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12/01/2018

How Will the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage affect your Will and Estate Plan?

There has been some discussion in Wills and estate law circles about a more nuanced issue arising from the legalisation and recognition of same-sex marriage; essentially, on which date an existing SSM is legally recognised in Australia.

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09/01/2018

Same Sex Couples Can Finally Marry! – But can “NO” voters get divorced?

Today marks the first day that same sex couples can legally marry in Australia (hooray!).

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07/12/2017

Hormone Treatment for Children With Gender Dysphoria

In a much-anticipated Judgment, the Full Court of the Family Court recently delivered a decision that means children with Gender Dysphoria seeking to undergo hormone treatment are no longer required to obtain prior Court authorisation. Treatment for Gender Dysphoria is administered in two stages for children. Stage 1 treatment uses...

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17/11/2017

5 Legal Impacts of Same-Sex Marriage (from an Inheritance Law Perspective)

On Wednesday the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. The results were 61.6% yes and 38.4% no. This means that we can now expect the Marriage Act 1961 to be amended to provide for same-sex marriage. You may recall one of our...

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14/11/2017

Capital Gains Tax – how is it counted in a property settlement?

Many people own property which, if sold, will realise a capital gain which is taxable. In family law matters that is usually an investment property bought by the parties during their relationship or shares they own either personally or in a Self-Managed Super Fund. Their property settlement may result in...

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03/10/2017

“Prenups” and Estate Claims

Prenups & Estate Claims Do you have assets that you want to protect going into a relationship? The division of property in the event of separation (for people who are either married or in a de facto relationship) is ordinarily covered by the Family Law Act 1975 and the Family...

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29/09/2017

What is “value”? – Valuations in Family Law Proceedings

In family law property settlement cases the first step is to determine the value of the pool of property owned by the parties. That property may comprise of real estate, businesses, exotic goods and chattels like antiques and motor vehicles. Everything has to be given a “market value.” Since the...

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22/09/2017

Dealing with Gender Dysphoria and being Gillick Competent

There is a protocol that sets out the division of work between the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court, both of which have jurisdiction to hear and regularly do hear matters under the Family Law Act. One of the types of cases that are determined by the Family Court is...

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11/09/2017

5 benefits of Same Sex Marriage [from an Estate Planning point of view]

Recently one of our Directors, Kasey Fox, wrote a blog about some of the benefits of same sex marriage from a family law perspective. Now that the High Court has given the green light for the postal vote, I have set out below 5 additional benefits of same sex marriage...

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04/09/2017

Doyles Guide: Leaders in ACT Wills Disputes, Wills, Estates & Succession Planning 2017

At Farrar Gesini Dunn, we are proud of our strong reputation as specialists in all the areas of law in which we practice. Although we started as a family law firm, over our 22-year history we have also developed a strong Wills, Estates & Succession Planning practice. We have continued...

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30/08/2017

Domestic Violence in the ACT [Online Submissions Closing]

Closer to home, the ACT Legislative Assembly will be holding an inquiry into domestic violence later this year. The Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety invites written submissions, from interested organisations and individuals, to its inquiry. The call for submissions closes on Friday 22 September 2017. In its 2016–17...

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24/08/2017

5 Legal Benefits of Marriage Equality, from a Family Lawyer’s Point of View

Marriage Equality in Australia is now a reality. But what benefits have same sex couples gained from this change in the law? Other than the fact that they are finally being treated as equal citizens, there are actually some important legal benefits as well. Here are 5 key benefits for...

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