those receipts and documents only to find that the client is not providing payment for the tax return. The accountant is permitted under common law to exercise a particular lien over the tax return because that is a document which the accountant prepared. The accountant would not be able to exercise a particular lien over the receipts and other tax related documents which the client provided because they were not prepared by the accountant.

Contractual Liens

Liens can automatically arise without the need for any action under statute and the common law. However, it is possible to create a lien by entering into a contract and these liens are referred to as contractual liens. Many accountants will enter into a contract with their clients in the form of a retainer. This retainer should always be the first reference should the situation arise where an accountant may want to exercise a lien. This is because if a lien exists under contract or in the retainer then the terms of the lien will likely be decided in accordance with what is stated in that contract or retainer. Many accountants will consider this to be advantageous because they can put a further reaching lien in their retainer than is available under common law. If the contractual lien is properly drafted, then the accountant will be able to exercise all the rights conferred by a General Lien which is normally not available to them under the common law.  Accountants should review their current retainers to ensure the retainer gives them the right to exercise a lien over all of the client’s property which is in the accountant’s possession. This will give the accountant better security for their unpaid work and maximise the accountant’s chances of getting paid for their services.  

Note: Some liens may need registering in order to be effective or to have priority over other creditors. The discussion in this bulletin has assumed that such a registration is either not required or has already been completed. 

Gold and Platinum members read on for a case analysis of how an accountant unintentionally surrendered his right to exercise a lien over his client’s documents and how that can be prevented.  

Platinum Members, click here to view content

Disclaimer: The content of this Bulletin is general information only. It is not legal advice. Law Central recommends you seek professional advice before taking any action based on the content of this Bulletin.

Related documents:

  • Demand and Statement of Claim for Debt - NSW
  • Demand and Summons for Debt - VIC
  • Demand and Summons for Debt - WA
  • Forgiveness of Debt
  • Loan Agreement (No Security)

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