Hayden Carr

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (“FCFCOA”) comprises two divisions. Although both divisions exercise family law jurisdiction, Division 1 principally deals with the most complex and significant family law disputes. Understanding where proceedings must begin and when they may be transferred is important to the efficient conduct of a family law matter. Proceedings […]

When parents of a very young child separate, one of the first practical questions they face is how much time the child should spend overnight with the parent they do not primarily live with. For infants and toddlers, this deceptively simple question has become one of the most debated topics in family law and developmental […]

If your business has received a notice from Services Australia (the Child Support Registrar) requiring you to deduct child support from an employee’s wages, you have immediate legal obligations. This article explains what the notice means, what you must do, and what happens if an employee objects. What is the notice? Under Section 45(1) of […]

Parenting orders are orders made by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia about arrangements for a child, including who the child lives with, spends time with, communicates with, and who has responsibility for making major long-term decisions for the child. Before the Court considers what parenting orders should be made, there is often […]

When a relationship breaks down, it is sometimes not reasonable, safe or practical for both parties to remain living in the family home. If agreement cannot be reached about who should leave, a party may apply to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for an order granting them exclusive occupation of the home […]

“Prenuptial agreements” / Binding Financial Agreements One of the most common questions asked by our clients “How do I avoid a family law property settlement?” The short answer in most cases where the relationship has been a lengthy one, involves joint property, and parties have separated, tends to be that it is usually unavoidable at […]