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When relationships break down, many parents understandably worry about the impact of separation on their children. Research on children and divorce conflict consistently shows that the focus should not be on whether separation occurs, but on how its consequences are managed. Under Australian family law, the guiding principle in s 60CC of the Family Law …

How Children and Divorce Conflict Shapes Outcomes More Than Separation Itself Read More »

It’s not the end of the world but it is a legal earthquake that reshapes almost every corner of your financial life for years to come. A guide to the real-world effects of bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth). What happens the moment you’re declared bankrupt Bankruptcy in Australia is a formal legal status …

Bankruptcy in Australia: What It Really Means for Your Money and Future Read More »

When the photocopier turned up, there was no Procedural Direction requiring disclosure that a brief had been duplicated rather than transcribed by hand. The fax machine, the word processor, email, electronic filing – each one quietly revolutionised legal practice, and each time the profession absorbed the change without requiring an entirely new regulatory apparatus. The …

Generative AI in Australian Courts: Why the Federal Court’s Practice Note Gets the Balance Right Read More »

An early inheritance advancement in Australia has become an increasingly popular concept, particularly due to high cost of living in Australia. Parents, grandparents and extended family members may be more willing to help their loved ones by allowing an advance on accessing their inheritance. Although it sounds ideal and complication free, it introduces different concerns …

Early Inheritance Advancement Australia: The Hidden Trigger Behind Estate Battles Read More »

Your parent has died. A few days later, a will surfaces. You are not in it. The family home, the savings, the investments, all of it has gone to a spouse your parent married a few years ago. You receive nothing. Is that legal? And if it is, what can you actually do? In New …

Disinherited by a New Spouse? Family Provision Claims in NSW Read More »

When clients come to us for estate planning, one of the most common sources of confusion is the Binding Death Benefit Nomination, or BDBN. Many people assume that their superannuation works just like their Will. They think they can leave their super to whoever they choose, only to discover that the law imposes strict limits on …

Binding Death Benefit Nomination: Who Can Actually Receive Your Superannuation  Read More »

What Shinohara Changes Everything A landmark appellate ruling reshapes how courts treat dissipated and disposed-of assets in Australian family property proceedings Glance Every generation or so, an appellate court delivers a judgment that does not merely resolve the dispute before it,  it reshapes the legal landscape for all disputes that follow. Shinohara & Shinohara [2025] …

Addbacks Family Law Shinohara: What the Case Changes Read More »

A falling branch, an unguarded drop zone and a $70,000 fine – what this sentencing decision tells arborists, tree surgeons and WHS practitioners about the cost of a missing spotter SafeWork NSW v General Forest Tree Surgeon WHS case – The Case at a Glance On a November morning in Elderslie, NSW, a falling branch …

SafeWork NSW v General Forest Tree Surgeon WHS case: $70,000 fine over missing spotter Read More »

When getting judgment doesn’t mean you won the case The Star Entertainment Sydney Properties Pty Ltd v Buildcorp Group Pty Ltd trading as Buildcorp Interiors (No 2) (Costs) [2026] NSWSC 190 In what Justice Rees described as “fairly disastrous proceedings”, The Star Casino learned an expensive lesson about litigation strategy, the importance of suing the right …

Star Casino Costs Case: When Your Damages Win Doesn’t Cover the Costs Read More »

You’ve bought a faulty car, a caravan that leaks, or an appliance that stops working after a few months. You know your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. You ask for a refund. And then the pushback starts. In our experience, most manufacturers and suppliers don’t simply say no. They give you a reason — …

ACL Refund Rights Australia: What Manufacturers Say And Why They Are Wrong Read More »