When was the last time you saw a lawyer?
If your answer is “never” or “only when something went wrong,” you are not alone. Most people only think about lawyers when they find themselves in a crisis. But the law does not wait for a crisis to become relevant to your life.
The law is often associated with dramatic Courtroom battles, high-stakes litigation or billion-dollar commercial transactions. That version of the law makes for compelling television. The reality, however, is that the law quietly shapes almost every significant decision you will make throughout your life. From signing your first lease to planning your estate, the law is present at every stage. Knowing when to seek advice can be one of the most valuable decisions you ever make.
Early Adulthood
Turning 18 opens the door to a world of new opportunities. A first job, a first rental, perhaps a move to a new city. It is an exciting time, and legal advice is probably the last thing on your mind. But here is the thing: the contracts you sign in early adulthood can have consequences that follow you for years. Our team of lawyers can help you navigate:
- Employment contracts – ensuring the terms are fair, your entitlements are protected and there are no clauses that could disadvantage you down the track.
- Lease agreements – reviewing your agreement to protect your interests, avoid disputes and give you the best chance of recovering your bond.
- Purchasing property – managing the contracts, transfers, searches and due diligence that come with buying your first home, so you can feel confident throughout the process. Our conveyancing team loves the excitement and enthusiasm of first home buyers.
- Estate planning – even in your twenties, a Will, Power of Attorney and Appointment of Enduring Guardian documents are worth having in place. As you begin to acquire assets, these documents matter more than most people realise.
Career and Business
As your career develops, you may find yourself considering starting a business, buying into an existing one or navigating more complex professional circumstances. This is a stage where good legal advice can protect both your livelihood and your personal assets. Our commercial lawyers can assist with:
- Starting or acquiring a business – working alongside your accountant and financial planner to ensure your business structure is suited to your goals and positions you well for growth.
- Employment and contract disputes – negotiating, mediating and advocating on your behalf. Lawyers are trained to identify the details in contracts that others often overlook, and those details can make a significant difference.
Relationships and Family
This stage of life often brings some of the most meaningful and, at times, most legally significant changes. Marriage, starting a family, blending households and, in some cases, separation. One important and frequently overlooked fact: marriage automatically revokes any existing will. If you marry without updating your estate planning documents, your assets may not be distributed the way you intend. Our family law team can help you with:
- Financial agreements – commonly known as prenuptial agreements, these documents provide clear financial arrangements that protect both parties before, during and after a relationship breakdown.
- Divorce – managing the legal requirements to formalise the end of a marriage with care and precision.
- Parenting and property settlements – separation is an emotionally difficult time. Our family lawyers can guide you through the legal process of reaching parenting and property arrangements, providing clarity and a constructive path forward.
- Updating your estate planning documents
Estate Planning and Retirement
As you move into retirement, the focus naturally shifts toward protecting what you have built and ensuring it passes to the people and causes you care about. Our estate planning team can assist you with:
- Wills, powers of attorney and enduring guardianship – reviewing and updating your documents to reflect your current circumstances and wishes.
- Succession planning – working with your financial advisers to structure the transfer of your assets to the next generation in the most effective way possible.
- Estate administration and probate – guiding families through the process of collecting and distributing assets and, where required, applying for a grant of probate.
- Farm Succession Planning – guiding families who have on-farm and off-farm children through complex debt management, inheritance, and the necessary legal instruments for a smooth transfer.
So, When Did You Last See a Lawyer?
No matter where you are in life, it is never too early or too late to seek trusted legal advice. In fact, the best time to speak to a lawyer is before you need one.
At Cheney Suthers, we are here to guide you through every stage of life’s legal journey. Whether you are just starting out or planning for the future, our team is ready to help.