Blog
Category: General
Can I secretly record my ex for family law proceedings?
If your communications with the other side start to get messy or out of control, sometimes there is panic and people can be tempted to covertly and secretly record conversations. It’s important to know that there are legal limitations as to whether those recordings can or will be considered in Court and whether they were legally taken at all.
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Major changes to the Family Law Act from October 2023
On 19 October 2023, amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 passed through the Federal Parliament with ease. The Federal Government believes that these changes will ensure that the family law system is “accessible, safer, simpler to use, and delivers justice and fairness”.
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Text and email like it will be read in court one day
In the era of smartphones and expectations of instant communication, people often send messages on the spur of the moment, which are riddled with emotion in the middle of their family law proceedings. How does the Court view such communications?
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Legal requirements to get married in Australia
Getting married in Australia is governed by legislation enacted back in 1961, being the Marriage Act 1961 (“the Act”). The Act sets all the legal requirements for you to marry in Australia.
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Ban on personal cross examination in family law court proceedings
Personal cross-examination of other parties is not permitted in certain circumstances in family law proceedings where allegations of family violence have been raised. Where the ban applies, any cross-examination must be undertaken by a lawyer.
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Preparing for your Family Court hearing by telephone or video-conference
Throughout the pandemic, the Court has continuously adjusted, and now, more and more Court hearings are being heard via video (including the use of Microsoft Teams) or by telephone.
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The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia commenced in September 2021
From 1 September 2021, the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia merged to become the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA). In this blog, we look at how this merger impacts you and your family law matter.
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What is a pre-trial conference in family law matters?
A family law pre-trial conference is similar to a mediation-style conference, however, it is conducted by a Registrar of the Court rather than a mediator. Pre-trial conferences are only held in respect of financial disputes and parenting disputes.
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What is a Case Assessment Conference in family law matters (Western Australia)?
Case Assessment Conferences during family law proceedings in the Family Court of Western Australia are only held in respect of child-related proceedings. The purpose is for risk assessment.
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What is a Family Court Conciliation Conference?
A family law conciliation conference is similar to a mediation-style conference; however, it is conducted by a Registrar of the Court rather than being facilitated by a professional outside the court system.
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What is a directions hearing or court mention?
When your matter is listed in either the Family Court of Australia, Federal Circuit Court of Australia or the Family Court of Western Australia, often the court orders will indicate the matter is listed for “mention only” (court mention) or “directions only” (directions hearing). When people see this prescribed in their orders, frequently, the next question is, “what does that mean”?
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Benefits of a Men’s Behaviour Change program in family law matters
The purpose of “Men’s Behaviour Change courses” is to initiate a change process in men's behaviour and provide a forum for exploring and challenging beliefs. Within this, there is a focus on making men accountable for their violence toward family members.
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