Question 1

Is this document a legal document?

Accepted Answer

All master documents have been signed off by Abbott & Mourly lawyers. Tony Anamourlis of Abbott & Mourly advises that “at no time, due to inbuilt legal protection and security measures can a user change or amend a document on the LightYear Docs platform that has been signed off by a practicing solicitor. To do so would result in the user drafting a document of a legal nature and engaging in the provision of legal services. In addition, it would be a breach of copyright. In our opinion when completing the form fields through the LightYear Docs platform, users and their employees are merely carrying out an administrative task which is not the provision of legal advice.”

However in some complex areas such as the insertion of a varied range of client instructions into a Will or other such documents the user must be mindful of the extent to which a document is being drafted by the user rather than merely the administrative task of completing a form where the relevant fields are inserted into the reviewed and signed legal document provided by Abbott & Mourly.

The above advice is born out of numerous cases dating back to Re Sanderson, Ex parte Law Institute of Victoria [1927] VLR 394, 397 where the Court held:

“if a person does a thing usually done by a solicitor, and does it in such a way as to lead to the reasonable inference that he is a solicitor – if he combines professing to be a solicitor with action usually taken by a solicitor – I think he then does act as a solicitor.”

Likewise in ACCC v Murray (2002) 121 FCR 428, 448 where Murray was building a franchise business that involved the legal writing and drafting of Wills from scratch based on the client’s personal circumstances. The Court held that this process was legal work.

Question 2

Is the document easy to read?

Accepted Answer

All LightYear Docs products are written in plain English and assessed for readability. If at any time you come across any errors, please contact support@lightyeardocs.com.au.

Question 3

Is the LightYear Docs reviewed regularly?

Accepted Answer

All LightYear Docs documents form part of the LightYear Docs internal document review cycle. All documents are scheduled to be reviewed at least annually or when required to do so, due to changes in legislation. The LightYear Docs review cycle ensures all of our documents remain current and accurate.

Question 4

What lawyers sign off on the LightYear Docs documents?

Accepted Answer

All LightYear documents are prepared and signed off by Abbott & Mourly from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Question 5

What is a lump sum?

Accepted Answer

Where a member of a superannuation fund meets a condition of release they may request that the Trustee of the Fund pay a lump sum.

Question 6

What is a condition of release?

Accepted Answer

Superannuation benefits can only be taken where a condition of release is met. These are found in Part 2 of the SIS Regulations 1994 and for lump sums the most popular are retirement, aged 65 and death. At these times the member or beneficiary, if allowed under the superannuation laws and the fund deed, may request the payment of a lump sum.

Question 7

Does it apply to a TRIS?

Accepted Answer

A transition to retirement income stream may be commenced prior to retirement however the income stream cannot be turned into a lump sum.

Question 8

Can it be paid in-specie?

Accepted Answer

In-specie lump sum payments are the transfer of property from the Trustee of the Fund, say shares in ABC Ltd to the member to satisfy any lump sum payment. The LightYear Docs SMSF trust deed allows the making of an in-specie payment and it is the amount of the property transferred which is the lump sum payment.

Superannuation Lump Sum

Superannuation Lump Sum