Discussions in family law mediation are confidential to encourage open, honest communication between parties. Confidentiality allows both parties to discuss sensitive matters and proposals without fear that their statements will later be used against them in Court.

Lawyer-client conversations are private, so clients can share personal details without worrying that it will get out. This is called legal professional privilege and it helps clients be open with their lawyer, so they can get the best advice. It builds trust and ensures the lawyer fully understands the case. There are some very rare [...]

Taylor Swift may say she is never, ever, ever getting back together. Other couples are willing to give it a shot. So how does reconciling with your ex affect your legal rights? This is one area of Family Law where the outcome can change dramatically depending on whether you are married or de facto. In [...]

A client mentioned to me recently that they wanted to do the 'simplest Will I have probably ever done' by leaving everything to charity. Seems simple, right? Strangely enough, a Will like that might need more preparation than a 'standard' Will because I need to get a heap of background information about why they have [...]

Some people have told me that they are worried that if they leave the family home, it reduces their share of the property split. This is not true. There are some effects of leaving (such as deciding who will continue to pay the mortgage/rent) but for most cases, leaving does not undermine your final financial [...]

This list does not cover everything but hopefully gives you a start on things to do when you separate: - if there are safety risks, contact a family violence support service - such as Safe Steps, Orange Door, the Magistrates Court or the Police. - if safe, create a parenting schedule. - tell your friends [...]

For a marrige or de facto relationship, "separation" starts when one person tells the other that the relationship is over. You do not need to move out for separation to begin - often moving out straight away is not possible. If there is confusion, we might look at who was told (such as friends, family, [...]

In Victoria, if two spouses or de facto partners transfer real estate between each other, usually (but not always) there is no stamp duty. In my line of work, this often happens after separation and one person is 'buying out' the other and the house ownership is transferred from two names into one.

Australian law recognises that Family Violence is more than physical injury. It includes control, manipulation and harm caused in different ways. It can be: - assault - sexual assault - stalking - threats - threats to disclose a person's sexual orientation against their wishes - repeated derogatory taunts - intentionally injuring a pet - intentionally [...]

Personally, I don't see the point in Lawyers talking to clients using words the client won't understand. Useless! My job is to translate very complex legal mumbo jumbo into words you understand. Only then, can you make an informed decision about what to do next.