Flat Rate Settlements is now Curae Settlements. We’ve changed our name. Nothing else has changed.
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About

Trusted by Western Australians for over 40 years.

When it comes to buying or selling property, confidence is key. With Flat Rate Settlements, you’re partnering with a firm that brings over 40 years of legal expertise to the table.

Our approach combines:

  • Professionalism with personality: We make the process personable and stress-free.
  • Comprehensive legal support: Beyond settlement, we offer insights and advice on related legal matters.
  • Proactive problem solving: Anticipating and addressing potential issues before they arise.

Our clients value the peace of mind that comes with our commitment to excellence and our track record of success.

Flat Rate Settlements is now
Curae Settlements

We’ve changed our name. Nothing else has changed.

Flat Rate Settlements has always been part of Curae Law. We’re now trading as Curae Settlements so the name matches the firm you have been dealing with all along.

Laura and Chris are still running your settlement and the rest of the team is unchanged. If you’ve worked with us before, you’ll be working with the same people again.

Laura Gaunt
Settlements team leader
Chris Hansord
Senior paralegal

our purpose

We exist to help people simplify and solve legal problems.

Flat Rate Settlements is a service of lawyers Curae Law. 

We work across four areas: deceased estates, wills and estate planning, real estate conveyancing, and debt collection. Some of these matters are routine. Some come at the hardest moments of a person’s life. We bring the same care and honesty to both.

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Meet our team

We’re lawyer-led, backed by 40+ years of experience, and here when it counts.

Michael Hodgkins
Legal Practitioner Director
Michael is an experienced succession and property lawyer and has served the Western Australian community as a legal practitioner since 1997. He has represented clients in and out of court...
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Lucy Dickens
Legal Practitioner Director
Lucy leads our non-contentious Wills and estates team, delivering clear, compassionate, and practical advice on succession planning and estate administration. Her approach combines legal expertise with a passion for innovation,...
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Laura Gaunt
Settlements team leader
Laura leads the settlements team at Curae Law in Perth. She looks after the conveyancing process from signed contract through to settlement when you buy or sell property in Western...
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Chris Hansord
Senior Paralegal
Between signing a contract and settling, a lot has to happen that nobody explains to you. Chris Hansord is the paralegal who handles it. He takes you from signed contract...
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See the full Curae Law team
Testimonials

What our clients say

The efficiency, professionalism and support provided by Laura was outstanding. Thank you very much for making a trying situation easier. Highly recommended.
Ms V - Curae Settlements Client
October 5, 2026
Laura has proven to be expert in her field and demonstrated superb professionalism and customer service across all three transactions. Most recently, there were numerous complications with the property. We had insufficient ID, the EPOA was not lodged with Landgate in time, and the buyers were obstructive and delayed settlement. At every hurdle, Laura responded with timely, confident and sound advice, navigating us to a successful settlement of the property. Dealing with this transaction was particularly stressful for myself and my sister, and having someone as solid in their knowledge and practice as Laura leading us through the process was one of the few positive parts of the experience.  You have a remarkable team member who represents your brand in an exceptional way.
Mr T - Curae Settlements Client
October 2, 2026
Hi Chris, Thank you for all your work and for guiding us through this transaction. It’s not everyday that we sell a property and has felt quite stressful at times. You have proven reliable and a great source of knowledge in this matter and we will happily refer you to anyone seeking your services. Most appreciated
Mr S - Curae Settlements Client
October 1, 2026
Laura and the team are fantastic. They are responsive, knowledgeable and did everything possible to make the process as smooth as possible. We engaged the team both as buyer-side settlement agents and as seller-side when we bought and later sold the same property. We would recommend them to any buyers or sellers in Perth.
Mr L - Curae Settlements Client
September 30, 2026
Hi Michael, I just wanted to say thank you so much for your help with this matter. My parents and my wife and I really appreciate your time and efforts.
Mr Y - Flat Rate Settlements Client
September 23, 2026
Hi Chris, Thank you for all your great work. Your professionalism and knowledge in this matter gives us confidence that we’re in the right hands and puts our mind at peace.
Mr S - Curae Settlements Client
September 18, 2026