Areas we serve / South-east Melbourne / Cranbourne
Lawyers and solicitors for Cranbourne
House and land, building contracts, buying and selling, wills and separation for Cranbourne, Cranbourne East and Clyde North clients, from our Frankston office about 25 to 30 minutes away.
What we do for Cranbourne clients
Choose what you need help with. Each one opens the detail further down this page.
Legal services for Cranbourne clients
Cranbourne has grown from a country town into one of the busiest parts of the City of Casey. Around the town centre and Cranbourne Park are established streets, while Cranbourne East, Clyde North and Botanic Ridge are newer estates, largely planned under precinct structure plans. The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne are close by.
We act for first home buyers and families building new homes, for buyers and sellers of established homes, and for families with wills and separation. Radek Dajer, our principal solicitor, acts personally on each matter, in English or in Polish, and we meet at our Frankston office or by video.
Local note
The City of Casey has a customer service desk at Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre, Shop 156, South Gippsland Highway. Its main offices are at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren.
New estates
Buying and building in a new estate
Much of Cranbourne’s growth is in new estates such as Cranbourne East and Clyde North. Before you sign for land or a building contract, check these points.
Tap or point to the gold markers on the drawing.
House and land, property, wills and family law in Cranbourne
Choose a topic to see what it involves and how we help.
Land in a new estate and a separate building contract: two contracts, and usually two settlements.
- Off-the-plan: the deposit is capped at 10% and held in trust until registration, and buyers have rights if the plan changes materially or is not registered in time.
- Sunset clauses: a developer cannot end a residential off-the-plan contract under a sunset clause just because the date has passed. It must give each buyer at least 28 days’ written notice with reasons and obtain their written consent, or apply to the Supreme Court.
- Precinct structure plans: most new estates in the growth areas of Casey and Cardinia are planned under a precinct structure plan. It forms part of the planning scheme and sets out how the land is expected to be developed and where roads, services and infrastructure will go, and planning permits must generally follow it.
- First home buyers: pay no land transfer duty on homes up to $600,000 and reduced duty up to $750,000. A $10,000 first home owner grant may apply to a new home valued at $750,000 or less.
Building contracts for new homes, variations, progress payments and defects.
- Changing your mind: for a major domestic building contract, you can usually withdraw by signed written notice within 5 clear business days after receiving a copy of the signed contract.
- Variations: a change to the plans or specifications in a major domestic building contract must be recorded in writing and signed. A builder who does not follow the process may be unable to recover the cost.
- Statutory warranties: every domestic building contract includes warranties that the work will be done in a proper and workmanlike manner, with good and suitable materials, in line with the plans and the law, and with reasonable care and skill.
- Changes due by 1 December 2026: the Domestic Building Contracts Amendment Act 2025 (Vic) will change the rules on deposits, progress payments, variations and ending a contract when it starts. Check which rules apply before you sign.
Contract and section 32 review, auctions and private sales, and settlement for established homes and units in Cranbourne.
- Before you sign: we check the contract, the section 32 statement and the planning controls on the land, including any overlay, and suggest changes while you can still negotiate.
- Cooling-off: for many private sales of residential property, you have 3 clear business days after signing to end the contract. There is none at a publicly advertised auction.
- Selling: most sellers now need an Australian Taxation Office clearance certificate by settlement, whatever the price. Apply early, because it can take some weeks to issue.
Wills for young families, and separation, property settlement and parenting arrangements.
- Wills: executors, gifts, guardians for young children and testamentary trusts, including for blended families.
- Superannuation: usually not covered by your will unless you have a valid binding death benefit nomination.
- Separation and divorce: are separate legal steps under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). You do not need to be divorced to settle property or parenting arrangements, and a divorce does not settle them for you.
- Parenting: before applying for parenting orders you generally need a certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner, unless an exception applies, such as family violence, child abuse or urgency.
Two contracts, one home
With house and land, the land contract and the building contract are separate. We review both before you sign either, and line up the land settlement with your construction loan.
Buying in Cranbourne
Buying a home, step by step
What happens from the first look at the contract to getting the keys. We explain each step as it comes, in English or in Polish.
01
Contract review
We review the contract and the section 32 statement, including the zone, overlays and any covenant on title, and suggest changes while you can still negotiate.
02
Cooling-off
For many private sales of residential property you have 3 clear business days to end the contract. There is none at a publicly advertised auction.
03
Finance
We work with your lender so the loan approval, the mortgage documents and the settlement date line up with the contract.
04
Duty and adjustments
We calculate land transfer duty and any concession, and the adjustments for council rates, water and owners corporation fees.
05
Settlement
The balance and the duty are paid and the transfer is lodged through an electronic platform such as PEXA. Once settlement is confirmed, the agent can release the keys.
How we work
Visit us from Cranbourne
435 Nepean Highway, Frankston VIC 3199
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm, by appointment
From Cranbourne
Usually 25 to 30 minutes by car.
By bus
Route 791 runs between Cranbourne station and Frankston station, a short walk from our office.
Parking
Wilson Parking at 453 Nepean Highway, street parking on the Nepean Highway, and the car parks at McDonald’s across the road and at Dan Murphy’s.
Common questions
Can’t see your question? Call 1800 776 529 or send us a message.
It is an off-the-plan contract. We check the deposit, the plan of subdivision, the registration deadline and any sunset clause, and the covenants, restrictions and design guidelines that apply to the lot, so your plans comply before they are drawn.
For a major domestic building contract, you can usually withdraw by signed written notice within 5 clear business days after receiving a copy of the signed contract. The builder may keep $100 plus approved out-of-pocket expenses and must refund the rest. Some exceptions apply, so act quickly.
No. The nearest Magistrates’ Courts are in Dandenong and Frankston, and the nearest registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court is in Dandenong.
Yes, review it promptly. Separation alone does not revoke your will or a gift to your former partner. Divorce revokes gifts to a former spouse and their appointment as executor, but only once the divorce takes effect. Check your superannuation nominations too.
Our office is at 435 Nepean Highway, Frankston, usually 25 to 30 minutes by car, or by bus route 791 from Cranbourne station. Much of the work can be done by phone, video and email.
Yes. Radek Dajer speaks Polish and can take your instructions and explain your documents in Polish. See our Polish-language page.
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Talk to us about your Cranbourne matter
Tell us briefly what has happened or what you are planning. We reply to every enquiry within one business day, by phone, email or text, whichever you prefer.
What happens next
- Send the form.
- We reply within one business day.
- We arrange a time to talk, or ask for any information or documents we need first.
Prefer to talk? Call 1800 776 529, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm.