Daily writing on separation in Australia.
Practical, current, and accredited. New articles every day on parenting, financial settlement, and the process of Family Dispute Resolution.
Can you do family dispute resolution if English is not your first language?
If English is not your first language, you can still take part in family dispute resolution in Australia, and you can do it in the language you are most comfortable using. Because the service is…
Read article
How long after separating can you get divorced in Australia?
If you have just separated, one of the first questions is usually how long you have to wait before you can get divorced. The answer is simpler than most people expect, and it changed for the…
Read article
How "best interests of the child" actually works after the 2024 amendments
When parents try to work out what is in the best interests of their child after separation, they reach for whatever framework they can find. Most of what is online still describes a framework that…
Read article
What is the duty of disclosure in financial settlement, and how does it work after the 2024 amendments?
Every separating couple in Australia who reaches the financial side of their split runs into the same instruction from lawyers, mediators, and the court itself: disclose everything. Full and frank…
Read article
Section 60I certificate vs Genuine Steps Certificate: what each is and when you need which
Two certificates sit in the same neighbourhood of Australian family law and are constantly confused. They have different names that sound similar, different issuers, different statutory sources,…
Read article
At what age can a child decide which parent to live with in Australia?
Search for this question and most Australian websites will give you a version of the same hedged answer. There is no fixed age, they say, but children's views start to matter around 12, and by 14…
Read article
What 'genuine effort' means in Family Dispute Resolution
Showing up to Family Dispute Resolution is not enough. Australian law requires both parents to make a genuine effort to resolve their parenting dispute, and the practitioner conducting the session…
Read article
Who keeps the family pet after separation? Companion animals under the 2024 reforms
When couples separate in Australia, almost everyone has a list of what matters most. The house, superannuation, the kids if there are kids, and somewhere on that list, often higher than people…
Read article
When your child says they don't want to go to the other parent's house
Few moments are harder than the one at the front door. Your child says they don't want to go to the other parent's house. They might be crying, refusing to put on their shoes, or telling you that…
Read article
How superannuation splitting works after separation in Australia
When a relationship ends, one of the most common misconceptions is that your superannuation is protected and remains entirely yours. In reality, under Australian family law, superannuation is…
Read article
How the 2026 budget CGT changes impact your property settlement
The 2026 Federal Budget has announced sweeping proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax and negative gearing that, if legislated, will fundamentally alter how separating couples divide their assets.…
Read article