On each and every occassion we have needed professional advice or services, over the past 8 years, we have considered all dealings with C & H friendly, courteous and supportive plus faultless in all respects.  We thank you and look forward to meeting again in the future.

Arthur & Annette

Very happy staff very friendly willing to spend time explaining.  Thank you Daniel.  I would happily recommend your services to other family & friends over the years.

Vicki

"The staff have been really keen to get behind this initiative and get into a pair of jeans on a Friday to support our local community" said Legal Practice Director Mr Daniel Hutchinson.

"It is a staff initiative which is entirely supported by all in the firm and really typifies the type of people that we employ. They are a great team" said Mr Hutchinson.

"Any law that is so draconian that it reverses the onus of proof so that a director of a company must prove their innocence is outdated and simply bad law" Mr Hutchinson said. "Many small to medium size enterprises operate utilising a corporate or quasi-corporate structure it not just the big end of town that this legislation will have an effect on".

"The legislation makes doing business in Queensland less attractive and seems to be at odds with the Government’s pre-election commitment to eliminate red tape for business" said Mr Hutchinson.

Cooke & Hutchinson Lawyers can be contacted via their website www.cookehutchinson.com.au or by phoning 1800 000 993

Roberta & Shane

I would like to thank Laurie for being the most approachable solicitor I have met.  Nothing was every a problem for her, always spoke to me when I needed her.           

Vicki

Great friendly service provider.  Paralegal especially, treated all family with respect. Professional, personal and friendly approach.  Tracey

The lovely testimonials just keep coming.  Well done team!!!

"I am seeing an increase in the number of people who are taking their estate planning seriously and making arrangements now to ensure that their wishes are carried out after they pass away". "I am also seeing a marked increase in the number of estate disputes and applications to the court for clarification about the terms of ‘do it yourself’ will kits".

"It’s not much good having a Will that only the will maker understands" said Mr Hutchinson "A properly drafted Will is a very important first step, however, it is not the only step that should be taken in relation to estate planning. Estate planning has become more than a ‘just a simple will’ in many cases".

"Spending some time and effort attending to your estate planning now may save your estate tens of thousands of dollars and you intended beneficiaries significant heartache later on". "I encourage people to see a lawyer with expertise in estate planning rather than a generalist who will take whatever comes in the door."

The Queensland Law Society will recommend a lawyer with appropriate expertise in your local area and can be contacted by phoning 1300 367 757 or visiting www.qls.com.au

The story by channel 7′s Today Tonight program can be seen by following the link below:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/lifestyle/article/-/15505438/neighbours-inherit-millions

Legal Practice Director Mr Daniel Hutchinson said "It is always good to see Queensland with representation on the High Court Bench." "Justice Keane is one of the brilliant legal minds of our time and will certainly compliment the bench".

Justice Keane joins Justice Susan Kiefel as the second Queenslander on the bench of the High Court of Australia. "Everyone and Cooke & Hutchinson Lawyers congratulates Justice Keane on his appointment and wishes him every success in his new role".

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said on Tuesday that increased resources and improved data matching and cooperation between agencies will catch anyone trying to gain unfair advantage.

"The Office of State Revenue (OSR) will have more sources of data and a greater number of investigative techniques so they can recover money that should have been directed towards frontline service delivery,” Mr Nicholls said.

“Those who try to do the right thing have nothing to fear and will be supported. These changes will target those who intentionally and knowingly flout the rules that the majority of Queenslanders abide by.”

Redlaw Conveyancing Legal Practice Director Gary Hutchinson supported the move, saying any action on such issues should always be welcomed.

“What this means is that anyone involved in purchasing or selling real estate needs to be guided by people who know what they’re doing,” he said.

“I’m proud to say that Redlaw Conveyancing has always gone that extra step to ensure that clients who are entitled to any stamp duty rebate receive that rebate.

“As a service to our conveyancing clients we in-house stamp relevant contracts and transfers as part of our fixed price.

“I’m confident that, now more than ever, our experience and longstanding dedication to our clients’ best interests will be of great value to those clients.”

ABS figures released on Monday show that trend finance approvals for owner occupied dwellings rose 0.2 per cent to be 6.4 per cent higher over the year and that seasonally adjusted housing finance approvals rose 0.6 per cent in September.

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls said that a variety of government policies had helped toward this result. “Interest rate cuts have helped mitigate the impact of global economic uncertainty on consumer confidence,” said Mr Nicholls. “We reinstated the principle place of residence transfer duty concession that the previous Labor Government scrapped, wiping up to $7,000 off the cost of buying the family home, and made carefully targeted changes to the first home owner grant.

“The $15,000 grant for first-time buyers of new homes is helping stimulate the construction industry, while making it easier for people to buy a home.”

Redlaw Conveyancing Legal Practice Director Gary Hutchinson said that “This is excellent news for the state. These figures demonstrate that, even in times such as these, Queensland is still making great leaps forward economically.”

Mr Hutchinson also said he was looking forward to the upcoming changes to the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act. “When you combine what is already happening in the marketplace with the simplification of the process of buying and selling real estate, the sky is the limit. I honestly believe that we are coming out of this dip and that the only way from here is up.”