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A HECS debt is often the sign of having achieved a great accomplishment, but it hangs over your head for many years after having completed your higher education. HECS debts are often hefty and are frequently raised as a liability when determining parties’ asset pools following a separation or divorce.

The Family Law Act outlines that parties who are divorced have a one year window to begin proceedings relating to property matters and defacto couples have two years after the date of separation to do so as well..

Whether they be four-legged, have fins or possess the ability to fly, pets of all shapes and sizes are a great addition to any family. Many couples often buy pets jointly throughout their relationship for companionship and to build their family unit. Unfortunately, not all relationships last which means that pets acquired during the course of the relationship may be left in an ambiguous situation in relation to their ownership and care. Understandably, negotiating how a pet may share their time, if any, with each party may become quite tense, especially where each party develops a deep emotional connection with their furry or scaly friends. So, how do the Courts and family lawyers approach dealing with disputes concerning pets?

Deciding which party gets to keep the engagement ring after a separation can be a heated issue for many people, particularly in shorter relationships.

A common myth is that whoever paid more during a relationship gets more after the separation. While this might end up being the case, it is certainly not automatic or a default position. In fact, Courts take both financial and non-financial contributions into consideration.

Mothers' Day is an emotional and meaningful day for mothers, where children can celebrate and thank their mothers for their hard work over the years. Sadly, for some separated parents, Mothers' Day can also bring with it feelings of sadness. Mother’s Day is now behind us and it is important for next year’s preparations to understand how the family court system makes provisions to allow a visit on this important day. Naturally, the same considerations apply for Father’s Day.

To protect everyone’s health and safety, the majority of parenting cases are being dealt with by telephone or by video conferencing. The Courts are doing their best to triage new matters and to progress ongoing ones, in extraordinary circumstances.

On 2 April 2020 the Australian Government announced a new Relief Package. From Monday 6 April 2020, weekly payments will be made directly to the service instead of the Child Care Subsidy and the Additional Child Care Subsidy which were previously available. This is designed to keep services running.

The Federal Circuit Court case of Ralton v Ralton was heard back in 2016, but its message still rings true today, being that serious breaches of court orders can have grave consequences.

As you would expect, separation is often a difficult time for people and can cause great emotional distress. A common side effect of this is a breakdown in communication and high-conflict situations. In today’s technological world, people have access to new and innovative smartphone apps that could offer a solution. These apps are designed to ease tension between parties by simplifying communication methods and focusing on only what needs to be discussed for the benefit of children. Three examples of these useful communication apps are OurFamilyWizard, 2houses and MyMob.