Families battling with parenting disputes and escalating violence relating to the COVID-19 crisis will have their matters prioritised by some of the nation’s top judges. Cathy Gale has been practicing family law for years, but never before has she seen…
Coronavirus concerns see family courts rush through applications linked to COVID-19
Urgent cases relating to children caught up in parenting disputes will be rushed through the courts within 72 hours, as the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court report a rise in calls for help during the coronavirus crisis. There has…
Digital Domestic Abuse: The need for International Laws and Protections
A domestic protection order is made by the courts in one country with the intention of having effect in that country. Unless exceptional, it has no cross-border reach. If there is a breach of the order and the perpetrator leaves…
Victoria police respond to family violence risk during ‘very stressful time’ of coronavirus
Of the approximately 7,000 calls relating to family violence made to Victoria police in the past month, 14% have related to Covid-19, the state’s deputy police commissioner, Shane Patton, said on Tuesday. When police attended those incidents they were told…
Coronavirus Shutdown Causing ‘Perfect Storm’ For Divorce Lawyers
One family law firm in Australia is reporting a sharp rise in the number of cases, amid fears the coronavirus pandemic will lead to higher divorce rates in the country. Courtney Mullen, head of legal at Australian Family Lawyers (AF…
Families grapple with co-parenting orders amid coronavirus crisis
Separated parents are grappling with co-parenting arrangements amid the coronavirus crisis, as infection fears and restrictions on movements raise questions about the ability of children to move safely between households. The Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court,…
Family law services remain open to assist those in need during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is having an enormous impact on families and the wider Australian community. Households and individuals are experiencing higher levels of stress and financial uncertainty. Combined with the isolation required to slow the spread of the coronavirus, many…
Coronavirus and ‘domestic terrorism’: how to stop family violence under lockdown
This was one of the first replies this month to my research questionnaire on domestic violence. The participant is a young lawyer in regional Australia who has escaped a coercively controlling relationship, during which she received several murder threats and…
The real-life effects the coronavirus is having on children in custody battles and how their parents should respond, according to a family lawyer
As parents, we want to do everything we can to protect our children from pain, unhappiness, bad experiences, and from rejection, hurt feelings, and disappointments. Now there is something new that we must protect them from: The risk of getting…
Co-parenting in the coronavirus pandemic: A family law scholar’s advice
As millions of people around the world practice social distancing and self-quarantine, they are separating themselves from everyone but their immediate family members. However, for divorced or separated parents who share custody of their children, the definition of “immediate family” isn’t…