All publications relating to ‘Family Law’
Cannabis and Family Law
Cannabis. Marijuana. Pot, Dope. Mull. Yarndi. These are all names for the most commonly used illegal drug in Australia[1]. Pursuant to the Department of Health’s general factsheets on cannabis[2], some of the physical effects of using marijuana may include drowsiness, temporary loss of memory, risk taking behaviour and an impaired…
Paying Expenses after Separation
Say you and your spouse/partner separate. There may or may not be children of the relationship. Prior to your separation either or both of you worked and your incomes were used to pay the family expenses. After separation you moved out. Who now pays the expenses you used to pay…
Separation, divorce, children & overseas travel — Preventing international parental child abduction
Did you know that Australia has one of the highest per capita rate of international parental child abduction in the world with more than 250 cases every year? In a multicultural country such as Australia, with an increase in the movement of families leaving Australia for work, parents and children having dual…
What happens when spouses split a business? 6 possible scenarios
The ‘clean break’ principle The Family Court’s position is that whenever possible, there should be a clean break between ex-spouses. This means a property settlement, with the combined asset pool being broken into two chunks. When the assets include a business, the property split can take place in a number of ways.1. Value of the…
Being impartial on partial property settlements
Commencing Family Court proceedings can be daunting – not only because it’s an emotional time in your life, but because of the high legal fees that can result from what can be a long and drawn out process. You might wonder, how will I be able to pay for a car, or replacement furniture…
The ABCs of Child Support
Child support is a payment made by one parent to the other to assist him or her to meet the expenses of raising their child/children. The legislation provides that parents of a child/children have a duty to maintain the child/children. This applies even if one parent is not presently spending time with the…
Relationship break downs — how do you sort out maintenance?
So, we have a relationship break down – how do we sort the maintenance? It is one of the most challenging aspects of family law – who gets what and who owes whom — when a relationship breaks down and maintenance is being negotiated. Consider this article as an overview and checklist to…
If circumstances change, so can Parenting Orders
In brief: It may come as a relief to some that Parenting Orders made by the court are not always set in stone. If your circumstances change, so too can the orders. And there are a number of reasons why you might wish to change Parenting Orders after they have been made by the Court. …
After the Mardi Gras glitter and glow why not pause for thought on the status of your relationship
In Brief “…it’s time to stand up and be counted, to turn your passion into purpose. Start something! Build momentum.” Momentum is the theme for the 2016 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. As the 2016 Mardi Gras festival draws to a close with the internationally renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi…
Social media in family law proceedings — how is it used?
In brief Social media goes far beyond cat videos (although it might not always seem like it). We use it to broadcast our joys, fears, grudges, homes and daily routines. We use it to communicate with each other, both publicly and privately. A recent paper published in the Family Law Review…