By Taylor Campbell. Mediation is often encouraged in Australia as a way to resolve disputes without going to court, but many people wonder whether they can actually refuse it. The short answer is yes — mediation is voluntary, and no one can force you to reach an agreement. However, refusing [...]
The Christmas holiday season can be busy and stressful for everyone, so careful planning and open communication between parents is key to making the lead-up to Christmas as smooth as possible. While some families don’t require a formal schedule to handle the holidays, agreeing on parenting arrangements can still be a [...]
Have the recent changes to the Family Law Act actually worked in upholding the best interests of children? Michael Tiyce gives his view in this recent piece at Lawyers Weekly: lawyersweekly.com.au/politics/41186-why-changes-to-the-family-law-act-work-against-its-own-cause
By Taylor Campbell. The holiday period can be stressful enough without the added layer of family law proceedings. It is not uncommon for parents to become extra protective or possessive of their children during the Christmas period, which can result in one parent missing out on spending this special time with [...]
Michael Tiyce is in the media again, this time commenting on Bounty Parents for their article on relocating with children after divorce. So what happens when one parent wants to relocate following a separation? As Michael says in the article: “Family law prioritises the best interests of the child above all [...]
By Anita Petrovic. The lucky Melbourne registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has welcomed its first full time therapy dog, Poppy. As foreshadowed in our blog post Meet ‘Lucy’: The Federal Circuit & Family Court of Australia’s newest recruit, the Court has launched the Court Dog Program, with [...]
By Anita Petrovic. Matters where one party is proposing to relocate the child(ren) to a location within or outside of Australia are not uncommon in the Australian family law system. Some people may migrate to Australia and, when the relationship breaks down, want to go back to the country from which [...]
Family law is a complex and sensitive area of the law which deals with various legal matters related to family relationships, including marriage and separation, divorce, parenting arrangements, property settlement, adoption and child support. Whether you are going through a divorce, negotiating a property settlement or parenting arrangements for your children, [...]
By Emily Austin There are several ways to formalise parenting arrangements for children. Here, we summarise these in order of most amicable to least. Voluntary Agreement: This is a voluntary agreement made between parents that are merely verbal and are not formally recorded. Parenting Plan: This is also a voluntary agreement [...]
In urgent situations, you can ask the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia to make an urgent Order, and in extremely urgent circumstances, you can even request that your application be heard ex parte. This means that the Court will deal with the matter immediately and without notice to the [...]