Since 10 September 2019, personal cross-examination is no longer allowed in family law proceedings in which there is an allegation of family violence. Personal cross-examination is where a party (the ...
Since 10 September 2019, personal cross-examination is no longer allowed in family law proceedings in which there is an allegation of family violence. Personal cross-examination is where a party (the witness party) is asked questions by another party (the examining party), instead of by a legal practitioner.
We get asked this question a lot. There appears to be a lot of uncertainty about when a relationship becomes a de facto relationship. This isn’t surprising given that different agencies, such as Centrelink or the Department of Immigration, apply different rules.
Justine Woods, a partner at Cooper Grace Ward who leads the family law team, recently authored the article Practical tips for expert witnesses in the family courts, and soon after was contacted by The Expert Witness, a popular legal publication in the United Kingdom.
If you’re in a family law dispute, is it lawful to record conversations with your former partner or with your children? If you have recorded a conversation, can the recording be used as evidence in court?
The answer to this question will depend on the orders you are seeking. The documents you need to file in court will differ, depending on whether you are seeking orders for property settlement, spousal maintenance or parenting orders.
Clients who expect to receive an inheritance often ask us whether it will be relevant to determining property settlement matters with their former spouse. The answer will depend on the facts of each matter, but an inheritance that is expected to be received in the very near future will be,
Deciding who keeps the family dog when a relationship ends, can be an extremely sensitive issue. It is inconceivable to some that their ex-spouse will keep the beloved fur-baby after they separate. Many people will spend as much time and money arguing about the family pet as they do with
Strict time limits apply to formalising property settlement matters, whether you have been in a de facto relationship or if you were married.
You might have recently seen the sad tale of Richard Zelasko, a man who celebrated winning $30 million in a US lotto draw after being separated from his wife for more than two years (his ticket cost him only $1).
Social scientists tell us that separating from a spouse is one of the most difficult experiences in life. With this comes emotional distress and uncertainty about the future.
Most people think that, after their relationship ends, they will end up in court arguing about parenting or property matters. However, where parties can agree about property settlement or parenting matters, there is no need to go to court. All matters can be resolved by way of written agreements.
Despite the media frenzy, did the recent High Court decision, which named a sperm donor the legal father of a child, actually change how we define a parent in modern families?
Cooper Grace Ward acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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