Fake lawyer fools families
Legal practice costs clients thousands of dollars
estimated the build would cost $8.7 million but further estimates indicate the total cost could come closer to $18 million on the isolated 4.2ha property.
The house also includes spaces for seven cars and space for 26 surfboards. There is a huge games room – with enough space for a bowling alley – and a separate cinemalike 12m x 6m television room. GOLD Coast 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.
“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,” 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 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 a reminder to the public to take care to ensure that when you get legal advice you are dealing directly with a qualified solicitor and when you’re choosing a law firm you are confident your will is stored securely.
“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.”
QLS president Bill Potts urged families seeking legal advice to check the authenticity of a Queensland lawyer by contacting the Society.
“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 who had engaged this firm.
“The Society will not stand for any form of fake lawyer endangering the public,” he said.
The Bulletin has sought comment from Ms Moore.