http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.hjlaw.com.au en-us Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:12:37 +1000 Rocketspark http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12476/costs-of-surrogacy/ First, have a read of our previous article ‘Surrogacy Law in New South Wales’ at https://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12393/surrogacy-law-in-new-south-wales/, to understand the legal aspects of the surrogacy process.While there is much to think about, one of the major things to look at are the predicted costs.It is not easy to provide a simple answer to the question of costs. Costs will vary majorly based on individual circumstances and the success of any treatments used. Pregnancy itself is a... Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:40:28 +1000 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12476 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12474/when-a-diary-entry-becomes-a-legal-will/ The storyKenneth Warren Young was 85 years old when he died on 24 August 2022. He was divorced, had no children, and as far as anyone could find, had never made a formal will. He lived alone in Maroubra, Sydney.After he died, his niece Anthea found a notepad sitting on the armchair in his home where Kenneth used to sit. Inside it were three handwritten pages. They weren't a will in any conventional sense. They were the private writings of an old man on two nights, years apart, when he'd felt unw... Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:38:09 +1000 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12474 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12471/future-of-ai-use-in-law/ The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (‘Gen AI’) has become almost omnipresent in our world. Well known AI tools such as ChatGPT, which was only released in 2022, have rapidly evolved and have the ability to do things we would not have imagined just 10 years ago.The use of Gen AI can work as a transformative tool for the legal system, making processes cheaper, quicker and more accessible, but it must be used with caution. The regulation of technological processes, in particular, AI, ... Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:31:30 +1000 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12471 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12387/monthly-insights-at-harriss-jones-lawyers-march-2026/ We’ve reached the end of another month at Harriss Jones Lawyers and as always, we’ve been busy helping our valued clients get through their key milestones of life. New home purchases, estate planning and handling the emotional process of deceased estates, we are thankful that our clients choose us for whatever they’re needing support with.On 10 March, Kathryn attended the all-day family law event at Elouera Surf Life Saving Club. This year’s seminars included presentations from Senior Ju... Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:45:00 +1100 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12387 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12394/changes-to-nsw-planning-laws/ There has been significant reform in recent months to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979)(the EPAA) with the most recent changes coming into force on 21 March of this year. These changes are set to streamline the process for section 4.55 modification applications.Forming part of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 the changes which have now come info force will provide property owners who have gone through the development appli... Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:38:39 +1100 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12394 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12393/surrogacy-law-in-new-south-wales/ If you are considering surrogacy, it is important to understand the rules in place to ensure the protection of all parties involved, that your arrangement is secure, and the best interests of the child are paramount.What is surrogacy and how is it regulated?Surrogacy is a process where a woman agrees to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of another person or persons. It is a great pathway for families who cannot conceive or carry the child themselves.In New South Wales, the process is reg... Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:34:59 +1100 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12393 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12371/retails-leases-things-you-need-to-know/ Retail lease agreements are not standardised in the same way as your residential rental lease. Often parties will obtain their own legal representation to assist them with drafting or reviewing and amending a retail lease and you as the lessee should engage a lawyer in order to review the lease and any special conditions which may be contained in the document. The formation of retail leases is legislated in NSW under the Retail Leases Act 1994 (The Act) which also has some key items you should u... Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:02:56 +1100 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12371 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12370/when-the-past-poses-a-present-risk-a-lesson-in-parenting-appeals/ In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) dismissed an appeal by a former step-father against parenting orders that significantly limited his time with his former step-child.The case, Myrtle & Myrtle [2026] FedCFamC1A 23, serves as a powerful reminder of how courts assess the risk of family violence, the importance of being truthful in evidence, and the high bar for successfully appealing a parenting decision.What Was the Case About?The case co... Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:47:18 +1100 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12370 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12365/the-influencer-estate/ A generation ago, estate planning centred on homes, superannuation and personal effects. Today, a person’s most valuable asset may not sit in a safe or a filing cabinet, it may sit behind a password.From monetised YouTube channels to cryptocurrency wallets and brand-driven Instagram accounts, digital assets are no longer peripheral to an estate. For some Australians, they are the estate.A recent survey conducted by the NSW Trustee and Guardian revealed:·      &nb... Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:54:29 +1100 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12365 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/post/12346/simplifying-court-costs-how-do-courts-decide-who-pays-the-others-costs/ For anyone involved in court proceedings, the final judgment is not the end of the story. Once the arguments are over and the verdict is in, a crucial question remains: who pays the legal bills?The recent Supreme Court of NSW case of Bushell v George [2025] NSWSC 1347 provides a perfect, real-world example of how a court navigates this tricky question, especially when the results are mixed. Siblings James and Hannah both sued their late father’s estate, but with very different l... Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:28:03 +1100 http://www.hjlaw.com.au/blog/#post12346