Binding Financial Agreement Victoria | Family Law Lawyers
What is a Binding Financial Agreement? Most people enter a relationship hoping it will last. However, sensible financial planning does not mean that you expect the relationship to fail. It means that both people understand their financial position and agree on what should happen if their circumstances change. A Binding Financial Agreement is a private...
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Card Surcharges Ending in Australia from October 2026
Card Surcharges Are Ending in Australia: What Businesses Need to Know Australian businesses that accept card payments need to prepare for an important change. From 1 October 2026, businesses will no longer be able to charge customers or clients an extra fee for paying by eftpos, Visa, Mastercard or American Express. The change will affect...
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Solicitor Certificate Victoria | Loan and Guarantee Legal Advice
What is a solicitor certificate? If you are obtaining a loan, refinancing a property, giving a personal guarantee or offering your property as security, the lender may ask you to obtain independent legal advice and a solicitor certificate. This is common with: Major banks. Second tier lenders. Third tier lenders. Non bank lenders. Private lenders....
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Default Judgment in Victoria: Can It Be Set Aside?
Default Judgment in Victoria: Can It Be Set Aside? A default judgment does not always mean your case is over. Shawn Mendis Lawyers recently appeared in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria for Defendants who had a default judgment entered against them. We successfully asked the Court to set aside the judgment and allow the Defendants...
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Building a House in Victoria? Know Your Rights!
Building your own home is exciting but it is also one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. In Victoria there are three separate pieces that must work together: • your land and building contract with the builder• your construction loan with the bank or lender• your legal protection as a consumer under...
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Victoria’s New Reserve Price Disclosure Law – What It Means for You
By Shawn Mendis (Pakenham, Victoria) The Victorian Government has announced a major reform in the real estate sector aimed at tackling the practice known as under-quoting. Under the proposed changes, real estate agents in Victoria will be required to publish the exact reserve price of a property at least seven days before it goes to...
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Understanding Fair Work Conciliation and Arbitration in Australia
When workplace issues arise, especially involving claims of unfair dismissal, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) plays an important role in helping employees and employers resolve disputes quickly and fairly. One of the most common steps in this process is conciliation, followed by arbitration if the dispute cannot be settled. This article explains what these processes...
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Understanding the 2025 Franchise Law Changes in Australia and Victoria
From 1 April 2025, Australia introduced a new version of the Franchising Code of Conduct, which applies across all states, including Victoria. Some rules will become fully active from 1 November 2025. These updates are designed to make franchise relationships fairer, clearer, and more transparent for both franchisees and franchisors. At Shawn Mendis Lawyers, we...
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Shawn Mendis Named Double Finalist at 2025 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards
We are proud to share some incredible news from Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2025 – our Principal Solicitor, Shawn Mendis, has been named a finalist in not just one, but two prestigious national categories. Wills and Estates Partner of the Year New Partner of the Year (SME Law) This is a significant...
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