Tag: Family Law Proceedings

Legal Costs in family law proceedings: Overview and Legal Framework [caption id="attachment_16375" align="alignright" width="350"] Legal Costs in family law proceedings: Overview and Legal Framework[/caption] The law relating to costs in family law proceedings is well settled and set out in detail in the Full Court decision of Parke & The Estate of the Late A Parke. General Presumption and Exceptions An application for costs is governed by s 117 of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (“the Act”). Section 117(1) of the Act sets out the...

Can you use secret audio recordings in family law? As technology continues to evolve, it is becoming more common for clients to ask whether they can use secret audio recordings in their family law matters. Before you consider recording your conversation with the other party, there are several important factors that you need to consider, including: Whether the recording is legal to make in Queensland; Whether a Court will allow the recording to be used as evidence; and  Whether you...

Family Law Watchlist It is not uncommon for a parent to be concerned that their ex-partner is going to take the children abroad without permission. In these circumstances, an application can be made to place the children on the Family Law Watchlist. This prevents the children leaving the country without the permission of both parents or a Court Order to do so. Children may be placed on the Watchlist in the following circumstances: The Court has issued an Order limiting...

Central Practice Direction The Federal Circuit Court of Australia and Family Court of Australia officially merged to form the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (‘FCFCOA’) on 1 September 2021. The FCFCOA subsequently published the Central Practice Direction to detail the new case management pathway. As a practitioner or litigant in family law matters understanding the major structural changes to the system is imperative. Purpose of the Central Practice Direction The purposes of the Central Practice Direction are to...

Dangers of Social Media [caption id="attachment_16605" align="alignright" width="350"] Dangers of Social Media[/caption] The rise of social media is impacting various areas of law, particularly family law proceedings. While sharing a social media post may seem harmless, a recent Family Law Review found that 81% of cases accepted social media evidence. There is no denying that an impulsive post can seriously affect the outcome of your matter. The dangers of social media in the context of family law proceedings cannot be...

Bankruptcy Act 1996 and Family Law Act 1975 - AustLII and Divorce Loopholes Under the bankruptcy act 1966 law, creditors are unable to claim against a person’s estate if that person has declared bankruptcy. However, there are certain situations where the bankruptcy act 1966 can be orchestrated to appear this way, so as to purposely avoid paying debts. Calls for Divorce Loophole Crackdown: Criminals Skirting the Law The recent case involving Michael Williamson, disgraced former Health Services Union Boss, highlights...

Monitoring Spouses and Ex-Partners: Skirting a Fine Line [caption id="attachment_13169" align="alignright" width="400"] Monitoring Spouses and Ex-Partners[/caption] During a breakdown of a relationship or marriage, an individual’s life (both personal and public) are usually retracted from the other party. This can be a strange time for some people, as many parties spend years intentionally or unintentionally knowing the whereabouts and doings of the other party. As this knowledge ceases quite suddenly, it is not uncommon for one party to try and...

Family Law Proceedings in Australia When a marriage or relationship breaks down, a typical disagreement between the parties relates to the arrangements of the children, including where they live, attend school and spend time with. These issues may be further complicated if one parent wishes to relocate as a result of family violence, abuse, or other major issues. If disputes of this nature are unable to be resolved through preliminary mediation or dispute resolution, parents may need to apply for...

The Impact of Criminal Law in Family Law Jurisdiction Criminal Law in family law: Pursuant to section 61DA of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility exists within family law proceedings. However, this presumption does not apply in circumstances where parents have engaged in family violence due to the effect of section 61DA(2)(B). Effect of Family Violence Orders on Parenting Orders The Family Court may enforce a Family Violence Order against a parent of...

What's the Solicitor's role in Family law proceedings? The role of solicitors in Family Law proceedings may not be known to the parties before commencing the legal representation. In the case of Simic& Norton [2017] FamCA 1007, Justice Benjamin was critical of both parties’ solicitors, describing their actions as fuelling a negative culture of “bitter adversarial and highly aggressive litigation”. His Honour referenced correspondence that had been sent between the solicitors which did not reflect the appropriate professionalism expected of...

How Do Mental Health Conditions Affect Family Law Proceedings? If you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, this can impact both child welfare/parenting arrangements addition to property disputes. However, a mental health condition does affect or have relevance to divorce proceedings (family law proceedings)  (provided there are no children in the relationship). Mental Health in Parenting Disputes The first and foremost principle applied by the Court in any parenting proceeding is placing the welfare of the child as...

Family Report and Expert Evidence in Proceedings Expert evidence including a family report provides the Court with material from an independent viewpoint, which both assesses and highlights particular issues with each unique case. The most common form of expert evidence in family law proceedings is family reports, which are undertaken by psychologists to determine the children’s views, the party’s capacity regarding parental issues, and any emotional or psychological effects of previous family violence or abuse. The Family Report The family...