Webinar for Accountants – How to of Property Settlement
12
October 2023
What if one spouse has a significantly higher income? - What about the inclusion of a family trust?... [...]
Change of residence where false sexual abuse allegations have been made
8
October 2023
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has recently shed light on the issue of false sexual abuse allegations in parenting matters. In the case of Grier & Grier [2023] FedCFamC1A 32 (23 March 2023), the Court dealt with a complex Family Law matter involving false sexual abuse allegations made by the Mother [...]
Webinar for Counsellors – Courts and Confidentiality
2
October 2023
With the increasing role of mediation and other forms of dispute resolution, the provisions of the Family Law Act have come under increasing scrutiny.... [...]
Grandparents, babysitting, and property settlements
2
October 2023
There’s no doubt grandparents are invaluable to families. They provide support to parents in a number of ways including taking on babysitting duties or even giving financial help. But can that “help” be counted during a property settlement? In a recent article, we addressed the court’s position in relation to financial support from grandparents [...]
Coercive control and access to children
18
September 2023
Coercive control is an insidious form of domestic violence and is often a precursor to serious physical violence. In a recent case, (Carter & Wilson), a trial judge found that a mother was guilty of using coercive control in preventing her child from seeing his father. However, on appeal that decision was reversed. To [...]
Are my psychologist’s notes confidential?
11
September 2023
We’re all used to the concept of doctor/patient confidentiality, but in some cases, notes from a psychologist can be used during family law proceedings. A subpoena must be issued for the notes, and if the psychologist complies, those documents will be made available to everyone involved in the case. Sometimes either the psychologist, or [...]
Can the Family Courts determine polyamorous relationships?
11
September 2023
As family lawyers we advise clients after the breakdown of their marriages and de facto relationships, whether they are heterosexual or same-sex relationships. There are also partnerships called “polyamorous relationships” which have very recently come under scrutiny by the Family Courts. A polyamorous relationship is defined as having a romantic relationship with more than [...]
Quick tips – practical tips to surviving separation
11
September 2023
So, you and your spouse have decided to separate – what comes next? The first thing you should do is make a plan, even if the split is amicable. Here’s our “quick tips” on what to do if you have just separated. Start a diary. Take notes and keep everything that happens between the [...]
What is Family Dispute Resolution?
4
September 2023
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has the power to order you to attend a Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) conference. This helps people come to an agreement about parenting arrangements in a respectful manner. Anything that happens during a court-based FDR conference is confidential, unless threats of harm are made to anyone [...]