Changes to the Family Law Act start today to enable de facto couples (including same sex couples) to obtain property settlement rights in the Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court.
The changes apply in all states and territories except Western Australia and South Australia, but even there they apply to a limited degree.
When people separate, one of the most common questions is also one of the most misunderstood: what happens to the debts? Many people assume there must be a simple rule. Half each. Joint debts are shared. Personal debts stay personal. In Australian family law, it is not that straightforward. In a property settlement, debts are… Read More »How Are Debts Divided in Divorce? Australian Property Settlement Explained
After 15 years of work, the Hague Conference on Private International Law has paused its long-running project to create an international convention dealing with surrogacy and legal parentage. That is a significant development for anyone involved in cross-border surrogacy, assisted reproductive treatment, and international family law. The pause matters because international surrogacy does not stop… Read More »Hague Surrogacy Convention Paused After 15 Years — What Went Wrong
Private sperm donation is often marketed as simple, accessible and modern. In reality, it can create legal, ethical and deeply human problems on a staggering scale. Two recent overseas stories show exactly what can happen when sperm donation is left largely unchecked. In one case, a mother believed her child was the only child conceived… Read More »One Sperm Donor, 550 Children: Why Australia Needs Urgent Regulation
