Tag Archive: children

What’s in a name?

  • June 10, 2022

Earlier this year, a Court in Italy ruled that children will automatically have the last names of both parents unless they agree otherwise. It remains to be seen how this will affect circumstances where one parent is absent or perhaps a perpetrator of severe domestic violence, though it would seem likely that future laws will…

How does Covid-19 impact on legal services and the law

  • May 9, 2020

How does Covid-19 impact on legal services and the law Although undoubtedly, the present restrictions on human contact and movement are having an unpresented impact upon Australia’s economic prosperity and these same factors are undoubtedly impacting also on many people from a mental health perspective. For the most part, none of these restrictions should effect…

Can you leave children home alone?

  • January 13, 2020

Can you leave children home alone? The twelve (or more) weeks of school holidays each year are undoubtedly a great time for family fun and relaxation. That same time of course often poses a real challenge for full time working parents. The solution often involves relying on others for support and maybe even considering leaving…

A Better Way To Resolve Child Custody Battles On The Horizon?

  • January 16, 2018

A Better Way To Resolve Child Custody Battles On The Horizon? Although not well known, any member of the public has the right to go and observe any Court proceedings on any day. This right is based on the principle that justice must not only be done but “seen to be done”. In the Supreme…

When Is It Ok To Stop A Child From Seeing The Other Parent?

  • August 27, 2015

When parents separate, the overall message from all of the literature and good counsel is  that each should do everything in their power to keep their children out of the fight. In many cases however, low levels of trust driven by high levels of perceived parental incompetence can provoke a parent into the belief that it…

Divorce- Do the Children ever get a Say

  • March 27, 2014

Relevance of Children’s Wishes On the breakdown of a family unit, decisions obviously need to be made about where the children are to live. For many, a good dose of common sense and child focus make it possible for agreements to be reached and adhered to with minimal quarrel. Sadly for others, the blinding effect…

Step-Parent Adoption – Obtaining Adoption Orders

  • January 31, 2013

Where a step-parent has been performing the role of an absent/disinterested biological parent for a long time, the urge to “normalise” the relationship understandably holds strong.  One way to achieve this is through step-parent adoption. Part 1 of this series discussed the effect of an Adoption Order.  In this instalment we discuss the process by which…

Step-Parent Adoption – Effect of an Adoption Order

  • January 31, 2013

Statistically, one fifth of separated families these days eventually transform to include a full time step-parent following the re-partnering of one or other of the biological parents. For some of these families, non-participation of the other biological parent may lead to the step-parent becoming the only “other” parent figure in the children’s life. Not surprisingly…

Paternity Issues and Child Support

  • June 29, 2012

Following the breakdown of a relationship, any parent who retains the care of a child under the age of 18 years is entitled to receive financial support from the child’s other biological parent to assist with the day to day cost of living.  These payments are assessed and child support assessments can add up to…

Supervised Contact of Children

  • May 25, 2012

Introduction The area of residence and contact litigation is often fraught with highly emotional opinion.  When involved in such litigation it is important to consider first and foremost the best interests of the children. According to law in Australia, the children have the right of contact on a regular basis, with both their parents and…