Blog

A gift of money from a family member or friend can help you realise your financial goals. But, if these monetary gifts are received during a relationship that later breaks down, how are these kinds of gifts treated?  Disputes may arise between separated parties as to whether the money was...

On Thursday 29 October Farrar Gesini Dunn hosted 148 players for our Annual Charity Golf Day at Federal Golf Club. Despite a wet week and the ever changing Covid-19 related restrictions we were able to gather together to support and raise much needed funds for Karinya House. As of lunch...

Christmas can be a busy time of year in the family law world. Many separated parents find it difficult to agree on what arrangements are best for their children, particularly over the holidays. It can be challenging for parents to face their first holiday after a separation, and even harder...

In most cases when people reach a property agreement, we recommend that they formalise it by Consent Orders. Consent Orders are made by a Registrar of the Court. That process happens ‘in Chambers’, so it is an administrative process that doesn’t require an attendance. When you file your Consent Orders,...

Every family law journey to final parenting Orders is different. Some parties agree more easily than others, and enter into Consent Orders. Others take a more challenging path through the legal system, and have Orders made by the Court as a result of a Final Hearing. Whichever your path, Final...

In 2020, more than ever before, social media and digital communications are being used as evidence in Family Law proceedings. Given the COVID19 Pandemic, people are more commonly resorting to technology and social media to communicate with each other. 4 common mistakes people make: Assuming it is private Just because...

Shared care is something that many parents wish they had, but for some it seems like an unachievable goal, particularly after a messy separation. But in some cases, if both parents are able to put aside their differences and work together, shared care can work very well. For shared care...

We are pleased to announce that the Farrar Gesini Dunn’s team has been recognised again in the prestigious Doyle’s Guide listing for 2020. We have been recognised at the highest levels ever since the list was published for the ACT. Farrar Gesini Dunn’s Estates Director, Timothy Morton, has been personally...

Given the unprecedented times we are experiencing, we all reflect on our lives and whether we have done enough to ensure our plans are robust to withstand an uncertain future.  This may include one’s estate planning. In our article in these uncertain times we have got you covered, we outlined...

If I had written this article five years ago it would have said – when selecting a family lawyer choose one that is confident, knows the law well, has a good reputation and a winning record (or something like that). Now I have been practicing as a family lawyer for...

As a Family Lawyer, we come across lots of different forms of domestic violence. Some of those forms are more obvious, like physical or verbal abuse. Occasionally, we hear from clients who are terrified because they have good reasons to believe that their ex is stalking them by tracking their...

The Court first considers whether or not it is just and equitable for the Court to make any orders at all. In most cases, this test is readily established (for example, when parties have joint assets accumulated over the course of a relationship that need to be divided to effect a settlement).

Recently, we bid farewell and good luck to Kathryn Heuer, who has been a director of FGD since 2005. Having practised in both family and estates law since 1989, the breadth and depth of her expertise has ensured her reputation as a highly regarded legal practitioner in all matters relating...

How are the Courts dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic? The Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia have recently released directions about urgent family law applications filed in their Courts as a direct result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). If your parenting issue has...

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘jack of all trades but master of none’ before.  Sometimes you need a master: a specialist in a particular area that is an expert in that field. In the areas of family law and criminal law having a master in your corner is essential. The...

A key concept in the law of Wills is the freedom to divide your estate as you see fit. In the ACT, if a willmaker had capacity to make a Will, intended the document to be a Will, knew and approved of the Will’s contents, and was not subject to...

At FGD we understand that the current living arrangements are tough on parents and children – and particularly those from families with separated parents. In order to help you arm yourself with some information and hopefully avoid conflict over the coming days and weeks we have put together some answers...

FGD always has the health and well-being of our employees, clients and communities at the front of mind, however at this uncertain time with the now escalating COVID-19 health crisis, I wanted to touch base personally. This is an uncertain and worrying time for us all. Whilst we do not...

You’re invited to join the Farrar Gesini Dunn footy tipping competitions for 2020. Two codes and a luxury escape for each of the competition winners. The two competitions we will be running are for the NRL and AFL.

By Kasey Fox Family Lawyer Kasey Fox discusses what the law says about the rights of grandparents to have a relationship with their grandchildren Do grandparents have rights? Recently, while watching a reality tv show (don’t judge me) I heard someone arguing about “Grandparent’s Rights”. A short while later, another...

Rewind to last Friday, 1 November 2019. To set the scene, it was a beautiful Canberra day, 31 degrees with a slight breeze under the huge trees at Federal Golf Club a crowd had gathered together polishing up their golf clubs and dousing themselves in sunscreen preparing for an afternoon...

We have built and developed our practice to offer the highest quality legal advice in the areas of Wills, estate planning, probate and estate administration. We are committed to doing things differently and providing the kinds of services our clients want.