News

Whilst the holiday season can bring much joy, it can also be a time of uncertainty for many. This is particularly true for those who have recently experienced a separation or divorce, and especially so when children are involved. In the process of separation or divorce, it is possible that child parenting arrangements have been […]

How will your assets be divided between you and your former spouse after separation? The Family Law Act sets out a framework to guide us or more specifically, to guide Judges. On top of that, the Family Court has created many precedent judgements to guide other Judges and us further. Why then can’t we just […]

Most people are unaware of time limits on making an application to the Court for maintenance or property settlement. If you have not resolved financial matters with your former spouse or de-facto partner, then failure to issue proceedings within those time limits can cost you dearly. The Family Law Act provides that unless a party […]

Inheritances make up a complex and varied area of law. Whilst the Family Court has provided some general principles with respect to how the law is applied in this area, how it deals with inheritances in a marriage or de facto relationship will depend on the facts of the particular case. So, how are inheritances […]

In a recent case, Freeman Family Law successfully argued, on an interim basis at least, that our client’s daughter should not have any contact with the respondent father, in circumstances of family violence. This was a “positive” order in the sense that it determined that the father not have any contact rather than simply dismissing […]

Wills are not something most people like to spend a lot of time thinking about, and really, you can’t blame them. It’s a rather difficult – and morbid – subject. Unfortunately, however, the cost of not having one is often greater in more ways than people realise. At a time where your family and loved […]

Freeman Family Law remains open for business during Stage Four lockdown in Melbourne. We continue to assist our current clients with their files throughout this time and have introduced several COVID-safe protocols to keep our staff safe. All staff remain contactable via the office phone or email. While the Stage Four lockdown has undoubtedly placed […]

If you are in the middle of this second Melbourne lockdown with a very different feeling about your relationship than you did going into the first one, then you’re not alone. Reports in The Guardian cited data from Relationships Australia, the leading national provider of relationship support services, which showed that 42 per cent of […]

The most important matter to resolve in any separation that involves children is the future living arrangements of the children. These matters are often highly emotional and sensitive to both parties in the process of separating and the children can suffer during a prolonged custody dispute. One of the mechanisms the Family Court uses in […]

What happens when couples kiss and makeup…and then separate again? Freeman Family Law was involved in a case in 2019 that centred around that very question, successfully arguing that the original Settlement agreement and contributions made during the period of separation were relevant in the event of a second separation between the two parties. The […]

Thanks to the prevalence of Hollywood and American terminology, most people would be familiar with the term ‘Prenup’ or Prenuptial Agreement. But did you know in Australian law, there is actually no such thing as a ‘Prenuptial Agreement’? Instead, the Family Law Act refers to what we know as ‘Binding Financial Agreements’. Often termed the […]

Most, if not all, family law cases start with a letter. And if you are on the receiving end of the letter, knowing what to do next is important. Regardless of whether the letter has come as a surprise or not, the most important thing to remember is to take action. In fact, ignoring the […]