A Power of Attorney is a legal document that appoints a person (or people) as the attorney-in-fact and gives the power to act for another person. The Attorney then manages the assets and makes financial and legal decisions on behalf of the person who cannot do so themselves.

2 Types of Power of Attorney

Why do you need a Power of Attorney?

At any time because of illness, injury, or disability, there is a chance that you will suffer from temporary or permanent loss of capacity. A Power of Attorney that is executed reduces the risk of having a court or tribunal appointed person manage your finances.

Who should I choose as my attorney?

An attorney must be 18 years old and have capacity to make relevant decisions. Your attorney can be a:

What can a Power of Attorney do?

A Power of Attorney can be used for almost any financial purpose including:

In NSW an attorney can only make financial and legal decisions. For someone to make healthcare, lifestyle, and medical decisions you can appoint an Enduring Guardian.

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

There is a common misconception about age being a significant factor when deciding the custody of a child. Surprisingly, age is not as important as one might think. There is no fixed age for when a child can decide which parent to live with during a family dispute. In most cases, there are no opportunities where the child will be the prime assessor in their parental concerns. Instead, only their views are considered amongst other practical factors by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

There are two primary considerations that the court will favour when it comes to deciding the custody of a child:

However, under section 60CC(3)(a) of the Family Law Act 1975, it is noted that additional considerations may be any views expressed by the child and factors (such as the child’s maturity or level of understanding). It is important to recognise that the word “wishes” was replaced with the word “views” in 2006 to acknowledge that a child may not be able to boldly express who they want to live with. The word “views” was implemented with intention to capture a child’s perception, perspective, and feelings rather than a single decision.

Other considerations include the nature of the parent’s relationship with the child (including grandparents), the parent’s willingness to encourage the child’s relationship with the other parent and the capacity in which the parent can facilitate for the child’s needs. Moreover, it is not mandatory for the child to express their views if they are unwilling. Any attempts to extract or force their thoughts will regarded to be invalid as coercive behaviour was used to influence the child.

For example, if an eight-year-old is portraying elevated levels of maturity and understanding of the conflict between their parents then the court may place substantial weight on their views. Similarly, if a fourteen-year-old prefers to live with one parent due to bias of money and lack of discipline rather than their better interest with the current primary carer, the court may assess the child to be lacking maturity and stress their views less.

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

 

What is Polygamy?

Polygamy involves the practice in which a spouse of either sex can have more than one spouse at a time.

Legality of Polygamy in Australia

Polygamy is illegal in Australia, and this act may not be performed in Australia. A person who marries another, knowing that their previous marriage still subsists will commit an act of bigamy under section 94 of the Marriage Act 1961. The penalty for this offence can be imprisonment of up to 5 years.

In Australia, marriage is defined in the Marriage (Definitions and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 (Cth) as the union of a man and woman, to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.

Opinions on Polygamy in Australia

Opponents of polygamy highlight the harmful nature it can have towards women. The common practice of polygyny rather than polyandry undermines women’s rights and furthers the gap of gender inequality.

However, proponents for polygamy argue that in circumstances, it may create honesty and transparency in relationships. In 2013, the ‘Polyamory Action Lobby’ submitted a petition to federal parliament, arguing that the illegality of polygamy acts as a “barrier to love”.

Defences to Bigamy

If you think you have committed bigamy, you may be found not guilty if you can prove:

    1. A mistake of fact occurred
    2. Your spouse had disappeared, and you have reasonable believe that they were deceased
    3. Your spouse has been missing for at least 7 years and you had no reason to believe they were alive

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

Decisions that will impact the course of your entire life are no easy feat. They require extensive thinking, the making of hundreds of pros-and-cons lists and countless conversations. When it comes to making a decision about a career path many teenagers are left with an uncomfortable sense of anxiety. “What if I choose a field that I won’t enjoy later?” “What is corporate life like?” is echoed through the halls of high school every single day. Law has always been a pathway that interested me, so being able to complete Work Experience with Freedman & Gopalan has been an important milestone in the process of career selection.

Throughout the four days I spent working with the kind and patient staff of Freedman & Gopalan, I completed tasks such as archiving, writing articles, organizing files and creating chronologies. These tasks, while they seem mundane, were quite eye-opening to what working as a Solicitor is like. You can’t expect every week and every day to be filled with non-stop exciting work.

While I can’t guarantee that I will end up as a Lawyer in the future, I can certainly thank the staff at Freedman & Gopalan for being generous enough to show me the process of what working in a law firm looks like. The staff at the firm are some of the nicest people I’ve met, and their exceptional professionalism only increased my aspirations to become a Lawyer. Specifically, I want to thank Jasmine for being so tolerant with me and helping me understand each task I undertook.

The decision-making process of career selection is nerve-wracking and clouded with doubts. Whether it is one point added to the pros-column of a list, or the last argument needed to make the final decision – every piece of knowledge about a profession counts. So, a big thank you to the staff of Freedman & Gopalan for the wonderful educational week of Work-Experience!

If you or someone you know wish to gain some work experience at a law firm, then please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 8999 9809.

What is a court-ordered paternity test?

A court-ordered paternity test is a DNA test initiated by the Family Court. They can be initiated due to reasonable doubt about the child’s paternity, or by you applying to the Family Court or Federal Circuit Court.

The purpose is to help settle a child support dispute, determine the paternity of the child in parenting proceedings or any birth certificate dilemmas.

The law on paternity-testing

It may be useful to know that the court can order a paternity test on its own initiative, or upon your request. Section 69W(b) of the Family Law Act 1975 states that a court can make a parentage testing order, on the application of a party.

The Family Law Act 1975 also lays out the presumptions of parentage. Without DNA results, the presumption is that you are a parent of the child if you satisfy the elements list Section 69.

Process of getting a paternity test and the costs involved

The court order will allow you, the other parent and the child to attend a laboratory for DNA testing and collection. The two options available are peace of mind testing or DNA typing. Peace of mind testing involves self-sampling and ranges in price from approximately $150.00 - $200.00. DNA typing is more accredited, however, may cost you from $600.00 - $900.00. It is best to consult our experienced family lawyers who can help you explore your options.

 

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

Collating Documents

However daunting and tedious, collating documents is the best place to start to help with the rest of the divorce process. Lawyers will require you to provide your marriage and children’s birth certificates, bank account statements, investment statements, loan and mortgage statements and superannuation statements. Other miscellaneous provisions such as insurance policies, tax records, utility bills, property documents and government benefit documents may need to be collected as well.

Dividing assets and caring for children

It is incredibly important to take time to make important decisions. Making a list of the assets you both own and liabilities can make it easier for you to divide your assets. Similarly, time should be taken on how to care for your children. If you are unable to agree on appropriate parenting arrangements following separation, you should seek a qualified Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) practitioner. You should also contact Services Australia to seek more information about the amount of child support payable in particular circumstances, and the benefits that can be claimed for by separated parents.

Domestic Violence

Some divorces may occur due to violence. To protect yourself and your family, call 000 if you are in danger or to retrieve an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) against your partner.

Work out what happens to your income and expenses after divorce

If you pay a mortgage, make sure to speak to your lender and let them know that you are separated. They may allow you to make an application for financial hardship, which reduces mortgage payments to interest only.

Prepare a budget that does not involve your partner, and work out your income and expenses. You can also contact Services Australia to see if you can apply for government financial assistance. You should speak to a family lawyer regarding spousal maintenance, and their obligation to support you financially following the separation. Consulting a family lawyer at our firm can help you formulate a clear plan and understanding of the procedures, reducing stress and ensuring the best outcome for your family.

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day yesterday has brought attention and awareness to respects for women’s rights and gender equality. Despite this, domestic violence continues to thrive, with Australian men murdering their female partners at the rate of one a week. Awareness towards domestic violence laws and access to the right legal protections can help prevent the rate at which this occurs.

Forms of Recognised Domestic Violence

Domestic and family violence is a crime defined in the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007. It involves an abuse of power, and can extend beyond physical violence, often involving the exploitation of power imbalances and subtle patterns of abuse.

It can take the form of physical abuse such as punching, hitting, kicking and pushing. It can also involve stalking, unwanted sexual acts, breaking Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO) or making threats. Recognising the many forms of domestic abuse is vital to ensuring the necessary help is sought.

Lawful Means of Policing Domestic Violence

Domestic violence related legislation allows courts to include a domestic violence protection order, a condition excluding the person against whom the order is made from a residence shared with the victim. Reporting a domestic abuse situation to the police can help retrieve an ADVO on behalf of victims and children that happen to live or spend time with them.

Police can also investigate breaches of ADVOs, and if an ADVO has been breached, the police have power to arrest and lay criminal charges.

Legislation such as the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and Family Violence Act 2011 deals with issues regarding protection of partners in marriages, de facto relationships, divorce and separation. It also highlights the maintenance and care of children who fall victim to the consequences of domestic violence. Consult a family lawyer for professional legal advice.

If you would like to learn more about this issue, or would like to discuss a legal matter, please do not hesitate to call us on 8917 8700.

 

 

 

What is child abduction?

The law defines child abduction to be the unlawful removal of a child from their legal caretaker, even with the consent of the child. This means that the defence of consent is not valid.

Parental child abduction is a criminal offence under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). Amendments ensure that offences can also extend to persons acting on behalf of the parent in attempting or succeeding in the abduction of a child.

How do I recover my child if an abduction has occurred?

If a child in your care has been abducted, you can apply to the Court for a recovery order. This empowers Australian Federal Police to investigate the activities and movements of the missing child and abducting parent. In the case of an international abduction and the abducting parent has removed the child from Australia, the AFP will cooperate with international agencies to find and return the child.

Defences to child abduction

Legitimate defences against a charge of child abduction exists. This may include a parent who is trying to escape domestic violence and wishes to protect the mental and physical health of their child. In addition to this, a general claim of self defence may be sufficient.

In instances where child abduction amounts to kidnapping, defences include self defence, necessity, duress, or claim of right.

Children abducted to non-Hague countries

The Hague convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international agreement between certain countries, covering international parental child abduction. A full copy of the convention is available at the following webpage, Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. If your child has been abducted to a non-Hague country, seek legal advice from an Australian family lawyer immediately. Consult a family lawyer in the non-Hague country. The International Academy of Family Lawyers is a starting point to finding a lawyer in most jurisdictions.

If you or someone you know wish to discuss this matter further, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

Recently, businessman Geoffrey Edelsten left his only child just over $50,000 out of an estate worth over $1 million. Edelsten wanted to “limit the benefit” to his son as he was provided with substantial financial disclosure, regardless of there being limited contact between the father and son.

Edelsten’s Will also specifies that he left nothing to two of his ex-wives as he provided for them “substantially” and “excessively” during these marriages.

Surprisingly, Edelsten is said to have left a string of debts regardless of making $100 million after selling his chain of GP clinics. He was a man known for flaunting his lavish lifestyle, and regardless of making a series of disastrous financial decisions which left him bankrupt, he continued to take loans to maintain this wealthy lifestyle.

His final Will however has revealed the dire financial circumstances he was in prior to his death, finding that $998,614 of his $1 million estate was a private loan, with only just over $60,000 in his bank accounts. Creditors are now attempting to challenge Edelsten’s will in order to recoup millions of dollars in debt.

Ultimately, Edelsten's case shows how enforceable Wills can be, and how important it is that you have one in order to ensure your estate is distributed as to your wishes. There are two avenues through which property can be distributed after a person's death:

    1. If there is a Will: The estate will be distributed pursuant to the provisions of the Will, if the Will was validly executed; or
    2. If there is no Will: The estate will be distributed pursuant to intestacy laws.  Intestacy applies when a person has died without leaving a Will, or they otherwise fail to dispose of all of their property.  Chapter 4 of the Succession Act 2006 (NSW) outlines the order of priority with regard to this distribution.

If you or someone you know wish to retain our services in assisting you to make your Wills, then please contact our experienced solicitors at 02 8999 9809 for assistance.

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