Saving a little girl’s life

Saving a little girl’s life

Sometimes as a divorce lawyer, as I have been for over 30 years, it is easy to forget the power that I and other lawyers have to change people’s lives – hopefully for the better.  Today I received a card from an old client.  On the front of the card was a diamond with differing coloured light going in every direction and the words “shine bright”.  
Inside the card contained a photograph of a young girl, my client’s granddaughter, joyfully running.  My client wrote these words in the card, which moved me to tears of joy, for my actionsthat had helped her and her granddaughter:
            “Dear Stephen,
            I apologise for the long wait in getting this photo of [my granddaughter] to you but I wanted to make sure it was a photo that signified her freedom from harm and her love of life.  I think this one says it all.  Thanks to you and your amazing team, she will learn to love and respect life.
            Thank you, once again, for saving her life.
            Fond regards”
Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART