Articles
Category: Family Violence
Family law reforms: companion animals and property settlement
From 10 June 2025, changes to the family law will affect how pets are treated in property settlements after separation. For the first time, the Family Law Act recognises “companion animals” and sets out how courts can decide who keeps pets of the relationship.
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Big changes to Australia’s Family Law Act from June 2025: a comprehensive overview
In this article, we explain some of the key changes that will come into effect on 10 June 2025, with major reforms to the Family Law Act, and what they mean for people going through a property settlement and/or divorce.
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Top 6 things to consider for child handover when co-parenting after separation
After separation from your partner, one area that can often be filled with stress and emotion is child handover or changeover time. In this article, we provide six key things to consider when working through your parenting arrangements, specifically related to handover.
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Family violence reforms to protect pets – effective from June 2025
Unfortunately, many family law cases in Australia also include family violence. Given this, there have been changes to the law in Victoria and on a national level in an effort to better protect victim survivors, their children and their pets.
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Family Court hearings – Interim Hearing
In family law proceedings, Interim Hearings are generally scheduled after a First Return Hearing and once you and your former partner have had an opportunity to resolve interim issues by consent but have been unable to do so. As the name suggests, decisions made at an Interim Hearing are on a temporary or interim basis.
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Can I secretly record my former partner for family law proceedings?
Family law proceedings are often messy, tiresome, and emotionally driven. In these circumstances, secretly recording your former partner to gather evidence for court proceedings may be tempting.
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Drugs and alcohol in family law
Following separation, if either parent has any concerns in relation to the physical or psychological welfare of a child, including drug and/or alcohol misuse by a parent or where there is a history of family violence, it is important to seek legal advice early.
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Applying for Family Violence Intervention Orders
Family violence in our communities is, sadly, all too abundant. It is insidious and leaves life-lasting scars for the victims; both physically and psychologically. Although not a silver bullet, Intervention Orders due to family violence can go some way to providing protection for those exposed to the violence.
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