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Family Law Secretaries in Focus: Tina Skaros

After leaving high school, Tina Skaros undertook her studies at Secretarial school and has applied her skills to the legal field for the past 35 years. Tina has been a secretary for divorce lawyer Carolyn Munk for over 22 years and together they have worked as a team at Matthews Folbigg Lawyers in the Family Law Group for over 11 years. Tina is often the first point of contact for Carolyn’s clients and has developed exceptional communication and organisational skills. Tina has worked predominately in Family Law and prepares Court documents for those seeking a divorce. She is a dedicated and passionate assistant who works closely with clients and their divorce lawyer to progress their parenting and property matters and achieve positive outcomes. Tina also has experience in property settlements after matters have been resolved and now utilises the online PEXA settlement system. [...]  READ MORE →

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Property Pool under $500,000 – Resolving Your Family Property Dispute Quickly

On 7 February 2020 the Family Court published a Practice Direction on Case Management of property pools under $500,000, known as PPP500 cases. The purpose of the practice direction is to assist your divorce lawyer to help you achieve a just, efficient and timely resolution of your matter.

Who Does the PPP500 Direction Apply to?

The practice direction applies to family law applications for property settlements filed by your divorce lawyer in Brisbane, Parramatta, Adelaide and Melbourne registries of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. [...]  READ MORE →

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Divorce Lawyer in Focus: Carolyn Munk

Carolyn MunkCarolyn is a Family Law specialist, having practiced exclusively in Family Law since 1987. She has been an Accredited Specialist in Family Law since 1993.

She joined the firm in March 2009, when her firm Watson Stafford Family Lawyers merged with Matthews Folbigg Lawyers.

Carolyn practices in all areas of Family Law and de facto relationships law and deals with issues concerning a relationship breakdown including property settlement, parenting disputes and child support.

She appears regularly in the Family Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Courts at Sydney and Parramatta, the Supreme Court of NSW and Local and District Courts of NSW. Carolyn has worked as a Court Registrar at the Family Court, which provided invaluable experience in advocacy and dispute resolution. [...]  READ MORE →

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Child Support Lawyers– What are Your Options?

There are three different avenues for arranging your child support. They include:

  1. Child Support Assessment
  2. Child Support Agreement
  3. Self Management

Child Support Assessment

One option is to have your child support assessed by the Child Support Registrar, Department of Human Services. The amount payable is calculated according to a formula taking into account the number of children, the income of both parents and time spent with each parent. The amount payable can be changed should your circumstances change.

If you are the receiving parent you can elect to receive payment by either Private Collect or Child Support Collect. The Child Support Registrar can assist with the enforcement of payments. [...]  READ MORE →

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Time Limits For Family Property Settlements

Certain time limits apply for bringing a property dispute to the Family Court. The deadline for bringing a property application by your divorce lawyer is either:

  1. If you were married, 12 months after a divorce order has taken effect,
  2. If you were not married, 2 years after your separation as a de facto couple.

Accordingly, it can be a good idea to keep a record of the date of your divorce or separation and set a reminder a few weeks before the deadline.

If you want to make an application for property after the deadline has passed, your divorce lawyer may be able to seek permission from the Court for an extension of time. The Court will not be able to grant you permission, unless it is satisfied that hardship would be caused to you or a child if the Court did not step in. Your divorce lawyer will also have to demonstrate a reason for the delay in bringing proceedings after the deadline. The Court will also consider the length of your delay in making you claim. [...]  READ MORE →

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False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse – What Can Go Wrong in Child Custody

In the matter of Massey & Wilenski [2019] FamCA 657 the parents had one child to the relationship whereby the mother was the primary caregiver. After separation, the child made disclosures to the mother’s then partner Mr C of inappropriate touching perpetrated by the father. Mr C recorded three disclosures of the child all within an hour and a half. The mother reported the disclosures to the police the next day. As a result of these disclosures, the mother made the decision to stop all time between the father and child and made an application in the Family Court for child custody that the father should spend no time with the child. The mother ceased child custody with the father for a period of about 11 months. [...]  READ MORE →

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Separation Lawyer Advice – Can your ex take your super?

By Andrew Banna, a Principal of Matthews Folbigg, in our Family Law Group.

Superannuation falls within the scope of property under the Family Law Act. Upon the breakdown of a relationship, the superannuation splitting laws provide for the possibility for your superannuation to be divided between you and your ex partner as part of your property settlement with a separation lawyer. However, as superannuation is held on trust, different rules apply to how this type of property can be divided. Dividing your superannuation will not automatically turn the interest into cash that you can take home with you, rather, the interest will remain subject to the laws of superannuation. The options available to the non-member spouse that is receiving the split include: [...]  READ MORE →

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Divorce Lawyer Advice – I Want a Divorce – Married Less than Two Years

By Andrew Banna, a Principal of Matthews Folbigg, in our Family Law Group.

If you have been married for less than two years and you decide to divorce, there are a few things for you to consider with a divorce lawyer. A divorce application is not to be filed within two years after the date of marriage without the leave of the Court. When establishing how the two years is calculated, it is determined from the date of the marriage to the date of applying to the Court for a divorce. You and your spouse must also have been separated for at least 12 months before applying for a divorce. [...]  READ MORE →

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‘I Want a Divorce’ – Divorce Lawyer Advice

By Andrew Banna, a Principal of Matthews Folbigg, in our Family Law Group.

Divorce Lawyer advice; Can I apply for a divorce?

In Australia you can apply for a divorce with a divorce lawyer if either you or your spouse:

  • Regard Australia as your home and intend to live in Australia indefinitely, or
  • Are an Australian citizen by birth, descent or by grant of Australian citizenship, or
  • Ordinarily live in Australia and have done so for 12 months immediately before filing for divorce.

Additionally, you must be able to prove to the Court that you and your spouse have lived separately and apart (it is possible to live in the same home and still be separated) for a minimum of 12 months and that there is no existent likelihood of resuming married life.

Divorce Applications [...]  READ MORE →

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Divorce Lawyer advice on dealing with different contributions in a property settlement agreement

By Andrew Banna, a Principal of Matthews Folbigg, in our Family Law Group In discussions around a property settlement agreement with a divorce lawyer, it is often thought that the focus is only on the financial contributions.

In 1995 Justice Fogarty of the Family Court addressed the issue of contributions in divorce settlements by divorce lawyer in the case of Waters v Jurek;

“In most marriages there is a division of roles, duties and responsibilities between the parties… On separation, the partnership and the division of roles and responsibilities which it produced come to an end, and individually the parties are left largely in the personal situation that the marriage had assigned to them. However, the world outside the marriage does not recognise some of the activities that within the marriage used to be regarded as valuable contributions…. Post separation the party who had assumed the less financially rewarded responsibility of the marriage is at an immediate disadvantage. Yet that party often cannot simply turn to more financially rewarding activities.  Often, opportunities to do so are no longer open, or, if they are, time is required before they can be assessed and acted upon”. [...]  READ MORE →

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Divorce lawyer advice about property settlements

By Andrew Banna, a Principal of Matthews Folbigg, in our Family Law Group. In the event of a divorce or separation, parties will need to arrange the division of assets and debts. There are a few different avenues that could be taken with a divorce lawyer to do this depending upon your unique situation. Such avenues may include:

  1. An agreement being reached between you and your former partner on the division of property without Court interference ; or
  2. An agreement by applying to the Family Court for consent orders; or
  3. The matter proceeds to Court and a Judge could ultimately determine the outcome of your case.

With guidance of a divorce lawyer you will be able to have a clearer understanding of the general principles under the Family Law Act that are deliberated in property settlement orders; thus enhancing your chance of receiving a positive outcome. [...]  READ MORE →

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Divorce Advice when Children are Involved

By Andrew Banna, a Principal of Matthews Folbigg, in our Family Law Group.

It is important to recognise that divorce and parenting arrangements are two separate matters. There is a requirement that individuals wait a year in order to divorce however this time restriction is not in place in relation to making parenting arrangements. Couples can be separated and never divorce, however they are permitted to engage in parenting proceedings with a divorce lawyer immediately after separation.

In the event of a divorce or relationship breakdown it is highly recommended that individuals seek advice, particularly when children are involved. Legal advice from a divorce lawyer can assist you and your partner in negotiating and reaching short-term arrangements prior to implementing formal Court orders that may become necessary if an agreement cannot be reached. [...]  READ MORE →