Szabo & Associates News & Updates

The concept of what is best for a child’s welfare, or what is in the ‘best interests of the child’, pertains to those principles used by a Court to decide the best outcome for a child given a particular set of circumstances.

When parents separate, one of the key issues that may arise is the residence and contact arrangements for any children. The family law system encourages parents to work out arrangements for their children without the need of Court intervention. However, this is not always possible and either parent can apply to the Court to have the matter resolved.

Most people understand the importance of a valid Will. Therefore, it would be more than unfortunate to invalidate a Will ‘accidentally’. However, certain key life events, such as marriage, separation, and divorce, can potentially impact a Will even to the extent of revoking (invalidating) it altogether. As such, it is important to understand what unintended consequences there may be as a result of these significant life events.

Following separation, a couple will need an agreement to divide their property between them. This process is known as property settlement. The process will involve dividing assets and liabilities with an expectation that there will be a fair and equitable division of the marital ‘pool’ between them.

Following separation, a parent has a right to relocate and may wish to do so because of work opportunities or the presence of other family members who can help with child care. However, whether they are able to do this with their child may not be straightforward.