Having an affair? What could possibly go wrong?

Being married and having a partner on the side is not something new, for some. What some don’t understand though is, should the marriage breakdown and the secret relationship break down, both ex partners may be entitled to a division of property from the party who was enjoying the best of both worlds. There was […]

Is it ever a bad thing to receive my spouse’s super?

When assisting our clients with their estate planning, issues surrounding what to do with superannuation entitlements can often be an important ingredient in the overall planning process. Preparing a Binding Death Benefit Nomination, or expecting that your spouse will receive Superannuation Death Benefits when you die, can be a routine part of most estate planning […]

Why Would I need a Binding Death Benefit Nomination?

Whenever we see clients to review their estate planning, a key part of our discussion centres around arrangements in place for distribution of superannuation death benefits that have often become a significant amount over their life. Because it is important to deal with superannuation entitlements correctly, we usually discuss with our clients the importance of […]

Think before you post – the Court may see it one day

Technology is at our fingertips. It is so easy these days to share photos, stories and personal views on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. The problem is, once you post it, you can’t take it back. Inevitably when you are involved in a family law dispute, there will be someone out […]

Do you have parenting orders in place for Christmas?

Time is ticking. The Christmas period can be a stressful time for most families – what to serve? Christmas lunch or dinner? What will Santa bring? If you’re like me, you think about these things a few months in advance, but don’t actually take steps until the week of Christmas when it’s mayhem at the […]

Dying without a Will – A Family Law tale

When you die without a Will (intestate) in Queensland, it is the Succession Act which directs who is entitled to what you own. In many cases, this provides for an outcome that will not remotely reflect what you intended to happen with your estate. Take for instance the story of Louise. Married in her younger […]

A Dignified Divorce

It is a common misconception that just because parties have separated, they need to fight it out in Court. This is simply not true. Some parties walk into our office having already reached an agreement and just wish to formalise the agreement to make it legally binding. Others need a little guidance to help them […]

Why am I a family law solicitor – Elizabeth Adams?

Often when I am asked what area of law I practise in, I am often met with comments such as “Oh, I don’t know how you can do that!” and “Oh that must be a horrible area to work in.” Many years ago, I made the conscious decision to predominately practise in the area of […]

A Coal Miner, a Work Injury, and a Resignation Walk Into a Bar

It sounds like the start of a second-rate joke, and for some coal miners, it is. Following a work injury, many workers struggle to deal with their WorkCover obligations – let alone the commitments they still owe their employer. Whether it’s maintaining medical certificates, completing return-to-work programs, or simply grappling with the question, “what do […]

Renewing your vows – A cautionary tale

Sometimes couples have a low cost wedding due to financial constraints at the time, then have a more lavish wedding some years later when finances are better. It is has also become popular to have a discrete overseas wedding then when returning home to Australia, have a second wedding so family and friends can take […]