I need to do a property settlement, but my finances are tied up… what do I do?
We often have people contact us who have separated, but their finances are tied up in assets jointly owned with the other party, or they are a stay at home…
My ex and I have agreed on parenting arrangements…what happens next?
Firstly, well done! It can often be a difficult and drawn out process to agree on parenting arrangements for children. While you don’t have to, we recommend that the next…
Parenting Matters FAQs
Here at Catherine Henry Lawyers, our experienced family law team are often asked a variety of questions related to parenting matters. In this blog post, we've compiled a few of…
Why older Australians shouldn’t delay their family law property settlement
We often meet with older Australians who have separated amicably some time ago but have not taken the steps to negotiate a property settlement or get divorced. This can be…
Deciding whether or not to act as a surrogate: birth mother’s costs in a surrogacy arrangement
When deciding whether or not to act as a surrogate for another person, you need to give consideration as to what expenses you are likely to incur and whether or…
Estate planning during the Coronavirus outbreak
The importance of estate planning has been emphasised during the Coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic has highlighted that, now more than ever, it is crucial to ensure you have up to…
How will your family law matter be dealt with during the COVID-19 crisis?
Going through a family law matter is one of the most stressful times of your life. The outbreak of the coronavirus is an added stress on families, so it would…
Help for domestic violence victims during coronavirus outbreak
The Federal Government has responded to calls for more help for domestic violence victims during the coronavirus outbreak. It has been troubling to see many organisations report an increase in…
Relocating with children post-separation
There are a whole host of reasons why a parent may be considering relocating with children post-separation: to be closer to family and friends, for a new job or partner,…
Your business and family law – who gets what?
Family break-ups are rarely straightforward but when your business forms part of your separation, dividing the assets can be a fraught and complex affair. One of the fundamental steps in…
How to get funds released before a property settlement
A Family Law property settlement can be lengthy, costly and stressful. There is often money tied up in assets that can’t be distributed until the court makes its orders or…
Seven steps to finalising your property settlement as quickly as possible!
Following separation, most people want to sort out their property settlement as quickly as possible and get on with their life. Here are seven steps to achieving that: 1 - See…
10 facts about spousal maintenance
Following separation, a spousal maintenance order can be made by the Court for one party to provide financial assistance to the other party. In this article we talk you through…
Spousal maintenance | A case study
Spousal maintenance is financial support paid by a spouse to their former partner in circumstances where they are unable to sufficiently support themselves. According to the Family Court of Australia,…
A Guide to Family Law Mediation
Mediation is a great method of resolving a dispute in both parenting and property matters in family law. Two of the biggest advantages of family law mediation are the time…
The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ and your Property Settlement
Helping your children buy a home - or borrowing from the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' - what happens if their relationship breaks down? High home prices mean that more…
On the 12th day of Christmas… review your Estate Plan
Starting your holidays? You might finally be able to take some downtime to stop and think about your family and future needs (if you can escape from the chaos and…
Thinking of international travel in the holidays and have parenting orders? Read this first!
International travel with children is an exciting experience for your family. However, before taking the trip, you should be aware of the process when there are parenting orders in place…
How to survive a relationship crisis at Christmas
Christmas is supposed to be a time for family and friends, filled with giving, peace and goodwill, but it can also be the loneliest and most stressful time of the…
Assets of a discretionary trust | A case study
In 2011 there was the case of Harris v Harris. The trial Judge found that the net value of the parties' assets was $4,269,180. This included the net assets of…
Discretionary trusts and property settlements
What happens in a family law property settlement when property is held in a discretionary trust? It’s important to start with the basics. Section 79(1) of the Family Law Act…
Parenting arrangements after separation
In October 2019 the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) released a report with statistics on parenting arrangements after separation. We’ve compiled some of the more interesting statistics below. The…
The future of family law
There has been increased discussion in the media recently about the future of family law. You might recall our article from earlier this year which discussed some of the main…
How superannuation is dealt with in a property settlement
Superannuation is often one of the biggest assets that a person has. Upon the breakdown of a marriage or partnership, an important consideration is how superannuation is dealt with in…
Supportive parenting through separation
Parenting through separation can be stressful for both you and your children. As family lawyers, we see how damaging a separation can be on a child. This month, I attended…
Self-managed super funds and property settlements
Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) are on the rise! Both in numbers and in value of assets held. We make the following general points regarding self-managed super funds and property settlements.…
Separation and super splitting | A case study
Upon the breakdown of a marriage or partnership, couples come to an agreement about how their superannuation will be split. Separation and super splitting give regard to various contributions and…
5 reasons why you need an accountant in a property settlement
A family law property settlement is a major life event that often requires the services of an independent accountant. Here are 5 reasons why you might need an accountant in…
Why you need both legal and financial advice during a property settlement
A family law separation is one of the most significant financial events of your life. Often you will need legal and financial advice for your property settlement. For example, you…
Six things to take to your appointment with a mortgage broker
If you’ve reached a family law property settlement and you are going to be refinancing a property into your sole name, or you need to obtain finance to make a…