Own your story.
Vanessa Ash and Associates Lawyers
Letting the legal system dictate how your story ends is a recipe for disaster. You need someone guiding your case through the system, with nothing but your best interests at heart.Â
Get a great lawyer who knows the system, the people who work in it, and will delve into every angle of your story. Make the most of decades of practical law experience and a passion for winning.
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Up on criminal charges?
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You need a defence lawyer!
(Photo: Jane Fonda 1970)
Been arrested? Read this now.Â
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t. 03 9042 7996
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Get in touch so we can help you
Sexual harassment law in Victoria
Sexual harassment is a sticky topic legally speaking, so get the facts and get good legal help to determine your case’s potential.
You might also need:
- When someone can take out a personal safety intervention order on you – Victoria
- Child abuse offences in Victoria
- What the law states regarding sexual offences in Victoria
- Harassment, discrimination, and bullying laws in Victoria
- Sexual offences in Victoria
- ‘Failure to disclose’ child sexual abuse offence introduced 2014 – Victoria
- Sexual, physical and psychological child abuse – legal time limits lifted in Victoria 2015
Managing disputes between an executor and beneficiary of a will in Victoria
How the relationships can crumble, and what to do about it.
You might also need:
- Understanding probate in Victoria
- What or who is the executor of a will? – Victoria
- How to avoid inheritance disputes in Victoria
- Binding Death Beneficiary Nominations (BDBNs) explained
- Next-of-kin in Victoria
- How to appoint your next-of-kin in Victoria
- Testamentary trusts explained in plain English – Victoria
Understanding defamation in Victoria
Defamation can be tricky not only to prove, but to defend. It is very much a case of ‘he said, she said’ regarding reputation.
You might also need:
- Understanding remand in Victoria
- Understanding alcohol interlocks in Victoria
- Settlements – understanding financial agreements in Victoria
- Understanding probate in Victoria
- Understanding child support in Victoria
- Understanding consent orders and parenting plans – Victoria
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding discrimination in Victoria
Public Disorder Offences in Victoria
Public order offences are many and varied, with each offence bound with its own rules.
Winning impossible cases in Victoria
Got a tough one? Call us.
You might also need:
- The collection and use of evidence in Victorian court cases
- Going to prison in Victoria
- Been arrested? Read this before you do or say anything in Victoria
- Sexual offences in Victoria
- Understanding remand in Victoria
- All the penalties that could be applied to you in Victoria
- Domestic violence, assault, and injury in Victoria
How your stuff is divvied up after a divorce in Victoria
Not sure how your stuff will get divided after your divorce? Here we lay out the court and legal way to decide who gets what.
General power of attorney vs an enduring power of attorney vs enduring power of guardianship in Victoria
A general power of attorney is set while you can still make your own decisions, while an enduring power of attorney is set for when you lose capacity to make your own decisions.
You might also need:
- What is enduring power of guardianship in Victoria?
- What is enduring power of attorney in Victoria?
- What is a general power of attorney in Victoria?
- An explanation of Australian wills and estate planning
- What are advance care directives (a living will) in Victoria?
- Why you need to plan for your death in Victoria
- Binding Death Beneficiary Nominations (BDBNs) explained
Understanding probate in Victoria
Probate is the agreement by the courts that whatever a will says goes.
You might also need:
- How to appoint your next-of-kin in Victoria
- Managing disputes between an executor and beneficiary of a will in Victoria
- What or who is the executor of a will? – Victoria
- Making a family provision claim on a deceased estate in Victoria
- Who is my next of kin, and what does that mean? – Victoria
- Next-of-kin in Victoria
- Wills, Probate and Estate Planning Law
Superannuation and your default insurance cover in Victoria
If you have suffered an injury, you may have benefits accessible to you via your superannuation fund default insurance cover.
You might also need:
- What is double indemnity?
- Vanessa Ash fights for your freedom – criminal and civil law in Victoria
- Making a TAC claim in Victoria
- My step-parent died without a will – what next? – Victoria
- What to do (legally) when someone dies in Victoria
- Testamentary trusts explained in plain English – Victoria
- Binding Death Beneficiary Nominations (BDBNs) explained
What happens if you breach an intervention order – Victoria
If you have breached your intervention order, you need legal advice immediately.
You might also need:
- Laws regarding publication of intervention orders in Victoria
- Intervention order breaches in Victoria – change is afoot
- Changing the terms of an intervention order – Victoria
- When someone can take out a personal safety intervention order on you – Victoria
- Someone put a family violence intervention order on me – what next? – Victoria
- I am protected by a Victorian intervention order – what next?
- Quick tips for applying for an intervention order in Victoria
Medical negligence compensation claims in Victoria
Medical negligence claims may be made in certain instances.
You might also need:
- What does ‘personal injury’ mean in Victoria?
- Asbestos compensation claims – Victoria
- Workers’ compensation claims in Victoria
- Public transport compensation claims in Victoria
- Public liability compensation claims in Victoria
- Car or motor vehicle accident compensation claims in Victoria
- Personal Injury
Do we still need jurors? The court of public opinion and social media in Victoria
Should juries be abolished in the face of social media and a lack of training? We take a closer look at jury duty and outside influences.
You might also need:
- When social media is used to incriminate you in Victoria
- Why jurors aren’t allowed to have their judgement questioned in Victoria
- Public drunkenness (including cycling) in Victoria
- What to do if you receive a court summons in Victoria
- Public Disorder Offences in Victoria
- Public transport compensation claims in Victoria
- Public liability compensation claims in Victoria
Telstra, Aus Post, CBA and NAB employees – Comcare is your compensation provider – Victoria
If you are a Commonwealth employee, or one of a set of specific institutions, you may be covered by Comcare.
Suicide Pact Defence in Victoria in Victoria
When suicide pacts go wrong…
You might also need:
- The ins and outs of legal defence in Victoria
- The defensive homicide defence in Victoria
- The Sudden or Extraordinary Emergency Defence in Victoria
- Homicide (murder) and manslaughter charges in Victoria
- The defence of self defence in Victoria
- The Duress Defence in Victoria
- The Impossibility Defence in Victoria
The Impossibility Defence in Victoria
If you have an alibi for your whereabouts, or in fact are physically unable to have offended in this way, the impossibility defence is on the table.
You might also need:
Speeding offences in Victoria
Excessive speed comes with its own set of penalties and regulations, and is considered a crime.
You might also need:
- New drink and drug driving offences set out in Victoria
- Hoon driving and impoundment laws in Victoria
- Riding your bike drunk – what does the law actually say? – Victoria
- Summary Offences in Victoria
- Driving offences and speeding tickets in Victoria
- Sexual offences in Victoria
- Indictable Offences in Victoria
Appeals in Victoria
Appeals are tricky and need careful consideration and crafting. Don’t let your appeal fall flat.
You might also need:
- An Overview of Victorian and Australian Courts
- Suspended sentences are no longer a thing (in Victoria)
- Indictable Offences in Victoria
- Sexual Assault Offences in Victoria
- All the penalties that could be applied to you in Victoria
- Criminal Appeals in Victoria
- Victoria Police’s shonky information release policies
How to avoid inheritance disputes in Victoria
You can avoid disputes by following these instructions well before you die. Don’t leave a family feud behind you.
You might also need:
- Vanessa Ash fights for your freedom – criminal and civil law in Victoria
- The legal age a child can inherit in Victoria
- De facto couples and death or separation, and how that affects stepchildren – Victoria
- Divorce settlements – Victoria
- LGBTQ? Be perfectly clear with your loved ones in Victoria
- Managing disputes between an executor and beneficiary of a will in Victoria
- How inheritance in a property settlement is treated in Family Court in Victoria
What the law states regarding sexual offences in Victoria
The law is quite specific, but proving the circumstances of sexual offending can be difficult.
You might also need:
Who is my senior next of kin? – Victoria
Senior next of kin is a person nominated in special circumstances when a death has been referred to the coroner for investigation.
You might also need:
- Managing disputes between an executor and beneficiary of a will in Victoria
- Who is my next of kin, and what does that mean? – Victoria
- Understanding probate in Victoria
- Next-of-kin in Victoria
- How to appoint your next-of-kin in Victoria
- Asbestos compensation claims – Victoria
- False reports to police offences in Victoria
Online abuse and bullying – Victorian law
Cyber bullying and harassment can result in serious consequences like intervention orders.
You might also need:
- When someone can take out a personal safety intervention order on you – Victoria
- Being sexually harassed at work – accused or accuser in Victoria
- Sexual harassment law in Victoria
- Someone put a family violence intervention order on me – what next? – Victoria
- Law regarding bullying and discrimination at work in Victoria
- Victorian will and inheritance law – who gets what?
- Bicycle accidents – car dooring and potholes – Victorian law
Changes to Victoria’s drink driving laws (from 2014)
Drink driving laws changed in late 2014 so now an interlock condition is mandatory for certain circumstances.
You might also need:
- Drink driving penalties – Victoria
- New drink and drug driving offences set out in Victoria
- The Great Victoria Police Drink Driving Bungle of 2015
- The drink driving law change that the government forgot to tell Victoria Police
- Drink driving offences in Victoria
- Blood tests for drink and drug driving
- Hoon driving and impoundment laws in Victoria
The law regarding driving and mobile phone use in Victoria
Here is an outline of the rules regarding using your phone or other devices while driving in Victoria.
You might also need:
- Is it legal to ride a motorised esky on the footpath or road in Victoria?
- The Victorian Demerit Points Scheme
- Punishments for using a mobile phone while driving – Victoria
- Riding your bike drunk – what does the law actually say? – Victoria
- Changes to the Victorian demerit point scheme from 1 July 2015
- Can I use a mobile phone on a bicycle in Victoria?
- Changes to Victoria’s drink driving laws (from 2014)
Is it legal to ride a motorised esky on the footpath or road in Victoria?
Your motorised esky is considered to be a motor vehicle for all intents and purposes, thus you must register it and have a licence to be able to ride it on the road.
You might also need:
- Can I ride a motorised scooter on the footpath in Victoria?
- The law regarding driving and mobile phone use in Victoria
- Can I use a mobile phone on a bicycle in Victoria?
- Riding your bike drunk – what does the law actually say? – Victoria
- New drink and drug driving offences set out in Victoria
- Sending school bullies a legal message in Victoria
- What are the laws regarding motorised bikes in Victoria?
Sending school bullies a legal message in Victoria
If your child is being bullied and the school says their hands are tied, we can help get results the legal way.
You might also need:
- Online abuse and bullying – Victorian law
- What happens if you breach an intervention order – Victoria
- Intervention order breaches in Victoria – change is afoot
- I am protected by a Victorian intervention order – what next?
- Revoking, varying, extending or moving a Victorian intervention order interstate
- Sexual, physical and psychological child abuse – legal time limits lifted in Victoria 2015
- Using Legal Aid in Victoria