Blog

As a family lawyer, and particularly as an Independent Children’s Lawyer, I often see people at – or pretty close to – their breaking point. The intense emotions involved in separating from a partner or trying to agree on arrangements for children can be overwhelming. Parents who are not able...

This is a question that more and more clients are asking us. Do we mediate or arbitrate? Arbitration is defined in the Family Law Act 1975 as ‘a process (other than the judicial process) in which parties to a dispute present arguments and evidence to an arbitrator, who makes a...

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Every year on this day, we take the time to build awareness that Elder Abuse is happening, and it is happening now within our community – and it needs to stop. Elder Abuse can take on many forms and can occur within families...

On the 30 May the Commonwealth Attorney-General announced that the Federal Circuit Court and the Family Court of Australia will be merged into a single court to be known as the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCA). The new court will start to operate from 1 January 2019....

On 22 May, FGD, together with local Canberra artist Amy Dunn, welcomed guests to the opening of Amy’s exhibition, SAFE OPERATING SPACE. As FGD’s CEO and Amy’s dad, Jim Dunn kicked off the evening with a short speech, before Amy explained her work and the exhibition.

It is very common for people today to have some type of mental illness or to take prescription medication for depression or anxiety. Most are high functioning, impressive individuals who you would not suspect had such difficulties. Many of our clients are in that category. But often our clients come...

We are involved in matters that are in either the Federal Circuit Court or the Family Court on a regular basis. As we attend court so often, we are used to the Court room “players” and the lingo. We appreciate however, that not everyone is as comfortable in these environments, so this blog is aimed at giving you an understanding of who is in the Court room and how they should be referred to.

Farrar Gesini Dunn  are proud to be associated with Karinya House, a community based organisation supporting vulnerable and at risk pregnant and early parenting women in Canberra and the surrounding region.

The issue of gender dysphoria has been in the media quite a bit recently.  This issue is of particular interest to me as an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL) as ICLs are often appointed to represent the best interests of the child involved.

It is not uncommon that following a separation one party remains in the family home and pays the mortgage instalments and the other party leaves and accommodates themselves elsewhere, usually paying rent. 

Sometimes people come to us thinking that their relationship doesn’t meet the definition of de facto. Whether it is a young couple in their twenties who never shared a house but have been dating since their first year of university, a single mother who was only dating the father of...

When I started here it was 2006.  James Blunt was big and nobody had an iPhone yet.  The family law community in Canberra looked pretty different – in fact the only ‘big’ firm that existed then that exists in the same form now was Farrar Gesini Dunn.  In fairness we...