In March 2019, the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) was amended to include section 102NA. Section 102NA was added with the aim of protecting parties who have been subjected to family violence by the other party to the Court proceedings, from having to be personally crossed examined by them at a Final Hearing. This [...]
When separating or divorcing, many couples focus on dividing physical assets such as the family home, cars, or savings. However, one important aspect of a property settlement that should not be overlooked is superannuation. Superannuation is considered ‘property’ and can be split between parties as part of a property settlement. What is Superannuation Splitting? [...]
We’re proud to announce that Michael Lynch Family Lawyers has once again been recognised in the 2025 edition of the Doyles Guide as one of Brisbane’s Leading Family & Divorce Law Firms. The Doyles Guide is a respected, independent publication that ranks law firms and individual lawyers based on extensive industry research. Its cafeful [...]
We are pleased to announce that Allison Caputo has taken on an expanded leadership role within the firm. Originally joining as Head of Dispute Resolution, Allison has now been appointed as Head of Family Law - in addition to her existing role. In this dual capacity, she will oversee both Mediation and Family Law [...]
Maintenance, particularly spousal maintenance, is financial support paid by one person to their former partner in two circumstances – if that ex-partner cannot financially support themselves, and if the other person has the capacity to financially support them. Anyone looking for maintenance must be able to prove those two elements. What happens if a [...]
A family report is used to provide a court with an independent, expert view of the issues surrounding disputes in parenting arrangements. It’s an important piece of evidence, and is prepared by an independent third party, usually an experienced social worker or psychologist. The report will look at the co-parenting relationship and make recommendations [...]
From 26 May 2025, coercive control will be officially recognised as a criminal offence in Queensland. This significant legal shift aims to address patterns of abusive behaviour used to dominate or manipulate others, protecting victim-survivors from both physical and psychological harm. Under the new law, it will be illegal for an adult to engage [...]
Superannuation is considered to be an asset for the purposes of family law property settlements and in some cases it might be the only asset left to divide. So what happens then? A few years ago, the court considered a case where a husband and wife were married for 22 years and had two [...]
NOTE (updated in Jul 2025): Recent changes in Family Law legislation have affected the use of the term ‘parental responsibility’ in 2025. For the most up-to-date information, please see this article. You may also continue reading the original article below, which was published on 14 January 2025. It’s almost a new year of school but [...]
As blended families are becoming increasingly common, when partners separate, people often ask if and how contributions that they have made towards their stepchildren during the relationship are considered when determining the division of assets in a matrimonial property settlement. What impact, if any, do such contributions have on the division of assets after [...]
