How the dying can ensure their wishes are met – Advance Care Directives
The media is full of stories of older people being given futile and expensive treatment at the end of their lives. Some commentators say that the focus in our health…
Representing a child’s best interests – what is an ICL?
What does ICL stand for? Independent Children’s Lawyer. Who are they? An ICL is a lawyer appointed by the Court to represent your child’s interests in your family law matter.…
Is what I tell my solicitor confidential?
Solicitors are bound by conduct rules which govern the way we practice law. One of those rules is the obligation to maintain a client’s confidentiality. A solicitor must not disclose…
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough? Not Just Yet.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if this statement was true! It is certain that many institutions are working hard on a cure, but we are not quite there. Firstly, a few…
What happens if I don’t follow a Family Court Order?
A contravention is where you intentionally fail to comply with a Court Order or make no reasonable attempt to comply with a Court Order. There is scope for you to…
What If Something Happens to Me? – Part 1
Assistance on making decisions for later life Most of our lives we are used to making decisions about financial, legal and health matters on our own or with people close…
What If Something Happens to Me? – Part 2
This is the second part of our blog which deals with making decisions for later life. Part one dealt with financial decisions which you can read here. Health and lifestyle…
More Victorians to be Able to Die at Home: Palliative Care
The Victorian government plans to overhaul the state's palliative care system within two years, to enable people to be able to die at home. A new framework for end-of-life and…
Dying to Know Day
The D-word. We have no shortage of names for it, but when faced with death we are often lost for words. Our superstitions and fears about dying, and the discomfort we…
Changes to Strata Laws
There were more than 90 proposed changes to strata laws announced by the NSW Government this week, to commence on 30 November 2016. Some big changes such as the concept…
End of Life Care – Having the Conversation
National Palliative Care week passed quietly without too much publicity or noise. Why did this happen? Is it because we are frightened to talk about what we want when we…
Strained Family Dynamics – Mediation Will Help
As loved ones age, their needs and behaviours change. Invariably, these changes impact all family members, and strain family dynamics. Several factors may work against effective communication - such as…
Beyond the injured… compensation for secondary victims
Often it is not only the victim of medical negligence who suffers as the result of injury or death. Compensation is available in New South Wales for secondary victims such…
Elder Abuse Victims Reach Out to Help Lines
Is Elder Abuse finally coming "out of the cupboard" and are victims of elder abuse now feeling more comfortable in reporting this abuse. A recent ABC enquiry has found that…
National Aged Care Alliance – Position Statement for 2016 Federal Election
The National Aged Care Alliance (the Alliance) has produced a Position Statement for the 2016 Federal Election. The Alliance is a representative body of peak national organisations in aged care,…
8 things you probably didn’t know about Family Law
8 things you probably didn't know about Family Law. 1. Jurisdiction to determine property and spousal maintenance applications In 2009, most of the states and territories referred jurisdiction to determine…
Property owners – State Revenue updates
The State Revenue Legislation Amendment Act 2016 received assent on 11 May 2016 and commences on that day unless otherwise indicated. Of interest to property owners are the amendments to…
True or false – urban myths and legends in family law debunked
Do you know one of the most frustrating things about being a family lawyer? The urban legends, the myths, the story of a “friend of a friend, who knew some…
Dementia friendly communities
Dementia friendly communities should be a priority according to Alzheimer’s Disease International, which is calling on global leaders to help create societies where the inclusion of people living with dementia…
Get the icing – when your married lover wants to have their cake and eat it too!
Do you have a mistress, a lover? Are you the paramour? Well they, or you, may just be able to make a claim for property settlement and/or spousal maintenance as…
Buying property off the plan – new sunset clause protections
Off the plan contracts are used by developers to pre-sell vacant land lots or strata units before the necessary building and contract works have been finalised. After paying a deposit…
PTSD following surgical mishap
PTSD following surgical mishap is not as uncommon as might be believed. Many of our clients have suffered an injury as a result of something going awry during routine surgery.…
Gillian Triggs: Older People Subject to ‘Abuse, Violence and Manipulation’
Australian Human Rights Commission head, Gillian Triggs, says elder abuse victims are more likely to seek help from a doctor than a lawyer. President Triggs believes older Australians are increasingly…
Social media and implications for family law
Social media has become a daily part of our lives. Our online profile can include information, thoughts and photographs about who we are, the events of our lives, where we…
Top 10: Design Principles for Dementia-Friendly Environments
Making an environment more dementia-friendly didn’t necessarily have to involve calling in the builders, and can be as simple as rearranging furniture, says expert. Dementia-friendly design not only enhances the well-being of residents…
Senior Citizens Working Full Time in Their 80s and 90s Are Not The Retiring Type
According to a recent article in The Age, Victoria, when it comes to the Australian work ethic, there is one group that can't wait to retire and another that can't wait to go…
Limitation Periods in the Family Court. So you never have to sing… “If I could turn back time”
Did you know that there are limitation periods in which you need to apply to the Court to make property and spousal maintenance Orders? For parties who have been married,…
One-third of Australian pensioners live in poverty
An OECD report, Pensions at a Glance 2015, compared Australia to 33 other countries. The report found that more than one-third of Australian pensioners are living below the poverty line, making…
Surgical Complication Rates – RACS and Medibank report
Today Medibank Private and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) released the first in a series of reports being prepared by these bodies investigating delivery of surgical care and…
Royal Commission report into Family Violence
On 30 March 2016, Australia’s first Royal Commission into family violence was released. The Report made 227 comprehensive recommendations about how to prevent and respond to the issue of family…