Archive for March 2020
When a witness to the will didn’t witness the will
It is a requirement under the Wills Act that a valid Will must be signed by the person making the Will and that signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the same time. There are various reasons why a Will has to be in writing and…
Read MoreWhen can I change my child’s name?
When can one parent apply to change their child’s name? Recently, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard a Mother’s Application to change her son’s surname and had to consider the question of whether this was in the best interests of the child. How do you do that when the child is only ten…
Read MoreAbuse survivor awarded over $744,000 in case against her adoptive father
A woman who suffered years of abuse at the hands of her adoptive father from the age of three until she was 27 has been awarded over $744,000 in damages. The claim was made possible by changes to the law relating to the time limit within which a claim for personal injury resulting from abuse…
Read MoreFamily law property settlement – what is a PPP500 case?
From 1 March 2020 new streamlined Court procedures will mean faster resolution of many Family Law Property Settlement cases. The Federal Circuit Court introduce the new process for property matters filed in the Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Parramatta registries in cases where the net asset pool is likely to be $500,000 or less and neither…
Read MoreShort De Facto Relationships – Substantial Contributions and Serious Injustice
When a short de facto relationship breaks down there are limited circumstances under which the Family Court can decide on who gets what. In order to apply in the Family Court, the parties need to satisfy at least one of the following criteria: The parties have been in a de facto relationship for a period of…
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