If you are leaving a relationship because you have found someone else to be with and want a future with them, it goes without saying that this may not make you the best messenger about separation. Clients often ask me … Continue reading
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My former partner and I reconciled after our property settlement was finalised… Now we’ve separated again. Is my property settlement still valid?
Sometimes, even after separated couples have entered into a binding family law property settlement, they may decide to get back together. The problem is, clients who decide to reconcile with their former partner after they have finalised their property matters … Continue reading
Why Separating in a Marriage or De Facto Relationship Is Hard To Do
If you are having trouble with a sibling or a parent (provided you are not in business with them or in a position of financial dependency) you can successfully avoid them for most of the year and even manage to … Continue reading
How can I find out if my former partner is hiding money or assets in our divorce?
Financial distrust is often central to the breakdown of a relationship. When dividing the assets, one or both parties may disagree with what the law requires and feel that they are being treated unfairly. Financial proceedings in the Family Courts … Continue reading
My former partner and I have separated and I want to relocate with the children to be with my family. What should I do?
Relocation is a common issue in family law disputes where the Court is asked to decide on the outcome. Sometimes one party has moved interstate at the commencement of the relationship to live with the other party and they want … Continue reading
What if I have experienced family violence? Can I still mediate?
This is a vexed question. When answering it, at the heart of every answer must be the concept of family safety, not just victim safety but also that of the children who are usually victims of the violence as well … Continue reading
My former partner and I signed a Parenting Plan but it’s not working. What now?
Some separated parents choose to turn their informal arrangements regarding the care of their children into a Parenting Plan. Section 63C(1) of the Family Law Act 1975 provides that a Parenting Plan is a written agreement made between the parents … Continue reading
How is Divorce different from a Family Law Property Settlement?
One of the most common mistakes people make when separating is confusing the process of divorce with the process of reaching a property settlement. The two issues are dealt with separately by the Court. Couples need not have filed an … Continue reading
My former partner and I own a pet together. Who gets to keep the pet?
It is not uncommon for disputes regarding pets to occur in the context of a relationship breakdown. As the Family Law Act 1975 does not specifically address this issue, the Courts treat pets in the same manner as other property … Continue reading
