Gold Coast fake lawyer: Families left out of pocket after law firm operated without a practising solicitor
Gold Coast and Tweed families are being left out of pocket and unable to find trust records after a company operated a legal practice without a lawyer.
Crime and Court
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GOLD Coast and Tweed families are being left out of pocket and unable to find trust records after a company operated a legal practice without a lawyer.
Attwood Marshall Lawyers is representing former clients of Stenton and Moore who allege they have lost tens of thousands of dollars after receiving .65 cents in the dollar from their estates.
An elderly client, who was an executor of an estate after losing her mother in April, 2017, has been advised she would receive $21,025 instead of $32,346.
“It has been an extremely stressful time for me. I am not a stressful person or dramatic person, but the last few days have been very difficult,” the woman said.
“The money side of things has been upsetting because at every twist and turn there seems to be more problems.”
The elderly woman phoned Stenton and Moore in 2018 to get legal advice on the sale of her mother’s house but could not get a response.
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“The only way I found out was trying to ring them up one morning, I called seven times and there was not even an answering machine, so I emailed them to say my phone was crook,” the woman said.
“There was no answer, so I called Attwood Marshall Lawyers who said you’ll have to get in touch with Queensland Law Society. I was very disappointed, very surprised and shocked.”
Attwood Marshall Lawyers Wills and Estates solicitor Angela Harry said lawyers would continue to fight for families impacted after the Coast company stopped operating.
In March 2018, the Queensland Law Society sought an injunction from the courts and was successful in gaining orders against Stenton and Moore Pty Ltd executive director Nerise Moore from engaging in legal practice.
The firm was based in Mudgeeraba and Ms Moore had been president of the local chamber in 2016. Conveyancing work was done on the border.
“For the families, it has been worst case scenario — the wishes of their loved ones have not been realised and they have been left with a legal mess,” Ms Harry said.
“This case serves as reminder to the public to take care to ensure that when you get legal advice you are dealing directly with a qualified solicitor and that when you’re choosing a law firm you are confident your will is stored securely.
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“A will is a critical legal document and estate administration is a complex area of law, so it is imperative you seek legal help from a competent wills and estates lawyer when dealing with these matters.”
QLS president Bill Potts urged families seeking legal advice to always check the authenticity of a Queensland lawyer by contacting the Society.
An elderly client, who was an executor of an estate after losing her mother in April, 2017, has been advised she would receive $21,025 instead of $32,346.
“It has been an extremely stressful time for me. I am not a stressful person or dramatic person, but the last few days have been very difficult,” the woman said.
“As the peak legal body for solicitors in Queensland, we regulate the profession and issue practising certificates,” he said.
“Should you have concerns you are not dealing with a practising solicitor, you can contact us.”
Mr Potts said Ms Moore was not — and had never been — licensed to practise law, and represented a great risk to the reputation of Queensland solicitors and to the clients that had engaged this firm.
“The Society will not stand for any form of fake lawyer endangering the public. Queensland’s 12,000 practising solicitors are qualified and fit to practise, and the actions of those attempting to run a legal practice without the proper certification are a disservice to us all.”
The Bulletin has sought comment but at deadline was not able to contact Ms Moore.
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