The proposed merger of the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia has recently been passed. The Family Court will merge with the Federal Circuit Court.…
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…
For those of you who thought the Stolen Generation was a thing of the past - think again. The annual Family Matters report - issued this week – shows that…
We were pleased to participate recently in the launch of the University of Newcastle Law School Older Persons Legal Clinic. The clinic began seeing clients over 12 months ago, but…
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…
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…
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…
Leading regional NSW based law firm, Catherine Henry Lawyers, is in the running for two prestigious Australian Law Awards. The firm is one of eight finalists for Regional Law Firm…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Buying your first home is a huge deal. No doubt you have never taken on such a large debt before in your life, and you may be feeling unsure about…
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…
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…
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 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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 (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.…