Free family law resources & articles
The Best Possible Manner
April has come and gone and already we are a quarter way through 2014. We recently had a case settled in Court after the first day of the Trial. It was good that the matter had settled but sad that the …
Early 2014
It has been a busy start to the year for us at Hartley Healy in 2014. We are very pleased at the moment to have a very established and capable team. Besides myself and Joe Healy, we now have three other …
Jacarandas in bloom
I have thoroughly enjoyed my recent Mediation training with the wonderful people at Bond University. I completed 4 days back in July and only recently, I completed a further 2 days of training and assessment. As I write this blog, I …
Family Trusts and Property Settlement
In a property settlement, all interests in property that both you and your former partner have must be identified and valued. This is the first important step in a property settlement. When a piece of property is identified and valued it …
Am I in a De Facto Relationship?
We are often asked by people as to what is a de facto relationship, when it started and what does it entail. Unlike married couples who simply have to prove that they are married, the start and end of a de …
A Parent’s Attitude to Their Child’s Relationship With the Other Parent
We are often asked by colleagues and anxious clients things such as: “What is the most important factor in a custody dispute?” or “How can I make sure I keep my children?”. When the Court has to determine a parenting dispute …
Confusion Regarding the Value of Contributions in a Property Settlement
A decision of the Full Court in the case of Dickins and Dickins on 19 September 2012 highlights the confusion that exists not only amongst members of the public but also lawyers as to the proper manner in which to approach …
Taxation and Realisation Costs in Financial Property Settlements
In any property dispute or financial settlement, it is very important to remember that inherent taxes and realisation costs are not necessarily taken up by the Court and deducted from the pool of assets. For example, if you own three investment …
The Hague Convention and the Removal of Children from Overseas Countries
The recent case involving the four Italian girls being removed by their mother from Italy to Australia has certainly generated a lot of public debate and interest. We have received many questions and queries from clients and also from friends and …
Celebrity Divorces and The Media
It always seems that celebrity divorces make headlines wherever they occur in the world. Lately, we have heard about the Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split. On a local front we have heard about the much publicised break up between Grant …
