Your ex says the house belongs to their mother. The money went to their sister's company. Can those relatives be pulled into your property proceedings — and what happens to them once they are? A 2023 Federal Circuit and Family Court decision shows the test for joinder in action.

Court proceedings assume both sides can give instructions to their lawyers. But what if one party can't? Two recent family law decisions show how the litigation guardian system works — and what happens when nobody can step into the role.

One man. Two former de facto partners. One pool of money left over from a house sale — and both women claiming a share of it. A 2026 Federal Circuit and Family Court decision shows how the court untangles consecutive relationships in a single hearing, and why the new family violence property rules changed the outcome.

How family courts protect children travelling overseas beyond the Airport Watchlist: security bonds, passports, notice periods and Hague Convention application.

Threats, stalking, and a bank account switched on and off like a tap. This is what the Family Court found to be domestic violence in a case that reshaped a $3.2 million property split — and it could reshape yours too.

Confused by the family law jargon? Discover the property settlement process in plain English to help you divide assets fairly and keep the peace.

Thinking of shifting money to a family member before you separate? A 2026 decision shows why that can cost you. After one partner paid nearly $300,000 to his father post-separation, the Court called it "wastage" and adjusted the property pool in his ex-partner's favour.

A grandmother loans her son hundreds of thousands of dollars during a marriage — but when the marriage breaks down, can that debt reduce what the wife walks away with? A 2023 Federal Circuit and Family Court decision says not necessarily, and the reasons why matter for anyone navigating a family law property settlement.

The family dog is often more than property — but in family law, that is exactly what it is. Here's how the court decided who keeps the pets after separation in a case of Arwen & Arwen.

A summary of a recent case where a husband concealed a real estate appraisal and quietly arranged to sell the family's commercial units to gain advantage over his ex-partner. The Court set those orders aside and ordered him to pay the wife's full legal costs. Your duty to disclose in family law is not optional.

Why was a 15-year-old prenup thrown out? Explore the Zella & Canino case to learn how technical errors and pressure can void a Financial Agreement in Australia.

Grief, trauma, and a "special disadvantage" were at the heart of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia's decision in Cotsis & Cotsis [2021] FCCA 673. The ruling serves as a profound legal lesson that timing, emotional capacity, and the specific circumstances of a signatory can invalidate even a seemingly standard financial agreement.

Sorting out finances after a breakup is a major life transition. From the family home in Pymble to superannuation and even the family pet, understanding how property is divided in 2026 is vital. This guide breaks down the four-step legal process used in NSW and explains how Surge Legal helps clients in Parramatta and the North Shore achieve a fair and equitable outcome.

Who gets the dog after separation? Discover how new Australian family law rules help courts decide pet ownership disputes during property settlements.

On 23 July 2025, the Full Court of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia made an important ruling in Shinohara & Shinohara. [2025] FedCFamC1A 126 which ends the long-standing practice of adding back disposed or spent assets to the property pool.

The new amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 represent a marked shift toward legislative clarity. Family violence is no longer a peripheral factor—it is central to the analysis in both contribution and needs-based assessments.

A crucial, and often contentious, factor the Family Court considers is what each partner brought into the relationship. These are known as "initial contributions," and understanding their significance can dramatically impact the outcome of your property settlement.

In family law proceedings involving property settlement, full and frank financial disclosure is not just a formality – it is a legal...

Learn when costs orders may be made in Australian family law proceedings, including the role of section 117 and Calderbank settlement offers.

A case study of the recent judgement which examined the issues relating to the existence of a de facto relationship on appeal.