Practice Categories: FAMILY LAW SERVICES

What is Family Mediation? Family Mediation is a voluntary process. It can also be ordered by the Family Court when proceedings have been initiated in that Court. The parties can be represented by their legal advisers in this process. What is the mediator's role? [caption id="attachment_17888" align="alignright" width="350"] Family Mediation[/caption] The mediator’s role is to assist communication between the parties so that there can be open discussions to enable negotiations to take place and hopefully a settlement reached. The mediator’s...

Binding Child Support Agreement, Assessment & Laws Child Support Agreement: Child support is governed by the legislative instruments of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 and the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989. Separating from a partner or spouse either through a divorce or the end of a de facto relationship is often the most difficult and emotional process a person can go through. This is especially true when young children are involved. The Commonwealth Child Support Laws are...

Surrogacy Laws Australia: The Surrogacy Act QLD 2010 became operative on 1 June 2010. This Surrogacy act regulates surrogacy agreements in Queensland and permits surrogacy arrangements, provided they are not for a commercial purpose. What is Surrogacy Arrangement? A surrogacy arrangement is an arrangement between a woman (‘the birth mother’) and another person(s) (‘intended parent(s)') whereby the woman agrees to become pregnant with the intention that the child born is to be treated as the child of the other person(s)....

Navigating Grandparents' Legal Rights and Rights of Extended Family Members in Family Law Matters: A Guide to Visitation and Custody Matters  [caption id="attachment_18123" align="alignright" width="350"] Grandparents spending time with their grandchildren[/caption] The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren is often a source of love, support, and continuity within a family. However, there are instances when grandparents find themselves facing challenges in maintaining this connection, especially during divorce or separation proceedings.  Understanding the legal rights of grandparents in visitation and custody...

De Facto Relationship in Australia The De Facto Relationship in Australia Financial Matters and Other Measures Act came into effect on 1 March 2009. [caption id="attachment_17790" align="alignright" width="350"] De Facto Relationship in Australia[/caption] Prior to that, the rights of de facto relationships in Australian parties were governed by State legislation. The introduction of the new legislation to the Family Court, which is federal legislation, gave extra powers to the powers that de facto couples had under the State legislation. To...

Separation and Divorce - Considerations, Procedures, legality Separation and divorce can be highly challenging and burdensome periods in the lives of both individuals involved. Usually, the dissolution of a partnership or "separation" happens when the relationship is terminated due to the actions or behaviours of one or both parties. Family law Court considerations during separation and divorce [caption id="attachment_18113" align="alignright" width="350"] Family law Court considerations during separation and divorce[/caption] Although separation is not clearly defined under the legislation, the Federal...

What is spousal maintenance? Spousal maintenance is often confused or likened to Child Support, however, these concepts are unique and very different from the other. Spousal maintenance, unlike Child Support, relates only to the support of your former partner. You may have a responsibility to financially support your ex-partner after separation or divorce. In Queensland, de facto partners may well have no right to maintenance if they separated before 01 March 2009. New legislation since this time means that this...