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Family Law Property Settlement - Plain English Example
Confused by the family law jargon? Discover the property settlement process in plain English to help you divide assets fairly and keep the peace.

Surge Legal
7 days ago6 min read


Wastage in Wilkes & Meyers: Did the Wife End Up Better Off?
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.

Surge Legal
Jun 43 min read


Loans in the Family Law Context - Sastry & Sastry Case Study
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.

Surge Legal
May 115 min read


Dividing the Dogs: The Case of Arwen & Arwen
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.

Surge Legal
Apr 235 min read


The Price of Hiding: How Non-Disclosure May Result In Indemnity Costs
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.

Surge Legal
Apr 204 min read
![Case Review: Zella & Canino [2022] FedCFamC1F 314](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6684f3_9357c9e7b736402aa9fe91c965431bf4~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/6684f3_9357c9e7b736402aa9fe91c965431bf4~mv2.webp)
![Case Review: Zella & Canino [2022] FedCFamC1F 314](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6684f3_9357c9e7b736402aa9fe91c965431bf4~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/6684f3_9357c9e7b736402aa9fe91c965431bf4~mv2.webp)
Case Review: Zella & Canino [2022] FedCFamC1F 314
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.

Surge Legal
Apr 83 min read


The Cost of Grief: Cotsis & Cotsis Case Review
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.

Surge Legal
Mar 132 min read


Property Settlement After Separation in NSW: A Plain Language Guide (2026)
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.

Surge Legal
Mar 24 min read


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

Surge Legal
Mar 13 min read


Add-Backs: A Post-Mortem
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.

Surge Legal
Aug 31, 20252 min read


Understanding the Family Law Amendment Act 2024: Overhaul to Financial Provisions
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.

Surge Legal
Jul 13, 20253 min read


Unpacking Initial Contributions in Family Law
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.

Surge Legal
Jun 26, 20254 min read


Hidden Assets and Forensic Accountants: Tracing the Money in Family Law
In family law proceedings involving property settlement, full and frank financial disclosure is not just a formality – it is a legal...

Surge Legal
Jun 9, 20253 min read


Cost Orders in Family Law Proceedings
When deciding on a costs order, the court must consider whether any party made a reasonable offer to settle and the terms of such offers.

Surge Legal
Jun 2, 20254 min read


Establishing a De Facto Relationship - Case Study
A case study of the recent judgement which examined the issues relating to the existence of a de facto relationship on appeal.

Surge Legal
Mar 16, 20254 min read
![Case Study - Marsh v Marsh [2014] FamCAFC 24](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6684f3_04e462302f3b43f896747f27fdb7f7a7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/6684f3_04e462302f3b43f896747f27fdb7f7a7~mv2.webp)
![Case Study - Marsh v Marsh [2014] FamCAFC 24](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6684f3_04e462302f3b43f896747f27fdb7f7a7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/6684f3_04e462302f3b43f896747f27fdb7f7a7~mv2.webp)
Case Study - Marsh v Marsh [2014] FamCAFC 24
Case summary of Marsh v Marsh focusing on the significance of non-financial contributions post separation.

Surge Legal
Oct 7, 20243 min read


Family Law Amendment Bill 2023: Renewing Emphasis on the Best Interests of the Child
We review the recent amendments to the Family Law Act 1975, Family Law Amendment Bill 2023.

Surge Legal
Nov 4, 20233 min read
![Case Study - Gadhavi & Gadhavi [2023] FedCFamC1A 117](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_7eed4511bbbf42349f7e414fea2ad6f2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/nsplsh_7eed4511bbbf42349f7e414fea2ad6f2~mv2.webp)
![Case Study - Gadhavi & Gadhavi [2023] FedCFamC1A 117](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_7eed4511bbbf42349f7e414fea2ad6f2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/nsplsh_7eed4511bbbf42349f7e414fea2ad6f2~mv2.webp)
Case Study - Gadhavi & Gadhavi [2023] FedCFamC1A 117
Case Study relating to a family law case involving serious family violence.

Surge Legal
Oct 10, 20233 min read


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Family Law Edition 2023
This article provides detailed answers to common questions regarding some Family Law issues.

Surge Legal
Aug 25, 20235 min read


Financial Disclosure in Family Law
This article explores the vital duty of financial disclosure in family law matters.

Surge Legal
Aug 1, 20234 min read
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