Blog
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The New Look of Watts McCray!
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
If you’ve visited our site before, you’ll notice that we’ve changed our look. Both the Watts McCray website and our subsidiary www.divorce.com.au have been updated. These new web developments are part of our continual commitment to provide the information and guidance our clients need to help them negotiate their family law matters. We hope you’ll find it easy to find the information you need to help you as your start your family law journey. On www.wattsmccray.com.au you’ll find a detailed run down of the different areas of family law and an outline of how we can help you if you [...]
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Australia to make it easier for same-sex couples to get married overseas
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
From February 1, the Federal Government will help same-sex couples get married in countries where gay marriage is legal. Previously, the documents needed for a couple to get married in a foreign country were only supplied to heterosexual couples. Attorney-General Nicola Roxon announced on January 27 that from February 1, the Federal Government will issue same-sex couples with the Certificate of No Impediment that is required for them to get married. This certificate is recognised as proof that both parties are at least 18, unmarried and that there is no other barrier to them taking part in a marriage ceremony. [...]
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Britain looks to Howard’s shared parenting laws
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
Parenting laws passed by the Howard government in 2006 focused on shared parenting. In November 2011, the Gillard government introduced further amendments that placed emphasis on the safety of children when determining parenting arrangements. The changes came after a number of reports found that an implied right to equal or shared parenting often compromised the safety of children exposed to violence, and placed more importance on the rights of parents as opposed to the children. Despite the rollback of such laws in Australia, Howard’s shared parenting laws are now finding favour in Britain. In early January, Britain’s Minister for Children and [...]
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New guidelines discourage shared parenting for children under 2
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
Guidelines recently released by the national infant welfare group ‘Australian Association for Infant Mental Health’ recommend that separated parents should not share custody of children under the age of 2. The guidelines, which aim to protect “the very young child’s sense of comfort and security”, advise that overnight stays with a non-custodial parent should be avoided. ‘Non-custodial’ parents are advised to restrict time spent with their infants to daylight hours until they reach the age of 2 – at which stage overnight stays can be phased in. The guidelines are based on a study of the separated parents of 258 [...]
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Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2011 passed
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
Previously, we’ve blogged about the proposed changes to the Family Law Act that were put before the government in 2010. In late November 2011, the Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill was passed, bringing these changes into effect. This Bill has implications for parents and children who are involved in legal processes following the breakdown of a relationship. The main implication of these changes is an increased focus on the protection of children against family violence when a relationship between two parents ends. This will be ensured by these main changes: An expansion of the definition [...]
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What you need to know about: PROPERTY AND FINANCIAL SETTLEMENTS
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
This is part of an information series to provide simple, easy-to-understand guidance for dealing with family law matters when a relationship breaks down. For more information or the help of a specialist family lawyer, please contact Watts McCray Family Law. For couples whose relationship has broken down, ‘who gets what’ can be a sensitive issue. Property and financial settlements determine how any assets between two partners – anything from jewellery to cars to real estate and shares – can be divided. When are property and financial settlements divided following a divorce? Once a divorce has been finalised, a couple has [...]
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Story Bridge Protestor‘s message – “Equal rights – not in the family law court”
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
A disgruntled father has staged a dramatic protest against the Family Law Court on Brisbane’s Story Bridge. At 4:20 am, an unidentified man climbed the bridge wearing a harness, and hung a banner at the top that read “Equal rights – not in the family law court”. The identity, motive and personal circumstances of the protestor are unknown, but the stunt is of a similar vein to ‘Mick’, who closed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in May this year to get his message across – “Kids First” and “Plz Help My Kids”. While ‘Mick’ succeeded in attracting media attention and spoke [...]
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What you need to know about: PARENTING ARRANGEMENTS
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
This is part of an information series to provide simple, easy-to-understand guidance for dealing with family law matters when a relationship breaks down. For more information or the help of a specialist family lawyer, please contact Watts McCray Family Law. The most important thing to know about parenting arrangements is that by law, decisions should always made in the best interest of the child. If a couple cannot agree on where the child will live and how much time will be spent with both parents, the Court will make decisions that ensure the child’s wellbeing. What are my responsibilities as [...]
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What you need to know about: DIVORCE
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
What is divorce?
Divorce officially ends a marriage. When a couple has been separated for at least 12 months, either member of the couple (or the couple acting jointly) can file a Divorce Application with the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia.
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The ‘HSC divorce itch’
Author: Watts McCray Comments: 0
The class of 2011 has just completed their HSC. But it’s not only the students that are celebrating and welcoming change in their life. According to relationship experts, a new divorce trend has emerged – a trend that the Sydney Morning Herald has labelled the ‘HSC itch’. According to the article, relationship experts have noticed that divorce rates for women in their 40s and 50s are increasing more than any other demographic group. This climbing rate amongst middle aged women has been identified as the ‘HSC itch’ because it is believed that mothers are tactical about when they choose to [...]