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What happens when your relationship ends?

ThisbrochureassistsAboriginalfamiliesworkoutwhat’sbestforthekids

Family Law Aboriginal

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What is family law?MostfamilylawmattersinAustraliaarecoveredbytheFamily Law Act.

Itdealswiththingslikedivorce,yourkidsandyourproperty.

TheFamily Law Actwillcoveryourdifferencesaboutyourkidsand/orpropertywhethermarriedornot.

Youcansettleyourfamilylawissuebycounsellingandmediation.Thismusthappenfirst,unlessyourcaseisurgentorinvolvesfamilyviolence.

Ifthereisnoagreement,theCourtwilldecideforyou.

Therearethreecourtsthatcandealwithfamilylawmatters:

• FamilyCourt;• Federal

MagistratesCourt;and

• LocalCourt.

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Your kidsWehavejustseparatedanddisagreeaboutarrangementsforthekids.Whatshouldwedo?

Try reaching an agreement Thelawsaysyoumustmakeagenuineefforttoreachanagreementwithyourexthroughmediation,unless:

• yourcaseisurgent;

• itinvolvesfamilyviolence;or

• itisnotpracticalbecauseofreasonslikedistanceorseriousillness.

Youshouldgetlegaladviceifyouthinkthisappliestoyou.

Youneedtoshowyouhavedonethisbeforeyoucangotocourtaboutyourkids.

Mediation(alsocalledfamilydisputeresolution)isaverygoodwaytoresolveyourdifferencesbecauseit:

• isfasterthangoingtocourt;

• costsless;and

• maybelessstressful.

Itletsparents,grandparentsandrelativesmaketheirowndecisionsaboutthekids.

TherearemanyservicesthathelpwithmediationincludingLegalAidNSW,theFamilyRelationshipAdviceLineandtheFamilyRelationshipCentreswhichhelpseparatingfamiliesreachagreements.Seepage15forcontactdetails.

LegalAidNSWcanhelpyoureachanagreementifatleastonepersonhasagrantoflegalaid.OurFamilyDisputeResolutionServiceisavailabletoseparatedparents,grandparentsandotherpeoplewhoareimportantinthelivesofthekids.

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AboriginalfamilymediatorsworkwithAboriginalfamiliestoreachanagreementthatbothpartiesarehappywith–anagreementthatisbestforthekids.

If talking doesn’t work, then what?TheCourtwilldecidewhat’sbestforyourkidsandmakeparentingorderssayingwhatshouldhappen.FamilyCourtsmakedecisions“inthechild’sorchildren’sbestinterests”.TheCourtslookatmanythingslikewhetherit’sgoodforkidsseebothparentsoriftheyneedtobekeptsafefromanyharm,neglectorfamilyviolence.Courtsalsolistentoakid’sviewandlookatakid’srelationshiptoanybrothersorsistersandgrandparents.

TheparentingorderthattheCourtmakeswilldecidethingslike:

• Whokidswilllivewith;

• Howmuchtimekidswillspendwithaparentorotherimportantpeople;

• Howparenting(“parentalresponsibility”)willbeshared;and

• Howparentswilltalktoeachotherabouttheirkids.

InfamilylawAboriginalchildrenhavearighttoenjoytheirculturewithotherswhoshareitandcourtordersmusttakeintoaccounttheimportanceofAboriginalchildrenmaintainingtheirculture.

Inmostcasesparentswillhave“equalsharedparentalresponsibility”,unlessthereischildabuse,familyviolence,oritisnotgoodforparentstosharethebigdecisions.

Thismeansthattheparentsneedtotalktoeachotheraboutthemainissues–education,health,culture,religionandanychangesthatwouldmakeitmuchmoredifficultforkidstospendtimewiththeotherparent.

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I have an order for the children to spend time with me but my ex partner won’t let me see them. What can I do?Iftheotherparenthasbreachedanorderaffectingyourkids,youcaneither:

• trytoresolvetheconflictthroughcounsellingormediationservices(seebackofthisbrochure)

OR

• youcanapplytotheCourtsayingyourexhascontravened(broken)theparentingorder.

The other parent has taken the kids and refuses to return them. What should I do?YouneedtoapplytotheCourtforarecoveryorder.Thisorderallowsthepolice(bothstateandfederal)tofindandreturnyourkidstoyou.

Ifyoudonothaveaparentingorderthatthechildrenlivewithorspendtimewithyou,youneedtoapplytotheCourtforsuchanorder,aswellasarecoveryorder.Thiscanbedoneatthesametime.

Can I change my kids’ surname? Toformallychangeachild’sname,youmustapplytotheNSWRegistryofBirths,DeathsandMarriagesforregistrationofanamechange.Childrenaged12yearsandovermustconsenttotheirchangeofname.

Theconsentofbothparentsisrequiredorifthisisnotpossible,acourtorder.EitherparentcanapplytotheCourtforanorderseekingpermissiontochangethename(iftheotherparentwon’tagree)orstop(restrain)aparentfromusingadifferentnameforachild.

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TheCourtwillmakeitsdecisionbasedonwhatisbestforthekids.

Achildcannotchangetheirnameontheirbirthcertificatethemselvesuntiltheyare18yearsoldinNSW.

Can my kids make their own decision about where they want to live?TheCourthasthepowertomakeordersaboutwhereyourkidsliveandthetimetheyspendwitheachparentforkidsundertheageof18.Iftheyareunder18,theCourtwillconsiderthewholesituation,notjustthekids’views.Often,itdependsonhowmaturethekidsareandhowmuchtheyunderstandaboutwhatishappeningintheirfamily.

SometimestheCourtmayaskforanindependentchildren’slawyersotheycangivetheCourtanindependentviewoftheevidenceandactinthebestinterestsofthekids.Theindependentchildren’slawyermayinterviewthekidswithouttheparentsbeingpresent,orcontactschoolsanddoctors.TheymayaskforacourtexperttobeappointediftheybelieveitisnecessarytohelptheCourtreachadecisionaboutwhothekidsshouldlivewithandspendtimewith.

Can court orders help grandparents see their grandchildren?Grandparents(oranyonewhohasandwantstocontinueanongoingrelationshipwiththekids)canapplyforanordertospendtimewiththem.Childrenhavearighttospendtimeonaregularbasiswiththeirparentsandotherimportantpeopleintheirlivesunlessitisnotin“theirbestinterests”.Grandparentsmustthereforeshowthatanordertospendtimewithyourkidsiswhat’sbestforthem.

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If you are a grandparent, aunty, uncle, cousin or other relative, see our brochure Caring for kids in Aboriginal families.

MovingThe kids have been living with me since separation and I want to move out of the local area. Can I just go with the kids or do I need the other parent’s permission?Thelawsaysthatchildrenhavearighttoknowandtobecaredforbybothparents.Howeverwhenaparentneedstomoveawayandthatmovemayaffectthechildren’sabilitytospendtimewithandcommunicatewiththeotherparentonaregularbasis,anumberofthingsneedtobeconsidered.

When there are court orders about the child:Youwillneedtolookattheordertoseewhetherthemovewillbreachtheorder.Forexample,iftheordersaysyourkidsaretospendeachweekendwiththeotherparentandyouplantomovefromSydneytotheGoldCoast,youwouldprobablybeinbreachifyoumoved.Youwouldthenneedtohavetheordersvariedeitherwiththeotherparent’sconsentorbytheCourtbeforeyoumove.

Caring for kids in Aboriginal famil ies

Know the law – know your rights

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When there are no court orders about the child:Youwillnotbebreachinganyordersbymoving.However,ifthereisaninformalagreementorparentingplanforyourkidstospendtimewiththeotherparent,thentheotherparentcanasktheCourtforanorderwhichstopsyoufromleavingtheareawiththekids.

Aboveall,theCourtwilllookatwhatisin“thebestinterestsofthechild”.

Separation and divorceHow do I get a divorce? Whenyoufirstseparate,thereisnothingthatyouneedtodoandnodocumentyouneedtosigntoconfirmthatyouareseparated.

Divorcesareaformalendtoamarriage.Afteryouhavebeenseparatedforatleast12monthsyoucanfilefordivorce.Adivorcewillonlylegallyendyourmarriage.Itwillnotresolveissuesinrelationtoyourkidsorhowyourpropertywillbedivided.

AlthoughyoucanNOTapplytotheCourtforadivorceuntilyouhavebeenseparatedforatleast12months,youCANstartnegotiationsaboutproperty(andkids)assoonasthemarriagehasbrokendown.Manymattersareresolvedbeforethedivorceapplicationisfiled.

LegalAidNSWpresentsfreedivorceclassesinanumberofSydneyandregionalcentres.ContactLawAccessNSWon1300888529fordetailsorvisitourwebsite:www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

YoucanobtainadivorcekitbycontactingtheFederalMagistratesCourt(contactdetailsonpage15).

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I want to end my relationship but my ex won’t move out of the house that we own. What can I do?Bothyouandyourexareentitledtoliveinyourhomeafterseparationregardlessofwhosenameisontherentalagreementorthetitleoftheproperty.Youcannotbeforcedtoleavejustbecausethepropertyisnotinyourname,unlessaCourtordersit.

Ifyouhavetomoveout,itwillnotaffectyourrighttoashareintheproperty.Anyrightsyouhavebuiltupduringtherelationshipwillremainevenifyouleave.Ifyoufearviolenceyoushouldseekadviceimmediately(seepages14–15fordetails).

How do we settle our property?Youcanstartnegotiatingaboutpropertyassoonasthemarriageorrelationshipbreaksdown.Thesamelawsapplyaboutpropertywhetherornotyouweremarriedorinadefactorelationship.

Ifyougetdivorcedyoumuststartpropertyorspousemaintenanceproceedingswithin12monthsofyourdivorcebecomingfinal.Ifyouhavebeeninadefactorelationship,youmuststartpropertyormaintenanceproceedingswithintwoyearsofyourseparation.

Propertyincludesallthingsownedbyeitheroneofyou(injointorsolenames)includingmoney,cars,furniture,propertyownedbeforemarriage,gifts,inheritance,redundancypayouts.

Superannuationissplitdependingonanumberofthings,includingthetypeofsuperannuationschemetowhichthatpersonbelongs.Youshouldgetadvicefromalawyerifsuperannuationisanissue.

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How does the Court divide our property?Itwillconsidermanythingsincludingpropertyownedbeforethemarriage,howlongyouweremarried,whatcontributionstheotherpartnermadeandfutureneeds(e.g.whetheronepartnerwillbesupportingachild,theageandhealthofeachpartnerandtheirabilitytoobtainemploymentandearnincome).

Contributionstothewelfareofthefamilysuchascaringforkidswouldbeconsideredtobejustasimportantasthecontributionoftheprimarywageearner.

Itisveryimportanttoget legaladvice.

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Child support What is this?Parentsneedtoworkouthowtheywillcontinuetopayfortheirkids’food,housing,clothes,schoolcostsandotheractivitiesandexpensesafterseparation.Themoney,orin-kindpayments,paidbyoneparenttotheother(ortosomeoneelseifthekidsdonotlivewithaparent)iscalledchildsupportorchildmaintenance.Sometimesthesepaymentsaremadebyoneparenttotheother,evenifthekidsarelivingpartofthetimewiththepayingparent.

TheChildSupportAgency(CSA),whichistheCommonwealthgovernmentagencythatlooksafterchildsupportpayments,worksouthowmuchchildsupportshouldbepaid.Thisiscalledachildsupportassessment.

OnceachildsupportassessmentismadebytheCSA,parentsarefreetoarrangeprivatepaymentofthissum.ThepersonentitledtoreceivethechildsupportpaymentscanalsoasktheCSAtocollectthesepaymentsontheirbehalf.

ParentscanalsomakeagreementsknownasChildSupportAgreements,whichsetoutinwritingtheamount,frequencyandmethodofpaymentofchildsupportpayments.ChildSupportAgreementsshouldnotbeenteredlightly.Youshouldgetindependentlegaladvicebeforeenteringachildsupportagreement.

The CSA will not give me a child support assessment because I don’t have proof that my ex-boyfriend is the father of my child. What can I do?CSAwillonlyissueachildsupportassessmenttoapersoniftheycanprovethatthepayingparentisabiologicaloradoptiveparentofthechild.Acceptableproofincludesthenameoftheparentonthechild’sbirthcertificate,showingtheparentsweremarriedtoeachotheratthetimeofthechild’sbirth,orstatutorydeclarationcompletedbytheparentacknowledgingparentageofthechild.Ifyoucannotprovideacceptableproof,youcantakestepstochangethis,butyoumayneedthehelpofalawyerfromLegalAidNSW,acommunitylegalcentreoraprivatelawyer.InsomecasesLegalAidNSWmaybeabletopayaprivatelawyer.Toresolvethisissue,youmayneedtotakecourtactionandtohaveDNAtestingdonebyanapprovedDNAtestinglab.

I’ve lost my job and can’t afford to pay child support. What can I do?ContacttheCSAandfindoutwhatyouroptionsare.Thesewillvarydependingonyourcircumstances,butchancesarethatyouwillbeabletopaylesschildsupport.TheCSAcanbecontactedon131272andtheirwebsitecanbefoundatwww.csa.gov.au.

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The kids live with my ex who is in a new relationship. Do I still have to pay child support?Theparentwhodoesn’tlivefulltimewiththekidsfromtherelationshiphasanobligationtofinanciallysupporttheirchildrenuntiltheyareatleast18yearsold.Anewpartnerdoesnothavealegalobligationtosupportanotherperson’schild.

How long does child support last?Childsupportlastsuntilyourkidsare18.SometimesyoucangototheFamilyCourtsforpaymentsaftertheyare18foreducationalexpenseorifthereisanongoingdisability.Youwillneedtogetlegaladvice.

You can get free legal advice from Legal Aid NSW about child support. SeeourbrochureHey you mob – got a problem with child support?

Thispublicationisintendedasageneralguidetothelaw.Itshouldnotbereliedonaslegaladviceanditisrecommendedthatyoutalktoalawyeraboutyourparticularsituation.

Atthetimeofprinting,theinformationshowniscorrectbutmaybesubjecttochange.

FormoreinformationcontactLawAccessNSWon1300888529.

CopiesareavailablefromPublications,LegalAidNSWon0292195028ortheChildSupportServiceon96339916.

Youcanalsoorderonline:www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/pubsonline

Photos:DaniPontesJuly2011OriginalartworkbyTanyaMartin,NgembaPeople,Bourke

Bankstown CivicTower,Level8CnrRickardRd&JacobsStBankstown2200Tel:97074555

Blacktown Level2KildareCourt13KildareRdBlacktown2148Tel:96214800

Burwood Level4,74-76BurwoodRdBurwood2134Tel:97476155

Campbelltown Level4171-179QueenStCampbelltown2560Tel:46282922

Coffs Harbour 41LittleStCoffsHarbour2450Tel:66517899

Dubbo 64TalbragarStDubbo2830Tel:68854233

Fairfield Level2FairfieldChase25SmartStFairfield2165Tel:97273777

Gosford Level237WilliamStGosford2250Tel:43245611

Lismore Level429MolesworthStLismore2480Tel:66212082

Liverpool Level4InterdellCentre47ScottStLiverpool2170Tel:96011200

Manly GroundFloor39EastEsplanadeManly2095Tel:99771479

Newcastle 51–55BoltonStNewcastle2300Tel:49295482

Nowra55-57BerryStNowra2541Tel:44224351

Orange 95ByngStOrange2800Tel:63628022

Parramatta Level591PhillipStParramatta2150Tel:96339916

Penrith 95HenryStPenrith2750Tel:47323077

Sutherland GroundFloor3-5StapletonAveSutherland2232Tel:95213733

Central Sydney GroundFloor323CastlereaghSt,Sydney2000Tel:92195000

Tamworth Level1424-426PeelStTamworth2340Tel:67666322

Wagga Wagga GroundFloorBestPlace,MorrowStWaggaWagga2650Tel:69216588

Wollongong GroundFloor,73ChurchStWollongong2500Tel:42288299

Legal Aid family lawyers, located at all Legal Aid NSW offices can also assist with child support and a referral to the Child Support Service.

ChildSupportService

Offices

Ifyouarehearingorspeechimpaired,youcancontactusbycallingtheNationalRelayService(NRS)on133677orTTY92195126.

Hey you mob— got a problem with child support?

Family law Aboriginal

If you are Aboriginal— the Child Support Service can help you.

A service for Aboriginal people with child support problems.

Aborigina ChildSupport.indd 2 21/07/11 1:21 PM

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Who to contact: legal help

Legal Aid NSW Familylawadviceisfreefromallouroffices.ContactyournearestLegalAidofficeorvisitwww.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Legal Aid NSW Child Support Service Thisisaspecialistlegalservicewithlawyersexperiencedinchildsupportandover18maintenancecases.AnextensiveoutreachserviceisprovidedacrossNSW.

Phone96339916tomakeanappointmentinSydneyor1800451784tomakeanappointmentinregionalNSW.

LawAccess NSW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1300888529www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au

Atelephoneservicewhichprovideslegalinformation,referralandinsomecaseslegaladvice.

Community Legal Centres NSW . . . . . . . . 92127333 www.nswclc.org.au

Law Society of NSW Community Referral Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99260300

orcallLawAccesson1300888529forinformationandreferraltoprivatelawyers.

Women’s Legal Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97495533(countryareastollfree) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800801501

Indigenous Women’s Program tollfree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800639784

Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95693847. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800686587www.wirringabaiya.org.au

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Help with domestic violenceDomestic Violence Advocacy Service . 87456999

Toll free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800810784

DoCS Domestic Violence Line . . . . . . . 180065646324hours7days.

Courts Family Courts of Australia . . . . . . . . . . 1300352000www.familylawcourts.gov.au

TheFamilyLawCourtssharetheirregistryandtelephoneinformationservices.

Mediation and counselling Legal Aid Family Dispute Resolution Service

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92195000/92195118/92195119

LegalAid’smediationserviceforclientswhohavebeengrantedlegalaid.

Family Relationship Centres and Family Relationship advice line. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800050321 www.familyrelationships.gov.au

CatholicCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93905366www.catholiccare.org

Community Justice Centres . . . . . . . . 1800990777www.cjc.nsw.gov.au

Relationships Australia Mediation Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1300364277www.relationships.com.au

Unifam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88300777/88300700www.unifamcounselling.org

Interrelate Family Centres . . . . . . . . . 1300736966www.interrelate.org.au

Other contact points CentrelinkFreecall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800050004Child Support AgencyFreecall . . . . . . . . . . . . 131272Federal Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62233000DoCS Helpline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132111NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (localcall) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1300655236

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Thisbrochureprovidesbasicinformationonlyandisnotasubstituteforlegaladvice.Ifyouarelikelytobeinvolvedincourtproceedingsorlegalaction,youshouldgetadvicefromalawyeraboutyourparticularsituation.

Atthetimeofprinting,theinformationshowniscorrectbutmaybesubjecttochange.

Formoreinformation,contactLawAccessNSWon1300888529.

Formorecopiesofthisbrochure,orderonlineatwww.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/pubsonlineorcontactthePublicationsUnit,LegalAidNSWon92195028oremail:publications@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Ifyouarehearing/speechimpaired,youcan communicatewithusbycallingtheNationalRelayService(NRS)on133677.

LegalAidNSWCopyrightJuly2011Photos:DaniPontes

OriginalartworkbyTanyaMartin,NgembaPeople,Bourke