Articles

An explanation of what a surety is in bail applications including requirements, who can be a surety and how to remove yourself as one

Broadly speaking, there are two types of law in Australia with various differences, being criminal law and civil law. There are also similarities between the two types of law. When choosing a lawyer to represent you, it is crucial to determine whether they specialise in a particular area. Civil Law vs Criminal Law The main […]

Polygamy in Australia is illegal. Polygamy refers to a person having more than one marriage at the same time. It comes from ancient Greece where the word meant “married to many” or “often married”. Legislation has been enacted that makes it a criminal offence to marry more than one person. This offence is known as […]

A common situation faced by lawyers, Police and the Courts is when a defendant or complainant asks how to get an AVO dropped. Often the defendant and protected person will have resolved the situation. Or the anger and acrimony between them has subsided. Many people think that it is as simple as the complainant saying […]

The release of the latest sexual assault sentencing statistics have revealed that three out of four offenders received a jail term. The analysis from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) assessed cases throughout Australia between 2010-11 and 2019-20. There was a total of 53,570 sexual assault offenders in that period. The average term of imprisonment […]

Going to court and having to hire a lawyer can be stressful enough so the last thing you want is your lawyer speaking to you in another language with all their legal lingo!

As criminal lawyers, we often get asked for our list of the best true crime documentaries of all time. Whether it is a cold case from the past or a recent incident fresh in the memory of the public, true crime captures the minds of people across the board. The below list is what appeals […]

As specialist criminal lawyers, we have heard numerous arguments from people about what they think their rights are when dealing with police. Here are 10 of the most common myths and urban legends. If you need to know what laws actually do apply to your situation, call Astor Legal on (02) 7804 2823 or email […]

Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable growth in the prominence of fake IDs in Australia and questions around whether they are illegal. With websites openly selling these IDs, many have questioned what the potential consequences of possessing such an item is. It is well-established that you can be charged by Police […]

An Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) is an order that restricts the behaviour of a person, known as a defendant, for the protection of someone else, known as the protected person or PINOP. There are 11 possible conditions which can imposed to facilitate this protection. Apprehended Violence Orders can be divided into two categories; domestic or […]