Australian
divorce law underwent a significant change around 35 years ago when the Family
Law Act 1975 came into being and established the principle of a “no fault”
divorce. This was a major reform for its time. Prior to the enactment of this
new law, it was necessary to prove that one party was at fault. This was often
difficult if the marriage had simply ceased to function, or in the case of
adultery, for example, actual evidence was required to satisfy the court that
the act took place.
New
Divorce Laws Freed Thousands of Couples
The
Family Law Act was a breath of fresh air at the time, and resulted in a flurry
of divorce applications. Because a divorce had been so difficult to obtain
prior to 1975, estranged couples often moved on with their lives, going their
separate ways but never having officially divorced. The new Act gave these
couples the opportunity to end their marriages without fault being established
and proven, and thousands of couples took advantage of the opportunity in the
first few years after the law was changed. The numbers stabilised over time and
are now fairly consistent from year to year.
Under
the Act as it currently stands, irretrievable breakdown is the only ground
needed to divorce. This is established by separation and a period of living
apart for twelve months prior to application. People may still live in the same
house during these twelve months, provided they manage their lives as two
separate entities. Affidavits are required to prove this separation and in some
circumstances, an independent person is also required to make an affidavit
confirming the situation.
Divorce
becomes much more complicated when the couple is estranged, antagonistic to
each other, or when one party wants the divorce and the other doesn’t. There
may be issues of domestic violence, drug taking, criminal activity, child abuse
and other distressing factors that make these situations extremely volatile.
Add in a property settlement of value and the rights of children, and the only
way to ensure that all parties’ interests are looked after is to engage family
law Sydney representation.
Legal
Representation Assists Clients Through Difficult Divorces
ABC
Legal provides expert legal advice and representation in all areas of divorce
law. Their experience is invaluable when assisting clients who going through a
complicated or traumatic divorce situation, and are unable to manage the
process themselves. Legal representation almost always gets a better outcome,
simply because the legal professionals know the law, the rights of the parties
and the Court processes. They have generally encountered most situations in the
past and have strategies in place to resolve most issues.
Going
through a divorce raises all sorts of emotions that were not necessarily
expected at the outset. The people involved often feel vulnerable, confused and
are grieving over the loss of something that was once of vital importance to them.
The search for a lawyer is confronting, so it is important to find someone who
will listen to their concerns and understand their needs. Hamid Mirza of ABC Legal is a barrister who not only
provides expert legal advice, but is genuinely concerned for the well-being of
his clients.
Engaging
Hamid to assist with your divorce will ensure that every issue is considered,
every legal requirement met and the process is conducted with dignity in a
timely manner. A quick look around the website at www.abclegal.com.au will
provide all the information you need to make the decision to contact ABC Legal,
including testimonials from grateful clients.
Those
practicing in medical professions hold the utmost trust of their patients.
Patients hold the belief that they can expect the best care and service from
the people in these professions and that in consulting them for specific
issues, there will be a remedy sought and due care given.
Unfortunately,
this is not a perfect world and sometimes people fall short of our
expectations. When standard, and expected, duty of care is not followed in
regard to a patient, injury or illness can occur. This can cause all sorts of
issues for the patient, from loss of income, to even a loss of limbs, or worse.
In this case, not only has medical negligence occurred, but there has been a
sense of unspoken trust that has been broken and this can cause emotional
anguish in severe cases.
What
to do when Medical Negligence Occurs
In
situations like these it is acceptable for a patient to seek some form of
compensation for what has happened by visiting with a solicitor. At this time,
patients are given the opportunity to state their concerns to their solicitor,
who will establish whether or not a particular case has grounds to be pursued.
A qualified medical negligence solicitor will review a patient's case in full,
obtaining all medical history, medical reports and obtaining professional
opinions from medical experts.
If
you are in a situation where you feel medical negligence has occurred, you will
need to get in contact with an expert medical negligence solicitor. If you
originate from another country it might be wise to seek the services of a Sydney immigration lawyer to
help you better understand the system. Once your case has been reviewed with
utmost care, your solicitor will guide you regarding the next steps that may be
taken if there are, in fact, grounds for legal proceedings. The right solicitor
will skilfully and sensitively work closely with you every step of the way,
ensuring that you understand each component of the proceedings and that you are
as comfortable as can be with what is occurring.
What
can you Expect at the End?
However
the case plays out, your solicitor will have your best interests in mind and
try to help you find some closure on the situation. Regardless of a financial
payout, the most important thing is your recovery and finding a path to being
well again, sooner.
If
you would like to get in touch with a medical negligence solicitor who will
strive to meet your needs the whole way, click
here.
We all have occasion to disagree with others either at work, in
friendships or other social and community interactions, but most of the time,
we are able to resolve these disagreements, if not completely amicably, at
least to the extent that we can still associate with the person or persons
involved. Sadly, this is often not what happens in family disputes, which can
quickly escalate into open warfare with neither side wanting to give ground.
If you or someone
you know is in an untenable position in a family dispute, the best option is to
seek legal advice as quickly as possible. Many people lose out in these
situations because the emotional entanglements are more difficult to deal with
than the legal ones. They become angry, hurt and frustrated and these feelings
often boil over with serious and sometimes tragic results. Getting the
assistance of a legal professional immediately it becomes obvious that there
will be no easy solution can avoid all these issues.
ABC Legal is a firm
of family lawyers Sydney with a
reputation for brokering solutions in family law matters. Their expert legal
people can firstly seek mediation and alternative dispute resolution if the
parties are agreeable. Sometimes the intervention of an objective third person
can crystallise the issues and remove the emotion, allowing the parties to
clearly see the likely end result if the matter goes to court.
“My ex-partner was
having a lot of trouble moving on after I ended our relationship, and it was
becoming more confronting and nasty. I wasn’t prepared to back down either, as
there was valuable property involved, so I contacted ABC Legal. They were
recommended by a friend, and honestly, I don’t think I would be where I am now
without their efforts at mediation. We finally came to an agreement without
going to court, and we have both moved on,” said Tansy V.
There are many
occasions where mediation is not welcome and it is in these situations where
ABC Legal is absolutely outstanding in their knowledge of family law. From
de-facto relationship issues to financial agreements and matrimonial property
settlements, often involving substantial assets held in complex company and
trust arrangements, ABC
Legal
has the skills and professionalism necessary to prepare
their clients’ for the Family Court hearings.
“My wife and I
started our business from scratch 25 years ago, but as it became more
successful, we started having personal problems. By the time we accepted that
the relationship was beyond repair, we had two business ventures employing 35
people, several investment properties, a swag of share holdings and other
assets. ABC Legal represented me in Court and I walked away with what was fair
and reasonable. I think without their expertise, it could have been much
worse,” said Vernon T.
ABC Legal’s skills
are not confined solely to domestic family law disputes. Interstate and
international family law matters are also dealt with and include child support,
contravention of orders, divorce applications and annulment of marriage. Some
of these matters involve cultural differences and cultural sensitivity, and it
is here that Hamid’s experience and training, both as an accountant and a
barrister, prove absolutely invaluable to his clients.
“In my culture it
is rare to go against the wishes of your family, but I felt I had no other
choice. Hamid gave me information and legal advice, but he also understood how
difficult this was for me. I felt supported through the whole legal process. I
am now making my own decisions and hoping my family will eventually support my
choices,” said Nabihah M.
Regardless of the
type of family dispute you are currently dealing with, contact ABC Legal and
make an appointment to see their legal specialists. Don’t let the issue drag on
as this will only cause further animosity. Get it sorted, get an outcome and
leave the family conflicts behind you.
Choosing
the right immigration lawyer to assist with the process of lodging a visa or
residency application can mean the difference between being legally entitled to
stay in Australia, or being returned to the country of origin. This is too
important an issue to be left to well-meaning but untrained family or friends,
or even to manage the application process personally, especially if language is
a barrier or there is lack of understanding of the legal processes prevailing
in this country. With a little bit of research and a willingness to spend time
talking to various immigration specialists, your short-list of candidates will
eventually be pared down to just one name.
Although there are many immigration lawyers providing application services to
prospective immigrants, it is much better to deal with one who understands your
particular circumstances, and gives you the confidence that whatever issues
arise will be dealt with professionally. The person chosen needs to understand
just what is at stake should their performance be lacklustre, and that they are
not dealing with simple issues, but the lives and futures of an entire family
group.
The most important attribute an immigration lawyer can have is the ability to
listen – really listen – to the story behind the application, so that they can
request any additional documents that they feel may be needed. This is
important at the outset since many documents from overseas are difficult to get
and to be proven genuine.
It almost goes without saying that the person chosen should also be absolutely
conversant with the current legislation and regulations surrounding immigration
in Australia. They should have systems in place to ensure that any legislative
changes are notified to them immediately they come into force, so they can
advise their clients and instigate any actions that may be required as a result
of those changes.
Finding the right Sydney immigration lawyers is easier today than it has ever been as the internet
provides multiple search results and information, and the ability to access
various relevant web pages. Rather than choosing the first one that appears, it
is preferable to make appointments with several immigration lawyers, and speak
to them face-to-face to assess if you could place your trust in the hands of
this person. A negative outcome will have a major impact on the quality of your
life and career prospects, so this is a step that should not be overlooked as
being too difficult.
Talking with other people who have been through the same process and been
successful is another excellent way to establish the credentials of immigration
lawyers. Word-of-mouth is a very powerful tool and recommendations made in good
faith through this process often prove to be correct. Using the experiences of
others as a benchmark against your own expectations and needs can provide more
certainty than simply selecting a name from a search engine or phone book.
Once you have decided on the person you trust to represent you, do the right
thing by them and make sure you have all the documentation ready for your first
consultation. This will save their time and yours, and will establish you as a
person of trust from their point of view. Answer their questions fully and
truthfully, and they will be your advocate for a successful outcome.
Choosing
the right immigration lawyer to assist with the process of lodging a visa or
residency application can mean the difference between being legally entitled to
stay in Australia, or being returned to the country of origin. This is too
important an issue to be left to well-meaning but untrained family or friends,
or even to manage the application process personally, especially if language is
a barrier or there is lack of understanding of the legal processes prevailing
in this country. With a little bit of research and a willingness to spend time
talking to various immigration specialists, your short-list of candidates will
eventually be pared down to just one name.
Although there are many immigration lawyers providing application services to
prospective immigrants, it is much better to deal with one who understands your
particular circumstances, and gives you the confidence that whatever issues
arise will be dealt with professionally. The person chosen needs to understand
just what is at stake should their performance be lacklustre, and that they are
not dealing with simple issues, but the lives and futures of an entire family
group.
The most important attribute an immigration lawyer can have is the ability to
listen – really listen – to the story behind the application, so that they can
request any additional documents that they feel may be needed. This is
important at the outset since many documents from overseas are difficult to get
and to be proven genuine.
It almost goes without saying that the person chosen should also be absolutely
conversant with the current legislation and regulations surrounding immigration
in Australia. They should have systems in place to ensure that any legislative
changes are notified to them immediately they come into force, so they can
advise their clients and instigate any actions that may be required as a result
of those changes.
Finding the right Sydney immigration lawyers is easier today than it has ever been as the internet
provides multiple search results and information, and the ability to access
various relevant web pages. Rather than choosing the first one that appears, it
is preferable to make appointments with several immigration lawyers, and speak
to them face-to-face to assess if you could place your trust in the hands of
this person. A negative outcome will have a major impact on the quality of your
life and career prospects, so this is a step that should not be overlooked as
being too difficult.
Talking with other people who have been through the same process and been
successful is another excellent way to establish the credentials of immigration
lawyers. Word-of-mouth is a very powerful tool and recommendations made in good
faith through this process often prove to be correct. Using the experiences of
others as a benchmark against your own expectations and needs can provide more
certainty than simply selecting a name from a search engine or phone book.
Once you have decided on the person you trust to represent you, do the right
thing by them and make sure you have all the documentation ready for your first
consultation. This will save their time and yours, and will establish you as a
person of trust from their point of view. Answer their questions fully and
truthfully, and they will be your advocate for a successful outcome.
If you have had occasion
to seek the advice and assistance of a legal professional in any area of the
law, you will know that the whole experience can be very stressful, regardless
of the outcome. The path that you may take as a result of this advice can be
life-changing, so it’s important when choosing a lawyer to represent you in any
legal matter, to make sure that not only does the person have the depth of
knowledge you expect, but also the person understands you, your particular
situation and what your objectives are in pursuing legal action.
Choosing your legal
representative, then, is not simply a matter of finding someone on Google, but
taking the time to ask around friends and relatives for referrals. Select a
person, make an appointment to discuss your situation, and if there is no
feeling of rapport, repeat the process until you feel comfortable that this
particular person understands and empathises with you.
Nowhere is this
selection process more important than in family law, since the very nature of
the issues speaks to the deepest of human relationships. The family lawyers you
choose to represent your interests should have extensive experience in this
area of law. Through research and contacting the relevant professional
associations, records of qualifications and reputations can be checked.
What is not so
clear, nor easy to assess, is the intangible attributes. Qualities such as
credibility, tenacity and compassion are all desirable in a legal
representative. Credibility is reflective of how the person has conducted
themselves in the past in other legal representations. Tenacity is that “do or
die” quality of never giving up until the family lawyers Sydney are
satisfied that everything than can be done has been done. Compassion speaks for
itself and is demonstrated through every-day interactions with people and a
willingness to look at a situation and feel for the people involved.
Having all these
attributes in one person is possible, and indeed many in the legal fraternity
already possess them. While the law is often perceived as simply interpreting
what is meant by legislation and precedent, it is the intent behind the written
word that is equally important, and it does have weight. Judges consider many
aspects of a case including the actual law itself but also how a decision will
impact on the persons involved. Perhaps it is this ability that has lead to the
belief that an effective judge must also possess the wisdom to look beyond the
mere letter of the law.
As anyone whose
relationship has deteriorated beyond repair can attest, getting the right
lawyer to represent them leaves a person in a much better place to cope with
the emotional side of the whole situation. Knowing that any property settlement
or child custody issue is being handled by someone who understands the family
means that everyone can start working through their emotions without worrying
about the quality of their legal advice.
The breakdown of any relationship is always difficult and emotional, and
this is especially so when children are involved. It’s important at the outset
to seek expert, factual legal assistance before the issue gets muddied with
well-meaning advice and opinion from family and friends. Hamid Mirza and his
staff at ABC Legal are experts
in family law Sydney, and should be the first point of contact for anyone in this situation.
Trying to navigate
the myriad processes involved in family law with a quasi-legal opinion from
your best friend’s sister’s boyfriend, who supposedly has been through the
“same thing”, is not helpful. Everyone’s situation is different, especially
when issues of dividing property and child custody are involved. Do you really
want such vital matters to be in the hands of a well-intentioned amateur?
“My separation was
unexpected and traumatic, and I was lucky to have a wide circle of family and
friends who rallied to support me. However, I was getting conflicting advice
from all sides, and in the end, I decided to get a legal opinion from Hamid. He
cut right to the heart of the issues, and I am now in a space where I can plan
for the future.”
A quick wander
around the ABC legal website will reveal Hamid’s background, work history and
legal qualifications. As a barrister-at-law, Hamid has the experience and
knowledge to give a legal opinion on matters such as de facto relationship
issues, financial agreements, mediation, matrimonial property settlements,
child support, grandparents’ and third parties’ rights, spousal maintenance and
many other issues.
At ABC Legal family
law is an integral part of the practice and Hamid and his support staff of
legal professionals is always ready to meet with a client who needs advice or
representation on any family law issue. As the law relating to family disputes
is complex and constantly changing, Hamid and his team are regularly involved
in professional development to keep up-to-date with changes, so you, the
client, can be confident that any advice or opinion you receive is current.
Something that is a
stand out for clients who have met Hamid and his team is his ability to explain
complex legal matters in terms that make sense to the average person. There is
nothing worse than being in the middle of an unfamiliar situation where you are
already feeling vulnerable, and then feel inferior simply because you don’t
understand legal terminology.
“Well, I felt like
an idiot, didn’t I. I’m not much for fancy words – just plain speaking does me
so I was lost in all those big legal words. The missus had this hot-shot lawyer
crawlin’ all over me. But then my solicitor got Hamid involved, and bang! I got
it. I mean I’m not stupid, but it’s all in the words and the way they’re
spoken, isn’t it?”
For practical
advice and a proactive approach to the issues you may be facing in your family
dispute, go to the ABC Legal and
see for yourself the type of service you will get from this polished team of
legal professionals. And don’t stop there – contact them to get the best
assistance in town.
