“Do you know a good family lawyer in Brisbane?” “Who’s currently the best family lawyer?” These are some of the first questions to be asked when someone separates. Like any area of life that is new, it’s human nature to want to find comfort and security in that new environment. That need is particularly [...] The post How to find the best Family Lawyer for you? appeared first on Michael Lynch Family Lawyers ..read more

A common misconception about parenting arrangements post-divorce, is that fathers are never given primary care of their children. This is not the case – there is absolutely no law, or even presumption in Australia, that mothers get greater access to their children than fathers. As of May 2024, the court’s first duty is to [...] The post Dads are rarely given shared custody – fact or fiction? appeared first on Michael Lynch Family Lawyers ..read more

Decades ago, it was called ‘taking sides’ but now it’s recognised as parental alienation – where one parent attempts to turn their child against the other parent. It’s becoming increasingly common in custody disputes and it can take a range of forms. The term Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) originated in the United States when [...] The post What is parental alienation? appeared first on Michael Lynch Family Lawyers ..read more

Following separation if a couple is unable to live separated ‘under the one roof’ and cannot reach agreement for one of them to leave the house, either of them can apply to the Family Court to obtain an order for exclusive occupancy. Here's one case that provides a useful insight into how to determine [...] The post Who Stays In The House? appeared first on Michael Lynch Family Lawyers ..read more

Galleon Law Group Announces Office Move for Two of its Brands to One Location We are thrilled to announce that Michael Lynch Family Lawyers and GLG Legal Brisbane, both firms of Galleon Law Group, are moving into the same location at the end of August 2024. This strategic move allows us to provide even [...] The post Exciting News from Michael Lynch Family Lawyers: We are Moving to a New Office appeared first on Michael Lynch Family Lawyers ..read more

Capital gains tax is a tax payable upon the profit from the sale of an investment property. It is imperative that each party understands any potential taxation consequences of their property settlement and obtains advice from an accountant prior to finalising a property settlement.  In some family law matters, an investment property may remain the property of one of the spouses, or the investment property may be transferred from joint names of the spouses to only one of the spouses. In both these instances, the investment property is not sold pursuant to the Order. In Rosati v Rosati (1 ..read more

So an application for a protection has been made, whether by you, police or made against you. Now what happens? Where an application for a protection order is made, the Court must be satisfied of three things. Firstly, that there is a relevant relationship between the parties such as between partners (married or defacto) or former partners. Secondly, that the respondent to the application has committed acts of domestic violence which includes physical violence as well as things such as emotional and verbal abuse, controlling and threatening behaviours or other behaviours that cause fear for ..read more

We’re living in a digital age and dividing up the cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly relevant to family law proceedings. Firstly, what is cryptocurrency? And is it included in a property settlement? Crypto currency is essentially a digital form of money that can be transferred electronically from one person to another, via a “wallet” or online exchange. Cryptocurrency exchange is traced by a “blockchain”, a growing list of records called blocks linked together using cryptography. Each block contains a timestamp and transaction data. As each block contains information about the block bef ..read more

We are proud to announce that Kirstie Colls, the Director and Head of Family Law at Michael Lynch Family Lawyers, has been listed in the ‘Best Lawyers Report 2025’. This prestigious recognition highlights her as one of Australia’s most prominent Family Lawyers. With over 20 years of experience specialising in Family Law, Kirstie has established a reputation for excellence and trust, assisting clients in navigating complex family matters. Her inclusion in the ‘Best Lawyers’ list, published by the Australian Financial Review, underscores her expertise, integrity, and outstanding performance in ..read more

Looking for evidence? Tempted to press “record” during an access changeover? Before you do, be aware that there is a risk that you may not only be prevented from using the photos or video as evidence, but you will most likely be criticised as exposing the children to family violence. Technological advances and the ease of modern recording on smartphones has enabled many parents to record discussions and interactions. It is becoming a common occurrence for courts to be presented with home-recorded audio and video material. It is important to consider not only, whether the court will accept th ..read more