Family Law Report
While there have been some changes as we move out of a Pandemic, there are some aspects that remain the same. Demand for legal advice for family law has once again increased and during this past year. This has largely been due to clients seeking assistance with regard to property settlement. These property settlements are not large, but for separating families, they are necessary to ensure that both parties can move on. Older clients who are divorcing have once again been a prevalent part of our client mix.
Court hearings are still conducted via Microsoft Teams and it is beginning to take a toll on the way that the Court can operate. Online hearings have some advantages but there is no substitute to having court matters heard in person so that there are no interruptions because of technological issues.
Our ongoing assistance to the Court has been very openly recognised by Her Honour, Judge Stewart who has thanked us publicly for the assistance we provide as duty lawyers for the Ballarat Circuit. Local practitioners have also become very aware of the way in which we can assist self-represented litigants and have also expressed their gratitude for our service. This ultimately means that self-represented litigants are saved from having costs orders being made against them (for inaction due to lack of knowledge) and provides them with further insight into their matter. We have had grateful self-represented litigants express their thanks for our assistance and they are astonished that our service is free.
The new FASS program is about to start, and it is exciting that Tamar Haigazian will be our new FASS lawyer to provide further assistance to those who need it. The ability to provide more support than just legal advice is progressive and much needed in this space. We look forward to this program beginning at the next Ballarat Circuit.
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To find out more about the service please follow this link: About Us
BGCLS Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the region we service, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders past present and emerging.
To find out more about the service please follow this link: About Us
BGCLS Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the region we service, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders past present and emerging.
Many images of Ballarat and surrounds by photographer, Andrew Thomas. Visit Andrew's website to see more of his beautiful images - http://www.andrewthomasphotographer.com/