One of the most frequently asked questions by people who have ever filed anything at the Family Court is ‘what’s the hold up?’.

The Family Court process is a slow one, and there are delays across the board - from the ‘simpler’ matters such as divorces, to litigated matters that are heading towards a trial. Divorce hearings currently have a wait-time of about three months. Similarly, it is not uncommon for litigated matters to run for 18 months to 2 years before the trial itself. Tack on another 6 months for the decision to be handed down once the trial has been completed, and you can understand the frustration, with people often feeling like their lives are ‘on hold’ pending the final outcome.

So, what’s the hold up?

Let’s get digital

Today, I went onto a social media website, and saw a photo I just had to share. I took a screen cap of the photo, and texted it straight on to a friend.

Sound familiar?

The technology that’s become a magical part of our daily routines didn’t even register in Marty McFly’s wildest dreams. If you had told the pre-teen me that one day I’d be able to take a photo, view it, and share it with 500-odd “friends” all within about two and a half minutes, or that I could spend my days doing nothing but watching videos of cats on my phone, I probably would’ve laughed in your face – and not just because I don’t think anyone actually has 500 friends. But, somehow, this is exactly the crazy world in which we live.

Can you trust your Trust? Is your Trust a SHAM?

Riddle me this:

• Has your Trust been created to evade legal obligations?
• Is there a disparity between actual transactions and your Trust Deed?
• Are you trying to mislead others in respect of your rights and obligations under the Trust Deed?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then I am pointing my finger at you, and telling you that your Trust looks like a sham; and your ex could soon be having a bite of that tasty looking cherry of a Trust in the Family Court!

“[They] got one of your kids, got you for 18 years:  Utilising Child Support Agreements so that everybody wins”

“His baby-momma’s car and crib is bigger than his”…if ever a song generated ample work for family lawyers, it is Kanye West’s 2005 classic “Golddigger”. Sure, there’s an element of misinformation included in the lyrics, and it has lead to many of the population thinking that holler[ing] “we want pre-nup” is a sufficient asset-protection measure, but it was on the right track.

Other than increasing public awareness about Financial Agreements, it also dealt with child support. While the Child Support Agency has mechanisms by which you may object to an administrative assessment, what many people may not realise is that parents can reach their own agreement in relation to child support and, more importantly, document it so that it’s enforceable.   Child Support Agreements now form a valuable part of property settlement negotiations and may reduce acrimony because both parents are involved in the negotiation process. Parents may also want to “lock in” certain payments to third parties, such as health insurance or school fees (and additional educational costs). In these situations, a Child Support Agreement may be the way to go.