Did you know that we are fortunate in Penrith to have one of the country’s first Family Relationships Centres?  These Centres are designed to assist parties resolve their disputes, and avoid litigation.  You can, for example, enter into a Parenting Plan together – without having the Court interfere.  If you would like further information, please call (02) 4720 4999 to speak to a Family Relationships Advisor. 

In the meantime, before you come to any agreement, it is important that you know about your rights and responsibilities.  That way, you can make an informed decision when it comes time to resolve the dispute.  Many people don’t understand their rights and responsibilities, and by coming to an agreement you may be giving up certain rights – in some situations it is extremely difficult to reverse the effects of an agreement, or to rectify an unfair agreement.  For example, things you might not think about include: 

• will there be any tax implications for the settlement;
• what will happen if you agree to sell property, but it you end up disagreeing about the sale price;
• what is the true value of superannuation – sometimes the amount noted on a benefit statement may not be the true value for family law purposes;
• in relation to children, what happens if there is dispute about school holidays – what is the half-way point?
• what happens to weekend contact during holidays?
• are you allowed to take the children out of the state or country for holidays?  If your ex-partner takes them out of the country, will they be returned?

So, before you agree to anything, make sure you are in a position to make an informed decision.

By obtaining legal advice and representation from a professional Family Lawyer, you benefit by:

• knowing your rights and responsibilities;
• making sure any draft agreements will achieve what you hope they will achieve, and protect you;
• having your case prepared and presented in a professional way.

We have prepared some information about areas of family law that you may wish to consider.  Please note these are information only, and do not constitute legal advice.  The only way you can obtain legal advice is to consult a solicitor, and receive individual advice tailored to your situation.