The definition of Family Violence is broad. Family Violence is not just physical abuse. It also includes repeated derogatory remarks, damaging property, financial control or stalking or cyber-stalking. With the advancement of technology, perpetrators are finding new and inventive ways to continue to harass and abuse their victims.
The Mother Always Gets The Children
First and foremost, parents do not have “rights” in relation to their children. Parents have responsibilities. The law presumes that parents have equal shared parental responsibility for their children and that is the starting point for resolving parenting matters.
As a result of COVID-19 and the strict social distancing laws, the Courts have had to change and modernise many of their procedures.
Some of the changes the Courts have made include:
For many of us, spending prolonged days isolated at home with our children is not the norm. With majority of entertainment venues closed and with strict social distancing rules, you may be finding that your beloved children are driving you a little insane.
The Australian Courts and their procedures and practices are far from perfect. They require reviewing, updating and amending. However, can the Courts and the “system” be held entirely accountable for the recent domestic violence tragedies we have seen in the media? Should the perpetrators take any responsibility?
Separating from a partner can be daunting and often people do not know the necessary steps to take when they are trying to navigate the separation of assets, and making arrangements for their children.
If you have been separated from your spouse for over 12 months, you may be considering whether or not to apply for a Divorce. There are a number of factors you need to consider before applying for a Divorce, but one thing people usually do not consider is the actual cost to file a Divorce Application.
In today’s economy, it is has become increasingly common for parents to financially help their children, especially when it comes to buying their first home.
Parents may loan the money, gift the money, or act as guarantor. While most parents want to help their children as much as possible, this can raise a variety of issues.
Western Australia has the second highest rate of reported physical and sexual violence incidences. The Northern Territory has the highest.
1 in 6 women have experienced physical or sexual violence perpetrated by a current or previous partner. The rate of abuse for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women is considerably higher. Furthermore, 1 in 16 men has reported being a victim of family violence (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017).
In today’s society, de-facto relationships are not so straight forward and “modern relationships” challenge the traditional ideas of a relationship.
In Western Australia, the Family Court Act 1997 (“Family Court Act”) governs de-facto relationships. When determining whether a relationship is de-facto, the Court must decide whether the relevant couple were living in a “marriage-like relationship”. One of the difficulties the Court faces is determining what is “marriage-like” especially in today’s society.
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