We are only weeks away from Christmas and this is usually the time that families enjoy a holiday away at the end of a busy year. Whether it be a local beach getaway or an extravagant overseas holiday, when there has been a separation or divorce and there are children involved, it is important to...
We have previously highlighted the detrimental affect social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter can have on your family law matter when it comes before the Court, but thought it was time for a reminder to ensure that you are aware of the dangers. Family law matters, including separation, divorce and children’s issues are...
Wills are obviously an important part of Estate Planning; however to maximise wealth building, tax minimisation and family protection strategies, a proper Estate Planning review should also involve consideration and review of such matters as: (a) Life Estates and Asset Structures; (b) Superannuation structures and nominations; (c) The legal effect of how...
Separating parties who come to an agreement about how they will divide their assets post-separation often decide that they do not want to formally document their agreement and instead, have their ‘agreement’ documented in a statutory declaration signed by both parties in front of a witness. Presumably this is often done to save money, however...
If you are an existing client of our firm, you would have recently received an important letter in the mail regarding Estate Planning and Wealth Protection. This letter highlighted the importance of obtaining legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances to ensure that your loved ones are protected and your wishes are adhered to after...
There are no hard and fast rules regarding finalising a property settlement immediately after separation, however it is important to remember that the Family Law Act 1975 does impose time limits for the commencement of property settlement proceedings in the Family Law Court or Federal Circuit Court. These include a time limit of 12 months...
A question which is often asked by parties who have separated is whether they can change the locks to the house to stop the other party having access to the property. This is an area not without its complexity as it will depend on numerous factors as to whether one party has the legal right...
The Chief Justice of the Family Court (Federal Circuit Court) John Pascoe, has demanded greater access to information in respect of matters pertaining to family violence. The Chief Justice has highlighted that the Commonwealth/State Privacy legislation, and the lack of resources and funding being granted to the Family Court system is crippling judicial administration, to...
It is trite to say that the advancement in I.T. technologies are rapidly growing and encompassing every aspect of our day to day life. Cloud based technology is becoming the norm in business operations, and is now often being used to disclose documents in litigious/adversarial matters through such tools as Dropbox. The recent Queensland Supreme...
Generally, before a deceased person’s final wishes are able to be performed, a procedure known as a Grant of Probate of a Will is required. This is a sealed document that is issued by the Supreme Court Registry which affirms that the executor has proven that the Will is the last valid Will/Codicil of the...
