Vanessa Mathews recently trained as a ‘Parenting Coordinator’ as an additional dispute resolution service offering. Parenting Coordination is a post-separation child-focused dispute resolution process. Parenting Coordination is suitable for separated...
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Blog
Inheritances and Family Law
Generally speaking, inheritances are not excluded or otherwise quarantined from the asset pool to be divided between separating parties, and will not automatically be allocated back to the party who...
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The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Business Valuations
Not surprisingly, Family Law clients are expecting business valuers to take into account the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in their valuation reports. This is a difficult, if not...
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FIVE POINTS FOR CLIENTS NAVIGATING COVID-19 – A FAMILY LAW PERSPECTIVE
The current health climate has brought along with it a range of questions and uncertainties, and introduced additional pressures and stresses associated with the pandemic. To assist clients (and service...
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The Importance of Finalising your Property Settlement & the Dangers of Delay
Oftentimes, particularly in circumstances where parties to a separation are amicable and consider that they “get along well”, spouses divide their assets according to a personal agreement – that is,...
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Parenting Arrangements after Divorce
Divorce is painful for everyone concerned, especially children. During this challenging period, children need love, support and contact with both parents. Creating certainty about the future is crucial for children...
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IAFL APPLAUDS RECOGNITION OF LGBT RIGHTS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION
Vanessa Mathews is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Vanessa joins with the IAFL in welcoming the following four major developments in recognition of LGBT rights...
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IAFL Global Comparison of LGBT Laws
The International Academy of Family Lawyers, of which Vanessa Mathews is a Fellow, has published a global survey of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender laws (LGBT laws), the results of which...
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5 signs that your child is affected by your divorce
Separation and divorce hurts. There’s no getting around that fact. Without special care and attention, children can be the unintended victims of separation and divorce. For them, their parent’s separation...
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Financial Abuse
Australian family law and the family law courts recognise the close connection between family breakdown and family violence, and the resultant impact this has on victims of family violence –...
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I have just separated from my partner with whom I have been living – What steps should I take?
If your former partner chooses to dispute the date you separated, you may be required to prove when the separation happened. You may be in a position where you live...
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I’m thinking of separating, what do I need to know?
Separation is never easy, especially when children are involved. There are always lots of issues that need to be addressed. You may need to organise new financial arrangements, possibly arrange...
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MFL Radio Podcasts
Listen to some of our recent podcasts that discuss common issues in Australian Family Law. Kuppy Nambiar discusses family law reviews 12 Mar Play Audio File Vanessa Mathews discusses child...
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FINANCIAL LOSS DURING A RELATIONSHIP – CASE NOTE
In the recent Family Court case of Anaya & Anaya [2019] FCCA 1048, the principle in the long established case of Kowaliw and Kowaliw was re-affirmed that: As a statement...
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THE ROLE OF THE SINGLE EXPERT WITNESS IN CHILD CUSTODY MATTERS – CASE NOTE
The role of the Single Expert Witness / Family Report Writer was considered in a recent child custody decision by the Family Court of Western Australia (Worrall and Bartley [2018]...
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Family Law and Mediation – Is Mediation Appropriate For Me?
Mediation (also known as ‘Family Dispute Resolution’) is a powerful tool for resolving parenting child custody and property settlement asset division disputes following separation and divorce, with a greater sense...
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Effect of Overseas Divorce on Australian Property Settlement
Many married Australian's own properties in the country and or overseas. What happens to these properties in the unfortunate event of divorce? A recent verdict by the Full Court of...
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Been Served With An Intervention Order?
Mathews Family Law & Mediation Specialists offers specialist intervention order advice. For a free 15 minute telephone consultation with a family law specilist: http://interventionordermelbourne.com.au/
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Ten Tips For The Holidays
Ten Tips For The Holidays - by Dr. Robin Deutsch, Psychologist 1. Have a very specific plan for the holidays so there is no opportunity for confusion or conflict. Parents...
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Recent AIFS Research – Children Want to Be Heard and Kept Informed – and Feel Safe!
In June 2018 the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) released a study ‘Children and Young People in Separated Families: Family Law System Experiences and Needs’ https://aifs.gov.au/publications/children-and-young-people-separated-families-family-law-system-experiences The study included...
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