On 6 September 2019 the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia delivered its judgment in the matter of Ellwood & Ravenhill [2019] FamCAFC 153. The relevant factual background was as follows: Mr Ravenhill (the father) commenced co-habitation with Ms Ellwood (the mother) on 1 June 1999 and they married on 2 February 2001.…
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In complicated child custody disputes, the Australian family court may impose detailed parenting orders that outline the responsibilities and rights of each parent. In general, these are designed to be easy to follow, and most parents don’t have any problems with them, although a consultation with an experienced family lawyer can be advisable. However, people…
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Some of the most common questions our family lawyers get asked are to do with De Facto relationships. 1. What is a De Facto relationship? Section 13A(1) of the Interpretation Act (WA) (1984) (Interpretation Act) defines a De Facto relationship as a relationship (other than a legal marriage) between 2 people who live together in…
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Departure from Administrative Assessment under the Child Support Scheme Western Australia An application for a change of assessment can be made to the Child Support Agency (CSA) by either the carer of the child or by the parent liable to pay child support. Before making a change to an administrative assessment the CSA must be…
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The Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 (Cth) established the Child Support Agency (CSA) as the collector of periodic maintenance. The Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) established a system of administrative assessment of child maintenance liability pursuant to a statutory formula. Enforcement of Child Support As well as collecting child support, the CSA…
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