What is new in Family Law in Australia?
There have been a number of significant changes to Family Law over the last few years. Those changes include:
- Most Australian states have referred their powers to make laws regarding heterosexual couples and same sex couples who live together to the Federal Government. New Federal Law governing couples who live together came into effect In March 2009.
- The law now permits de facto couples to enter into binding prenuptial agreements and binding cohabitation agreements.
- Judges must now consider when determining what care arrangements to make for the children of separated and de facto couples.
- The law now permits the superannuation entitlements of a de facto spouse who is separated to be split and the split portion to be transferred to the other spouse.
- The ability of the courts to make orders against third parties in the family law matters has been simplified and expanded.
- Laws dealing with the interaction of the matters involving family law and insolvency issues came into effect in 2006.
- Changes to the way Child Support is calculated commenced in mid 2006. Further significant changes to the Child Support formula were made in mid 2008.
