News & Resources

On 17 February 2021 the Senate passed the proposed Family Law Merger bill despite strong opposition by many of the stakeholders involved in Family Law.

Almost always, insolvency is the reason why a company is wound up. This process is often initiated by a creditor of the insolvent company.

However, insolvency is not the only grounds for winding up. The court may also order the winding up of a company if it ‘is of the opinion that it is just and equitable’ to do so.

The changes effected to our Family Law system back in 2006 have had a huge impact on the approach to child care arrangements in separated families, but have also been largely misunderstood.

As a grandparent myself, I can well understand the emotional distress that may be caused where parents refuse to allow their child to spend time with a grandparent.

This issue arose recently in the case of Sarti & Sarti, heard on Appeal in the Family Court of Australia in December 2020.

Property prices have been on the rise making it more difficult for buyers to get their foot into the property market.

Owning property jointly can seem appealing as friends or family can pool their money together to have a larger deposit, or substantially better borrowing power.

In many Family Law property settlements, the value of the matrimonial home is often a contentious issue which arises.

The family home is the most precious asset which many Australians own. The current strength of the Sydney property market has resulted in significant growth in housing prices over recent years, as such the value of a family’s home may have grown significantly during the length of the relationship.

There has been a nationwide effort to criminalise coercive control since the tragic murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children Laianah, 6, Aaliyah, 4, & Trey, 3, at the hands of her estranged husband Rowan Baxter, in Queensland on 19 February 2020 when he set their car on fire.

What does the term “estate planning” mean?

This is term we use to describe all and any documents which relate to your own person. This includes your Will, power of attorney and enduring guardian. It can also include any letters of wishes or advanced directive that you may have.

For those of us whose “family” includes a furry friend, they can often be forgotten when we discuss our own mortality. However, unlike humans, pets cannot directly inherit any assets. Under Australian domestic law, they are considered to be property and can therefore be given to someone or something as a gift, but they themselves cannot be the recipient of a gift.

One of the primary objectives of the Court in parenting matters is to determine what the best interests of the children are and to make orders to that effect. In some circumstances, a Court will appoint an Independent Children’s Lawyer (“ICL”) to your matter. An ICL represents your child’s best interests and makes sure that is the focus of any decisions about parenting arrangements.