What is urgency for parenting cases?

Parents in the heat of family law situations will often want to know if the Court can help them with their dispute urgently. To a parent in the middle of a dispute situation – they may not have seen their child for months, or they may want to change their current arrangements – their situation may appear genuinely urgent. However, this is not the test that the Court applies in determining whether a matter should be listed urgently in front of a Judge or Registrar.

In the matter of Fowler & Glover (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCCA/2016/2595.html), the Court considered what test is, and should be, applied to determining whether something should be heard urgently when it is delivered to the Court Registry to file.

In that case, the Father had not seen the child concerned since separation, with there being a delay of some more than six years between separation and the Father seeking Orders. The Father was trying to get orders made in time for his planned visit to the area where the child lived. The visit was scheduled for only a month after the Court documents were being filed. The Court empathised with the situation, but emphasised that the reality of the Court’s resources were that the Court was already overlisted (above capacity) with other matters. Nevertheless, the Court clarified that it continued to overlist urgent matters, which were described as typically involving ‘allegations of serious and immediate risk of harm to children.’

This reflects our experience. The Court will largely only overlist / list urgently parenting situations where there is the immediate risk of harm to a child. An immediate risk will usually be a threat to the safety of a child well above and beyond any harm that is suffered as a result of a delay in that child’s relationship with a parent.

A good family lawyer will be able to advise you on how to identify what are, and are not, good reasons to list urgently, and be able to make a compelling case to the Court for why urgency is justified. Our lawyers will advise you on this and other practical measures to take in relation to your situation, and are available to speak to you on 03 9614 7111 (tel:0396147111) or Melbourne@nevettford.com.au

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Consistency and Understanding the Key for Courts Dealing with Family Violence

In August 2016, TC Beirne School of Law and the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration released (http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/wig-chamber/19479-judges-draw-on-new-guide-for-family-and-domestic-violence) the initial version of their ‘bench book’ for Courts across Australia dealing with family violence. A bench book is a guide to Judges and Magistrates to assist them in applying risk assessment systems, case law, and making suggestions in coming to decisions.

It is a difficult task for lawyer, judges and people caught in the family violence systems to ensure they can assess situations with the impartiality, reality-testing and credibility required of them, and the guide aims to simplify this process for the judiciary, resulting in a more consistent framework that better protects those in need, and better recognises when people are not being genuine in their desire for, or opposition to, an order being made.

Clients will often speak of a Judge or Magistrates having taken a view about them personally and not treating them, in their view, fairly. This guide should help in ensuring that there is a consistent and clear approach and restore damaged confidence in aspects of the system. 

Of course our lawyers (http://www.nffamilylawyersmelbourne.com.au)  have many decades of experience dealing with family violence matters and providing clients with realistic and sensible advice in obtaining, opposing, or renewing orders and if you do have a concern about your situation, we encourage you to call us to discuss your situation. 

We are available on 03 9614 7111 or by email on melbourne@nevettford.com.au.

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What age can my child decide which parent they live with or spend time with?

There is no specific age at which a child can decide who they live with or whether they choose to exercise contact to the other parent.  Children are minors until they reach 18 years of age. 

A child can express a view generally in the context of a family report writer’s meeting with them about who they want to live with and whether they wish to spend time with the parent. However, any decision regarding children's living arrangements must be made in the best interests of the child.

If you require expert advice regarding parenting matters, please contact our family law department on 03 9614 7111.

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Two asset pools might not be better than one

Most family law property matters approach the division of parties’ assets by adding everything together into one ‘pool’ of assets and then dividing up the total value of that pool. However in certain circumstances, a Court may take a different approach where the facts support departing from the usual system.

One such case was the matter of Arthur and Arthur (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FamCA/2016/324.htm) , decided by Judge Rees in Sydney in May 2016. In that case, Ms Arthur was due to receive a sizeable - $535,000 – inheritance from her mother’s estate, her mother having passed away after the Arthurs’ marriage had broken down. The rest of the assets totalled approximately $800,000, meaning that this inheritance would have been a very significant factor in working out each party’s contributions, if it was included.

 

However Judge Rees determined that the inheritance should be kept separately and that Ms Arthur would be considered to have contributed 100% to that pool of assets, and that she should simply keep the inheritance. This was a practical way to deal with the matter, but had the effect of producing a note-worthy result in the rest of the assets.

 

Mr Arthur’s family had provided significant support to the parties during their relationship, transferring as much as 75% of a house to them without really expecting any payment back. In addition, the parties were allowed to live rent-free in the property for many years even though it was owned by family members of Mr Arthur.

 

Mr Arthur earnt significantly more than Ms Arthur, who had significant obligations as a carer and whose employment prospects were uncertain. Nevertheless, Mr Arthur received 80% of the non-inheritance asset pool. This is a high percentage of assets on a pool of this size, and Ms Arthur did not receive a larger percentage because she was going to have the benefit of the very large inheritance she had received and was going to retain, meaning the inheritance was a double-edged sword for her.

 

What does this mean for parties contemplating a separation? Look after your parents!

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What should you do to stop a child you have parental responsibility for from leaving Australia?

Make an application to the Family Court seeking an order that your child be prevented from leaving Australia and that they be placed on the Airport Watch List.

What do you need to do to prevent a child’s passport being issued?

1. Seek a Court Order stopping a passport being issued for your child; or
2. Lodge a “Child Alert Request” at the Australian Passport Office (alerts do not prevent a child leaving Australia on a valid Australian Passport or on a foreign passport or a passport issued by another country.)
   Applications for international travel or preventing children leaving Australia require applications and affidavits in support of such applications. 
   Please contact our Family Law Team on 03 9614 7111 if you require further assistance.

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Going to Court

What actually happens at Family Court? How should you prepare for the day? Will the Judge listen to what you have to say? Find out in this information video from our lawyer Richard Hamilton or call us for advice on your circumstances on 03 9614 7111

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