Surviving financially after separating

I came across an excellent article by financial advisor Donal Griffin in The Australian about traps to look out for on property settlement. It covers the basics of tax and stamp duty issues, as well as potential capital gains implications, and the options of taking a super split instead of cash. Going through a property… Read More »Custom Single Post Header

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Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board

Surviving financially after separating

I came across an excellent article by financial advisor Donal Griffin in The Australian about traps to look out for on property settlement. It covers the basics of tax and stamp duty issues, as well as potential capital gains implications, and the options of taking a super split instead of cash.

Going through a property settlement requires in my view a consideration of what options may be available in splitting up the property and super. Sometimes the most obvious answer is the best. Sometimes it is not. Sometimes the wrong option may cost a client thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

The article underlines two things:

1.the need to get timely advice from an independent, qualified financial planner. Family lawyers should not give advice on investment options. That’s what financial planners and tax advisors do. As a general rule, family lawyers do not have the expertise. They should have the expertise to advise on the family law implications of a deal.

2. the self-evident benefits of negotiating and cutting a deal, whether through mediation or otherwise- and avoiding like the plague having a judge decide. A judge, being a third party who does not know either of the people involved, and generally not being aware of the investment options for either of the parties, will impose a decision, whether the parties like it or not. Negotiations allow substantial more control to a party to come up with a mix of options that is better than have one imposed by a judge.

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