Same-sex marriage

New Visa Changes for Same-Sex Partners

In December 2017, Australians voted Yes to same-sex marriage after 61.6% of close to 13 million respondents backed the proposal. New changes to immigration laws now allow same-sex partners to apply for partner visas. Just days following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia, the federal government broadened the category of applicants for a partner visa…

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Mother and child

Wife Granted Exclusive Occupation of Family Home After Husband Kicks Her Out

  After a 30 year relationship, our client found herself kicked out of the family home, with little more than a suitcase of her belongings.  While our client was eager to try and resolve the matter by agreement, the husband felt he was in the driver’s seat, comfortably living in the home, and was in…

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5 Things You Should Know About De Facto Relationships

The proportion of adults in de facto relationships has seen a steady increase in recent years. A de facto relationship is defined in the Family Law Act 1975 as a couple living together on a genuine domestic basis, many couples may not even realise their relationship has been given a label and how that label…

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Why You Should Always Formally Finalise Your Financial Relationship

This is why it is important to formally finalise your financial relationship when your relationship is over… In a recent case, the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia (i.e., the appeal court) allowed a wife to pursue a property settlement some 18 years after she and her husband were divorced. Generally, if you…

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Am I in a De facto Relationship?

In the modern world of love and relationships it’s not ‘official’ until it’s ‘Facebook official’. The change from ‘Single’ to ‘In a relationship’ heralds new found love to friends and family, attracting a flurry of activity on the social media platform. For many couples, their status remains ‘In a relationship’ unless they move to ‘Engaged’…

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