Family Law

Family Law News & Media     Print this page

For the up-to-date news on Family Law issues, see the articles below:

View Slater & Gordon's 'In the Media' section.


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Put on a few kilos and it's over - 17 August 2008
Australian couples are turning to lawyers to settle weekly household arguments over who cleans the toilet, walks the dog and even how much their partner should weigh. To view the article published in The Daily Telegraph, Australia click here.

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You can't fat - it's agreed in the pre-nup - 17 August 2008
Australian couples are turning to lawyers to settle weekly household arguments over who cleans the toilet, walks the dog and even how much their partner should weigh. To view the article published in the NEWS.com.au, Australia click here.

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Modern pre-nups can even penalise gaining weight - 17 August 2008
Savvy couples are signing pre-nuptial agreements that not just protect their assets but establish rules about lifestyles - including getting fat. To view the article published in the Courier Mail,  Australia, click here.
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Dying father's wish granted - 13 August 2008
In A rare move, the Family Court has told a dying man he may leave a "time capsule", comprising a letter and DVD, for the 11-year-old daughter he has not seen for years. To view the article published in The Sydney Morning Herald, click here.

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Blended families step up - 29 July 2008
One in five families is a stepfamily or blended family, with experts predicting this statistic will rise as divorce rates increase and people re-partner later in life. To view the article published in the Essential Baby - Fairfax Digital, click here.

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Family law revolution still has a long way to go - 11 July 2008
There have been some monumental improvements to the family law system over the past two years, but experts are still worried about the courts' capacity to identify and protect the most vulnerable women and children. To view the article published in The Australian, Australia, click here.

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Stirring the pot with polygamy - 3 July 2008
Lakemba Sheik Khalil Chami, who I understand doubles as Muslim chaplain for the Australian Federal Police, has called for Australia's marriage laws to be amended. To view the article published in the On Line opinion, Australia, click here.

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Spanking isn't the same as hitting and it isn't abuse - 3 July 2008
Australia.TO, AustraliaIs it all right to spank your child? Of course it is. The law is clear on abusing children, and the difference between spanking and abuse is as obvious as day is from night, at least to anyone with common sense. To view the article published in Australia.TO, Australia, click here.

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A plea to learn, and prevent murder in families - 3 July 2008
A domestic violence homicide review panel could provide some of the answers. But no such panel exists in NSW or Australia. To view the article published in the Brisbane Times, Australia, click here.

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Laws give polygamists court recourse - 26 June 2008
EVEN though polygamy is banned under Australia's marriage laws, there is nothing to stop polygamists from going to the Family Court to settle their disputes. To view the article published in The Australian, Australia, click here.

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Mother to face court over alleged criminal neglect - 23 June 2008
A number of children remain in state care in an Adelaide hospital as their mother awaits a court hearing for alleged criminal neglect. To view the article published on ABC Online, Australia, click here.

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Give us a break, demand mothers - 15 June 2008
Back in 1979, the ACTU settled for 12 months' unpaid leave, and ever since Australia has languished in a backwater, as virtually every coutnry moved to establish working women's right to paid leave when they have a baby. To view the article published in the Wellington Times, Australia click here.

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Attorney General mandates family dispute resolution - 6 June 2008
All people applying to the Family Court for a parenting order must first attend family dispute resolution under changes to family law, except where there is child abuse, family violence or in matters of urgency. To view the article published in Australia.TO, Australia click here.


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Thousands queue for family counselling - 6 June 2008
More than 10,000 people were turned away from family relationship services in a year because of rising demand, according to a survey by the Australian Council of Social Service. To view the article published in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia click here.

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50/50 parenting 'tearing kids apart' - 3 June 2008
For many involved, particularly fathers, so-called '50/50' parenting arrangements have been a great success. To view the article published in ABC Online, Australia click here.

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Revealed: how split families get along - 27 May 2008
About one-quarter of separated parents say they never communicate with their former partners about matters relating to their children. To view the article published in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia click here.

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Heath Ledeger's daughter entitled to entire estate - 23 May 2008
New York legal experts this week concluded that under New York/Californian law, Ledger's beloved daughter Matilda Rose is entitled to her father's entire fortune. To view the article published in the Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia click here.

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Childless de factos in Family Court win - 23 May 2008
De Facto couples without children will be given access to the Family Court to settle property disputes after they split up under sweeping changes announced by the Rudd Government. To view the article published in the The Australian, Australia click here.


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'Let gay couples use Family Court' - 22 May 2008
Gay couples who split should be allowed access to the Family Court to settle property disputes, the court's chief justice has urged. To view the article published in the The Australian, Australia click here.

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Who's your mummy? - 14 May 2008
In at least once instance in Australia, Family Courts have been willing to grant the sperm donor the custody rights. To view the article published in the Melbourne Community Voice, Australia click here.

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Equality saves $66M by Harley Dennett - 15 May 2008
The budget papers also confirmed the reforms will not affect areas of family law, which the Attorney-General's Department is still investigating. To view the article published in the Sydney Star Observer, Australia click here.

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A guide to modern marriage by Judith Woods - 14 May 2008
The conflicting demands of family and friends, budget and taste can easily lead to pre-matrimonial meltdown. So to help steer you through these perilous... To view the article published in the Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom click here.

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Super now joins divorce spoils - 12 May 2008
Under the Family Law Act superannuation is bundled up and included in marriage "assets''. Just like other assets, it gets separated and divided. If the split is on good terms, the parties can often agree on who gets what of the super. To view the article published in NEWS.com.au, Australia click here.

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Escalating family violence, economy blamed - 12 May 2008
Children are increasingly being identified as victims of family violence in Victoria, with reported incidents increasing by 42 per cent in four years.
To view the article published in NEWS.com.au, Australia click here.

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We are Family - 7 May 2008
On a momentous day last week the NSW Attorney-General announced, after many years of our community’s urging, the planned removal of discrimination against lesbian mothers and their children. To view the article published in Sydney Star Observer, Australia click here.

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Lawyers in defence of divorce law - 5 May 2008
Senior legal figures have rejected claims by a retiring family court judge that divorce law is being "dumbed down" in the push for equal rights. To view the article published in The Australian, Australia click here.

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Divorce law robs talented spouses - 3 May 2008
The legal notion that sports stars, artists and professionals with exceptional talent deserve better than a 50-50 split in divorce settlements. To view the article published in The Australian, Australia, click here.

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Clause 27(a) I do, except … - 3 May 2008
You've bought the dress and ordered the cake - now all you need is a pre-nuptial agreement. To view the article published in The Age, Australia click here.

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Power and violence in the home - 2 May 2008
If we indeed live in a patriarchal society in Australia, North America and Europe in 2008, it is precisely in the realm of family law, divorce and inheritance that you would expect to find these excesses of male dominance. To view the article published in On Line opinion, Australia, click here.

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Law reforms for gay couples - 30 April 2008
The changes will not allow gay marriages or same-sex couples to adopt children, and the issue of access to the Family Court for same-sex couples is still being resolved. To view the article published in The Age, Australia, click here.

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Solicitor urges Family Court move rethink - 28 April 2008
Family law solicitor Peter Bartley says the Federal Magistrates Court will be thrown out of its purpose-built property in Wingewarra Street later this year to save money. To view the article published in ABC Regional Online, Australia click here.

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Single mums face big cuts - 27 April 2008
SINGLE mother support groups are being flooded with furious calls from women facing a drop in child support payments as mortgage rates and petrol costs bite. To view the article published in The Herald Sun, Australia click here.

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Federal Magistrates Court doomed - 24 April 2008
The Federal Magistrates Court is facing abolition at the end of the year as part of an overhaul of the federal court system.To view the article published in The Australian, Australia click here.

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Joint custody 'can put kids at risk' - 15 April 2008
Family law experts have called for changes to legislation that emphasises joint custody, arguing it is putting children back into potentially dangerous situations where they risk being abused. To view the article published in The Australian, Australia click here.
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View Slater & Gordon's 'In the Media' section.



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