Australia Law

Have Australian law questions? Ask a lawyer now.

Connect one-on-one with {0} who will answer your question

I'm enquiring in relation to a very serious matter relating…

Customer Question

Hi i'm enquiring in...

Hi i'm enquiring in relation to a very serious matter relating to the death from apparent drug overdose of my son's partner. There is currently a police investigation underway with which my son is cooperating. i have questions in relation to the police investigation and potential criminal charges that may be laid.

Lawyer's Assistant: What state/territory are you in? It matters because laws vary by location.

Victoria

Lawyer's Assistant: What steps have you taken so far?

My son is cooperating, the investigating police lead is communicating with us. my son requested a lock of hair from the coroner but was denied on the basis of that he is a person of interest to a police investigation. The coroners office followed up yesterday with the offer of pro bono legal support to my son. i advised my son to approach legal aid in relation to criminal matters, he hasn't found legal aid useful although i believe his focus has been around the coroner - prior to requesting the lock of hair he approached them in relation to senior next of kin the deceased was his fiance and also in relation to release of body. all of which have been denied. I'm concerned that he be informed of potential criminal charges and implications, i haven't had legal advice on this and I don't think he has either - he is obviously terribly grief stricken and very vulnerable.

Lawyer's Assistant: The Lawyer will be able to walk you through that. Is there anything else the Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured that they'll be able to help you.

I think the above provides a good setting, i'll hold for further engagement with the criminal lawyer

Submitted: 1 year ago.Category: Australia Law

Show Less

Ask Your Own Australia Law Question

Answered in 1 minute by:

9/14/2021

Solicitor: John Melis, Lawyer replied 1 year ago

John Melis, Lawyer

Category: Australia Law

Satisfied Customers: 36,289

Experience: Family Law, Commercial Law, Property law, Probate & Wills, Employment Law, International Law, Criminal and Traffic Law, Litigation Tribunal & Courts

Verified

Hello, I’m John Melis, a solicitor in Australia, and I’ll be helping you with your question today.
Concerning your important issue regarding your son, I appreciate the circumstance you're trying to manage at this time, but what I would suggest you do is engage your local lawyer as soon as possible to help coordinate the paperwork on this as it can be quite complex.
I do suggest that your son reach out to legal aid immediately as legal aid will be very helpful in this process.
I understand that your son has said that the pro bono legal support from legal aid that he has used presently was not useful. However he can request a different lawyer from legal aid.
You’re handling this matter very well.

If there is anything else, big or small, that I can help you with today, please let me know?
Does this help with your question today?

Customer reply replied 1 year ago

Thanks for responding. Useful to know the option to request a different lawyer. His earlier approach to legal aid on his behalf he was disatisfied with however the coroners office arranged a pro bono lawyer for him to contact today. I suspect that lawyer will be available to advise my son on the full potential implications of the coronial process, findings, and associated police investigation and where criminal charges may be laid. The police conducted, with warrant, a search of our family home where my son lives and have advised so far in relation to charges that they've found a prohibited steroid and he will be charged for that. My son was with his fiance at the time of her apparent overdose, i'm conscious there may be further and potentially very serious charges. Would you think that the legal aid lawyer should be able to provide my very vulnerable son with all the advise he needs in relation to potential criminal matters? I have a desire to be of help in any way i can, in this respect i think it would be useful if obtain an understanding in my own right, how best to obtain this?

Solicitor: John Melis, Lawyer replied 1 year ago

Thank you for your follow-up. I do appreciate your concerns that you have and your on is entitled to change lawyers and that will be a good way forward.

Customer reply replied 1 year ago

the forward to the phone call wouldnt accept my number or a change of the international dialling code. Probably at this point I'd be happy with a simple answer to these two questions:
1. As my son was present at the time of the apparent overdose would you think that the legal aid lawyer should be able to provide my very vulnerable son with all the advise he needs in relation to potential criminal charges against him?
2. I have a desire to be of help in any way i can, in this respect i think it would be useful if obtain an understanding in my own right of potential criminal charges and how my son can best navigate the experience - would the understanding and advise be best received by me from the pro bone lawyer or is there somewhere else i can get it?

Solicitor: John Melis, Lawyer replied 1 year ago

Thank you for your follow-up. Your next step is to engage a lawyer as soon as possible that can work with your case in regards ***** ***** matter that your son is dealing with.May I suggest you reach out to shine lawyers.I know you put so much time and effort into this, and if you follow the steps as suggested above, it will give you a direction to go.If there is anything else, please let me know.Does this help with your question today?

Customer reply replied 1 year ago

that's good, thanks for that. No more questions for now.

Solicitor: John Melis, Lawyer replied 1 year ago

It was my pleasure to help you today, and I thank you for chatting with me.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes

How JustAnswer works

Describe your issueThe assistant will guide you

Chat 1:1 with a solicitorLicensed Experts are available 24/7

100% satisfaction guaranteeGet all the answers you need

Related Australia Law Questions

Are you able to assist with questions around senior next of

Are you able to assist with questions around senior next of kin? … read more

John Melis

Lawyer

Bachelor's Degree

36,289 satisfied customers

In a despute with mother in law. My partner passed away

He's mother is next of kin at the Perth Coroner. I became next of kin later. Then I met with funeral director and they got in contact with the Coroner. I sent in a letter to the Coroner for my partner's body to be released to me. Now the Coroner wants me to write a letter of submission by Wednesday 22/6/22 … read more

John Melis

Lawyer

Bachelor's Degree

36,289 satisfied customers

My son recently died after what I believe was very poor

My son recently died after what I believe was very poor medical care... The Coroner is still investigating I believe - but I am so afraid this will happen to other families.... I want to know my optio… read more

John Melis

Lawyer

Bachelor's Degree

36,289 satisfied customers

My 44 year old so passed away on the 6/6/2021 from problems

Hello my name is ***** ***** 44 year old so passed away on the 6/6/2021 from problems with a heart operation. His girlfriend was granted next of kin this was from the Coroner's Court ruling I want to … read more

John Melis

Lawyer

Bachelor's Degree

36,289 satisfied customers

My son has passed away in queensland. The coroner is going

My son has passed away in queensland. The coroner is going to make a decision on who should be awarded next of kin. I was wondering if I could get legal aid, if the coroner awards the next of kin to h… read more

John Melis

Lawyer

Bachelor's Degree

36,289 satisfied customers

Sorry, can you please send me to the join page. Victori

Hi sorry , can you please send me to the join page … read more

Leon

Solicitor

Master's Degree

33,544 satisfied customers

A police officers of Darebin Crime Investigation Unit

I am William ***** ***** and a police officers of Darebin Crime Investigation Unit changed a police interview CD recording from the male detective voice to a female police detective voice of Ms. Victo… read more

Leon

Solicitor

Master's Degree

33,544 satisfied customers

I seek a legal aid lawyer to represent me on the 28/11/18,

I seek a legal aid lawyer to represent me on the 28/11/18 , regarding going into H, Magistrate court house with a pocket knife that l hadn't realised was in my bag at the time . … read more

Leon

Solicitor

Master's Degree

33,544 satisfied customers

My 3yo son drowned in a neighbours pool in Bendigo Australia

My 3yo son drowned in a neighbours pool in Bendigo Australia 35 years ago. Their was a coroners inquest, however my wife and I have never been contacted by the neighbours who did not have child proof … read more

Daniel

Solicitor

Bachelor's Degree / Graduate Diploma

7,683 satisfied customers

My brother died from suspected overdose December 2013 while

My brother died from suspected overdose December 2013 while at his ex partners home who is a psychiatric nurse with Queensland health. She is on different types of medication and these were found in h… read more

Daniel

Solicitor

Bachelor's Degree / Graduate Diploma

7,683 satisfied customers

My son is16 years old and was arrested last Saturday nite breaking

My son is16 years old and was arrested last Saturday nite breaking into a school, he injured two police officers. He is distraught and I am concerned for his well being. This was out of character he h… read more

Patrick H.

Lawyer

5,422 satisfied customers

Hello, yesterday we had a warrant of search issued for my son

Hello, yesterday we had a warrant of search issued for my son , he apparently has hacked into microsofts systems .. 8 armed police from the Western Australian police force not Federal Police and a FBI… read more

Leon

Solicitor

Master's Degree

33,544 satisfied customers

My sons ex wife has falsely accused him of sexual assault of

My sons ex wife has falsely accused him of sexual assault of his daughter and assault of his son after he left the marriage and applied for access to his children,. This case is now in the Magellan Pr… read more

Daniel

Solicitor

Bachelor's Degree / Graduate Diploma

7,683 satisfied customers

My son 17 year old son received a summons on Saturday 14th

My son 17 year old son received a summons on Saturday 14th April 2012 to appear in the Childrens court in Melbourne. He is charged with an alleged offence that took place on the 27th December 2012 (so… read more

Leon

Solicitor

Master's Degree

33,544 satisfied customers

My 18 year old son was the driver of a fatal motor vehicle

My 18 year old son was the driver of a fatal motor vehicle accident 10.5 weeks ago. To this day no charges have been issued, he gave a statement to police on the night of the accident. Understandably … read more

Patrick H.

Lawyer

5,422 satisfied customers

What is definition of next of kin in Western Australian law?

What is the definition of next of kin with regards to Western Australian law, outside of the immediate family (mother, father, brother/sister or direct children)?… read more

D. Coleman

Solicitor

Bachelor's Degree

795 satisfied customers

Almost two years ago, on December 23rd, 2008, my 90 year old

Almost two years ago, on December 23rd, 2008, my 90 year old mother was given an overdose of a morphine based pain killer (100mg slow release given instead of 10mg, which she had been prescribed for p… read more

Brisbane-Lawyer

Lawyer & Solicitor

Master

14,357 satisfied customers

Last week my brothers and I were informed by a third party

Last week my brothers and I were informed by a third party that our estranged father had died. After some investigating we found he died five months ago. His filipino widow would have had the phone nu… read more

Peter G.

Solicitor

Bachelor's Degree

767 satisfied customers

DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on JustAnswer ar Show Less

DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on JustAnswer are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney. JustAnswer is a public forum and questions and responses are not private or confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. The Expert above is not your attorney, and the response above is not legal advice. You should not read this response to propose specific action or address specific circumstances, but only to give you a sense of general principles of law that might affect the situation you describe. Application of these general principles to particular circumstances must be done by a lawyer who has spoken with you in confidence, learned all relevant information, and explored various options. Before acting on these general principles, you should hire a lawyer licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction to which your question pertains.

The responses above are from individual Experts, not JustAnswer. The site and services are provided “as is”. To view the verified credential of an Expert, click on the “Verified” symbol in the Expert’s profile. This site is not for emergency questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

JustAnswer in the News:

What Customers are Saying:

Mr. Kaplun clearly had an exceptional understanding of the issue and was able to explain it concisely. I would recommend JustAnswer to anyone. Great service that lives up to its promises!
Gary B.Edmond, OK

My Expert was fast and seemed to have the answer to my taser question at the tips of her fingers. Communication was excellent. I left feeling confident in her answer.
EricRedwood City, CA

I am very pleased with JustAnswer as a place to go for divorce or criminal law knowledge and insight.
MichaelWichita, KS

PaulMJD helped me with questions I had regarding an urgent legal matter. His answers were excellent.
Three H.Houston, TX

Anne was extremely helpful. Her information put me in the right direction for action that kept me legal, possible saving me a ton of money in the future. Thank you again, Anne!!
ElaineAtlanta, GA

It worked great. I had the facts and I presented them to my ex-landlord and she folded and returned my deposit. The 50 bucks I spent with you solved my problem.
TonyApopka, FL

Wonderful service, prompt, efficient, and accurate. Couldn't have asked for more. I cannot thank you enough for your help.
Mary C.Freshfield, Liverpool, UK

< Previous | Next >

Meet the Experts:

Sean

Experienced lawyer

855 satisfied customers

Law degree with 1st class honours from Australian National University.

Darren Kruse

Solicitor

16 satisfied customers

Practising in in Personal Injury, Workcover, Civil Disputes, Family, Wills and Estates and Criminal law.

John Melis

Lawyer

36,289 satisfied customers

Family Law, Commercial Law, Property law, Probate & Wills, Employment Law, International Law, Criminal and Traffic Law, Litigation Tribunal & Courts

Leon

Solicitor

33,544 satisfied customers

BEc Dip Ed, Dip Law (SAB) MTax (UNSW)

Daniel

Solicitor

7,683 satisfied customers

Bachelor of Laws (dist) Graduate Diploma in Legal Practise. Admitted NSW Supreme Court / High Court

Patrick H.

Lawyer

5,422 satisfied customers

Dip Law LPAB - Sydney based lawyer

James D. Ford

Solicitor

1,600 satisfied customers

Lawyer | Founder & CEO at Blue Ocean Law Group

< Previous | Next >

Show MoreShow Less