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

What business assets can be transferred?

Accepted Answer

Any business asset that is integral to the business including intellectual property, databases, cars, tools plus marketing and business processes.

Question 4

Where do we transfer the assets?

Accepted Answer

It should be a safe entity that only holds assets with no potential litigation exposure. This may be a Leading Member Discretionary Trust, a Family Protection Trust or a company.

Question 5

What are the tax consequences?

Accepted Answer

There will be tax consequences generally on the transfer and capital gains tax plus depreciation ‘claw’ backs need to be assessed. Small business concessions may be applied to reduce any taxes.

Question 6

What value or price should be used?

Accepted Answer

Market value. As the transfer is between related parties the capital gains tax rules will assume a market value consideration has been paid. This may not be an issue for transfers which can claim a CGT exemption.

Question 7

Does the license have to go back to the trading entity?

Accepted Answer

Generally if the business is run from a trading entity then it will need to licensed back so that business can be carried on. However it can be licensed to another trading entity.

Question 8

How do we determine licence fees?

Accepted Answer

Again market valuation is required.

Question 9

Is this document 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.

The Business Protector

The Business Protector