Below we have included some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Family Law matters. If your question has not been addressed here, please feel free to call us on 07 5503 0233 and book an initial Family Law case assessment consultation with one of our Family Lawyers.
Unfortunately, not all separating couples can agree about what should happen in respect to their parenting or property matters, and nobody can make them do so, particularly where emotions may be clouding the issues in dispute.
By way of negotiation or formal mediation, opportunities can be created to make reaching an agreement much more likely. Through the guidance of an experienced family lawyer, many people see the financial and emotional benefits in avoiding court proceedings and protracted litigation. Gaining an understanding of the legal issues involved, can greatly motivate even the most resistant of parties, to come to an agreement. At Bruce Legal, this is always our aim, wherever it may be possible.
Not all parties, however, are open to negotiation. In that case, Court may be the only option. Once a matter has been filed in Court, the other party must respond, even if they have refused to do so beforehand. Other advantages of going to Court include the ability to request orders, which force the other party to disclose information that previously they have refused to supply. A Court can also make orders which call upon a third party such as a bank or a school to provide vital information which may have been withheld. In the event that applying to the Court for orders is necessary, we at Bruce Legal aim at every stage, to achieve a negotiated settlement in order that you can move forward with your life as quickly and painlessly as possible.
If you and your ex-spouse have been unable to agree on matters since you separated, contact us on (07) 5503 0233 to arrange a complimentary consultation with an experienced family lawyer.
Of the Courts bestowed with the power to determine family law matters, most people will file their family law proceedings initially in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
Ordinarily the Family Court of Australia will only hear the more complex issues including (but not, limited to) the following:
At the first mention date in the Family Court, a Registrar will generally hear from to decide whether or not your matter will remain in that forum or be transferred to the Federal Circuit Court.
If you are considering which Court is the most appropriate forum to hear your matter and none of the above factors apply, then it is most probable that the Federal Circuit Court of Australia is the most suitable forum in which to file the proceedings.
If you are preparing to initiate family law proceedings and would like to know more about Court matters, contact us at Bruce Legal and make an appointment to speak with one of our family lawyers.
The current filing fee (as at date of writing) for an application for divorce is $930, (or $310 for those eligible for a reduced fee). There is no GST to be added to this price, as GST does not apply to court fees.
For guidelines about whether or not you qualify for a reduced filing fee in respect of your divorce, you can refer to the “Guidelines for reduced fee - divorce and decree of nullity” on the Federal Court of Australia website.
If you and your former spouse do not agree about applying for divorce, and are therefore not applying jointly, you will need to have the application served upon your ex-spouse by way of engaging process server. The additional cost of this service is approximately $100 including GST.
In instances where the divorce is opposed and you require a family lawyer to appear on your behalf at a defended hearing of the matter, your legal fees will be surplus to the Court filing fee. Similarly, the fees for a lawyer to draft your application or prepare extra evidence on your behalf, such as where the separation is in dispute, are also additional to the Court filing fee.
If you are considering applying for a divorce and would like an estimate of the legal fees, which might be involved, please contact us directly in order that we can assess your matter accordingly.
In Australia, anything given to a child by a parent is considered to be a gift until proven otherwise.
Inn family law property matters, a gift from parent to child is treated as a contribution to the relationship by the person who received it. The more recent the gift, the more likely it is that the whole of it, or most of it will remain the sole property of the party whose relative provided it. For example, if the money provided by the parent(s) was less than a year before final separation, then there is a good chance that almost all of it will be retained by the receiving party. In contrast, if the gift was made 25 years ago, then it is far more likely that the Court would consider it to be a part of the asset pool for distribution between the parties. This diminution of a contribution over a long period of time is often referred to in family law as “erosion”.
In some cases, and in order to avoid the effects of the erosion principle (described above), a party may claim that the monies received from their parent(s) was not a gift at all but rather a loan. In order to prove such an assertion, there must be real evidence that this was the case such as:
If both parents reach agreement after the mediation or at any stage during court proceedings, there are 2 types of formal arrangements that can be made about parenting:
Parenting Plan
A parenting plan is a document about the child’s welfare, signed by both parents and free from threat, duress or coercion. It is not filed in the court and is not binding or enforceable by the court.
The Court must have regard to the terms of the latest parenting plan when making a parenting order, but will not necessarily enforce the agreement if contested. The Court may find the parenting plan is not appropriate because it is not in the child’s best interests or reasonably practical. The Court has the power to make whatever orders are appropriate in the circumstances.
Consent Order
This is an agreement that has been drafted in the form of an order, signed by the parties and filed in the Court. A Judge or Registrar of the Court will consider the document and make the order in terms of the agreement if satisfied the arrangement is in the best interests of the children. The order is binding and enforceable.
We can assist you in navigating your children’s matter by providing advice in relation to your legal rights and obligations which promote the best interests of your children.
Broadly the technical criteria required for a divorce to be granted is that:
In determining the above criteria, the Court may consider such factors as:
To determine whether parties to a de facto relationship can be considered as a ‘couple’ under the law the following factors may be considered:
The above factors are considered on an individual basis and there is no obligation to prove each and every of the above factors when establishing the existence of a de facto relationship.
It is important to note that the law is designed to expressly include both heterosexual and same sex relationships.
A number of professions carry mandatory notification requirements where there is a reasonable concern that a child may be suffering abuse. Some of the professions include teachers, doctors and other medical or mental health professionals, and community service workers.
The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), compels court staff members, family and child counsellors and dispute resolution practitioners to report any information or suspicions of child abuse to the relevant child welfare authority.
Each party to Court proceedings concerning parenting matters is required to file a Notice of Risk that sets out any allegations of child abuse or family violence.
There is no presumption of equal time. The Court will often find that equal time may not be in the best interests of the child, for example, when:
The Court will only make an order for equal shared time if that arrangement is in the child’s best interests and that the arrangement is reasonably practicable.
The Family Law Act provides that if a party to a marriage/ de facto relationship is unable to support themselves by reason of:
the other party is liable to maintain that party, to the extent that party is reasonably able to do.
Client’s often ask, “what age can my children decide where they want to live?”
The answer is that there is no specific age.
While the Court takes the wishes of a child into account it is not bound to make a decision in accordance with those wishes. The weight given to a child’s wishes will depend upon the age and level of maturity of the child. The court is more likely to consider the wishes of an older child but may still make orders contrary to an older child’s wishes if it is in the child’s best interests to do so.
A child cannot give oral evidence in the court proceedings so their wishes are usually presented to the court via a family report.
A Court can issue orders to locate and recover the child and invoke the assistance of the Australian Federal Police in urgent situations. An airport watch can be put in place in some circumstances to prevent the child being taken out of the country. In some cases, an order can be made for publication of the details of the abduction in newspapers or the media.
If the other parent or someone related to the child removes the child from your care you should seek urgent legal advice
The views of the child are usually put before the court after an interview of the child by a court appointed expert, usually a psychologist or social worker, who will provide a report in relation to a variety of matters, including the child’s wishes if they are mature enough to express them.
The Family Law Act 1975 recognises the role of extended family members and significant people in the child’s life, along with the benefit to the child of maintaining such relationships. Extended family members can apply for orders under the Family Law Act. It is common for grandparents to take on a larger role on birthdays and special occasions such as Christmas, Easter and holidays. In some circumstances the child may be ordered to live with an extended family member, for example when there is evidence that it is not in the child’s best interests to live with a parent.
It is not unusual for there to be a significant disparity in income between a separating couple. In cases where one party controls the money and the other has no access to money for legal fees, the party without access to funds may be entitled to apply for an order that the other party fund part or all of their reasonable legal costs. .
Whether you are entitled to this type of payment will depend on your own, very specific set of circumstances.
When a proposal is made for child to move to a location where it will make it more difficult for the child to spend regular time with the other parent, this is referred to as relocation.
Relocation cases are difficult because the court must balance the right of the child to have a close and meaningful relationship with both parents with the possible advantages to the child of allowing the relocation (for example better educational opportunities, financial benefits, job opportunities and the like).
Each case is decided on its own facts. It is for the court to decide which proposal (i.e. the proposal of the relocating parent or the proposal of the parent opposing the relocation) is in the child’s best interests.
You should seek legal advice before moving away with a child without the other parent’s permission.
Not unless you meet the usual conditions of release relating to age or are otherwise eligible to access your superannuation. The money transferred to your own superannuation fund will be treated the same as your existing superannuation.
All assets and liabilities of each of the parties at the time of property settlement are generally in the pool available for division after separation including business assets. The court will weigh up your contribution to the value of the business at the commencement of the relationship as well as direct and indirect contributions during the relationship.
The court does not provide compensation but rather looks at the financial and non financial contributions of each party to the assets and to the relationship. The longer the marriage, the more likely that the other party has made other financial and non financial contributions.
Much will depend on the nature of the trust and your wife's entitlements but it will be a matter that will be given proper consideration in the property settlement. It will either be taken into account as property available for division or as a financial resource of your partner, possibly leading to an adjustment in your favour depending on the circumstances.