The Full Court has considered an appeal arising from property settlement orders following a 22-year marriage involving a substantial asset pool and complex trust and company interests. The decision examines whether a contractual right to
The Full Court has dismissed an appeal by a child’s paternal grandfather and step-grandmother against orders refusing them time with their four-year-old grandchild, whom they had never met. The Court rejected the argument that the
The Full Court has dismissed an appeal against final parenting and financial orders concerning a child with special needs, where the appellant father’s time was ordered to remain supervised. The Court confirmed that open-ended or
The Family Court of Western Australia dismissed a mother’s application to have parenting proceedings determined in a non-Convention country, finding the children remained habitually resident in Australia and that jurisdiction under the Family Law Act
By majority, the Court of Appeal of Western Australia held that provisions of the Surrogacy Act 2008 (WA) excluding same-sex couples from eligibility for a parentage order were inconsistent with the Sex Discrimination Act 1984
Parenting proceedings listed for a 7-day trial before Justice O’Brien in the Family Court of Western Australia. Between them, the parties sought to call evidence from 25 witnesses.
Emotional Toll and Vicarious Trauma: Family lawyers frequently deal with emotionally charged cases that can have a profound impact on their mental health. The exposure to intense emotions and traumatic experiences may lead to compassion
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It can occur in any occupation, but it is most common in high-stress jobs, such as healthcare, law, and
Superannuation splitting is one of the easiest areas for avoidable mistakes — and one of the fastest ways for Orders to be rejected by a fund trustee. A clean, compliant super split starts with a systematic approach. Before filing any proposed Orders with the Court, here are the critical checks every practitioner should complete.
Trusts are one of the most challenging asset types in family law property matters. Whether it’s a family discretionary trust, a hybrid unit trust, a corporate structure wrapped inside a trust, or an SMSF holding trust assets, practitioners must understand how a trust operates before advising clients or attempting to draft Orders that deal with trust property. This guide breaks down the essentials every lawyer must master.
Family law matters often turn on more than what parties say. They turn on what can be proven. In an era where financial structures are complex, parenting disputes are increasingly nuanced, and digital footprints form part of the evidentiary landscape, forensic evidence has become an essential tool for modern family lawyers.
