Month: February 2018

TAKING IT TO COURT? CONGRATULATIONS! YOU AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR A FAMILY REPORT. It is inevitable that parents who institute proceedings in the family court involving their children, will if the parenting issues relating to the children are not resolved, be required to attend a conference and consult with initially a family consultant attached to the court, and if the matter proceeds further in the court process with a family report writer. Family reports by a family consultant and a family...

Payment and Recovery of a Child Support Debt If an application has been lodged with the Child Support Agency, and for whatever reason, there is a debt outstanding on the assessment of child support by the agency, how is that debt recovered? An assessment for child support by the Child Support Agency is normally paid by the employer of the person who owes child support (the payor). The person, normally the father, who is required to pay child support, will...

Top 10 Matters to think about when separating Seek advice from your accountant or financial adviser on the financial consequences arising from a separation. Work out a budget for your essential living expenses, not only for yourself but your children. List all your expenses. Download a financial statement from the Family Court website which will give a good guide to the expenses which you should consider. Do you have enough income to pay for your expenses and those of your...

Lengthy Battles It has long been recognised that the present litigious proceedings in the Family Court have not been the most appropriate means of dealing with children’s issues. The Federal Government established a review committee to advise on a system that would best deal with parenting issues. As a result of the input of this committee, the Federal Government introduced a bill into parliament called the Family Law Amendment Bill (Parenting Management Hearings) Bill 2017. This legislation provides for the...

What is The Parenting Bill? A proposed new forum for resolving family law disputes relating to children. The parenting bill proposes to establish a new statutory authority to offer self-litigants (parents who do not have legal representation) an alternative to having their matters heard in the Family or Federal Circuit Courts (The Family Courts). A vast majority of matters heard in the Family Courts involve unrepresented parties. They do not, in the main, have the knowledge or ability to fully...

What about the Children?  Considering the Psychological Impact of Family Breakdown on Children. The way parents handle a separation can have a huge impact on how well their children cope with it. Research has shown that children from families where parents are involved a high conflict separation are at greater risk of developing emotional, social and behavioural problems. Parental conflict has a negative impact on a child’s adjustment and sense of safety at a time when they are already experiencing...

Joint Collaborative Mediation with a collaborative trained solicitor and psychologist I am an Accredited Family Law Specialist.  Over the many years that I have been in practice I have been involved in all facets of Family Law Brisbane and in all areas of Family Law mediation varying from the basic Legal Aid Conferencing to participating in mediation as a lawyer to clients and in the capacity as a mediator.  I have observed legal professionals acting as mediators and have observed...