Thanks to the current social-distancing regulations, many of us find ourselves spending most, if not all, of our time alone.
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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.
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17538 Hits
Yesterday, 7 April 2020, the High Court handed down it’s decision granting Cardinal George Pell’s application for special leave and unanimously acquitting him of his conviction for child sexual abuse, which was previously upheld by the Supreme Court of Victoria. Most of you will be familiar with this high-profile case and the December 2018 conviction that resulted in George Pell’s sentence of six years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months.
Following the Supreme Court of Victoria’s decision, Cardinal Pell’s lawyers appealed to the High Court of Australia, arguing that the Appeal Court failed to take proper account of evidence which cast doubt upon his guilt. On appeal, the High Court stated that the Victorian Court of Appeal judges “failed to engage with the question of whether there remained a reasonable possibility that the offences had not taken place”. Furthermore, the High Court found that other witnesses’ evidence was “inconsistent with the complainant’s account”.
In essence, the High Court found that there were flaws and inconsistencies in the evidence provided. As a result, the High Court found that the jury should have had reasonable doubt that the events could have occurred, or did occur, in the manner alleged.
Generally, a Court will give consideration to two primary factors when reaching a decision:
- Firstly, the relevant legislation; and
- Secondly, the facts presented which are relevant to the matter at hand, how those facts apply to the relevant legislation, and whether or not those facts share common traits with case law.
The facts and documents which the parties present to a Court, (in other words, their evidence), is the basis upon which Court decisions are made. However, there are strict rules for what is, and is not, admissible as evidence in Court. These rules are designed to ensure the proper administration of justice and, especially in criminal matters, avoid wrongful conviction.
In the Family Court of Western Australia, decisions are made by Judicial Officers, not a jury. Judicial Officers are aware of the rules of evidence and what evidence may be admissible. Lawyers often argue about the admissibility of evidence, and the Judicial Officer decides whether or not it is admissible. This is different to criminal matters before a jury, where the Trial Judge provides direction to the jury about how the evidence is to be considered. Despite this direction from the Trial Judge, juries may still be swayed by having heard evidence which Judges may find is inadmissible.
However, given the personal nature of Family Law matters, it may not be possible for the rules of evidence to be applied. Therefore, the Family Court adopts a more relaxed and flexible approach to the admissibility of evidence. Judicial Officers utilise broad discretion as to what may or may not be admitted as evidence. This approach within the Family Court is often confusing and frustrating for parties, practitioners, and those unfamiliar with the Court and the presiding Judicial Officer’s role.
If you are involved in Family Court proceedings, it can relieve a lot of this frustration and stress if you have a basic understanding of the differences between how the Courts function. It is worth your while to consult with your lawyer to discuss, understand and agree about how your evidence is best presented to the Court to gain the best result in your case.
Contact us today to speak with our experienced and skilled Legal Team.
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The Coronavirus has sparked an increased fear of dying. Over the past few weeks we have been flooded with instructions to draft and to update Wills.
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For many people, COVID-19 has caused a great deal of uncertainty in areas that they previously regarded as stable: their income, the value of their assets, their ability to travel and even their ability to maintain social connections.
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It is encouraging to see young people taking the initiative to ensure that they have up-to-date Wills during the uncertainty we’re facing caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic. However, it would be even more encouraging if all age groups took this initiative to review their Wills, and at the same time to appoint an Attorney and a Guardian, and to record your wishes regarding preferred medical treatment.
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These are unprecedented times. We are witnessing and possibly experiencing widespread job loss and isolation. As people do their best to cope with the changes around them, this has been accompanied by a surge in domestic violence.
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Now, let’s get straight to the point….. There is no need to explain the potential impact of COVID-19 on the economy. It has already been seen around the world with a significant impact on share prices, property values, superannuation and employment. This will have an impact on Family Law Property proceedings.
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COVID 19 is causing uncertainty in so many areas. One question we are being asked, is “How it will affect existing Parenting Orders or Parenting Plans?”. The answer to this will vary, depending upon your Order or Plan.
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COVID-19
Part 1: Court Proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic
There is no question that we are now in uncharted waters.
The world has not seen an influenza pandemic of this nature since Swine Flu and HIV/AIDS. These are classified as pandemics despite the seeming lack of panic at the time. The Family Court of Western Australia was established by the Family Law Act in 1975 and commenced operation in 1976. Since that time, the Court has not had to deal with anything on this global scale before.
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In our previous article ‘Who is a Parent??’, we touched on the importance of being a ‘parent’ under Australian Law, and the legal consequences associated with paternity.
Naturally, a good way to follow up such an article is with an explanation of why, when seeking Parenting Orders from a Court, it does not matter who a child’s parents are at all.
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Separation from a spouse or partner is one of the most stressful situations a person can go through. When you have children, you have the added pressure of functioning as a parent in the midst of your grief, loss or anger surrounding the breakdown of your relationship.
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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?
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We understand that separating from your partner is hard. Even if it is an amicable separation, the process is difficult and can be very stressful. When you have children, you have the added pressure of trying to function as a parent in the midst of your grief, loss or anger surrounding the breakdown of your relationship.
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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.
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Making a Will is one of the best ways of ensuring that your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes when you die. In this age of technology with the availability of information at our fingertips, some people consider that they can do it all – and home-made Wills are no exception.
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One question we often hear is; ‘Why do I even need a Will?’
Understandably, planning for your death is not usually something that you think about regularly. Often times it is considered the least important of tasks. However, considering that you could die at any moment, planning for what happens afterwards and ensuring that your estate is administered in accordance with your wishes should be considered one of the most important things you can do.
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Most of us have seen, or at the very least are aware of, the American television series ‘1000 Ways to Die’. The series wittily illustrates unusual deaths, which some might describe as insensitive, and explains the science behind each of these deaths. This blog is not intended to delve into unusual deaths or science.
What it is intended to do is highlight that undoubtedly, one of the ways not to die, is without a Will.
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In the recent case of Shephard v Galea & Byrne as Executors and Trustees of the Estate of the late Joseph Galea [2019] WASC 164, the Honourable Justice Kenneth Martin described the life of the deceased as an “almost perfect film script”.
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Sadly, many families face the devastating consequences of loved ones suffering from addiction. It is often the cause of irrevocable harm to relationships and destruction of family units. Addiction has many forms, and it typically involves substance abuse, such as drugs or alcohol, or activities such as gambling.
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