Margaret Donoghue Lawyer | Lawyer & law firm

Margaret Donoghue Lawyer

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25.01.2022 Before you dismiss this article as something "new agey" from Hollywood, read it! Think more "words of wisdom" about personal responsibility, moving on from negativity and creating a new and positive future. Think also enabling your children to still have a happy childhood even if their parents have separated. Recommended reading about Katherine Woodward Thomas from Emine Samer in The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com//the-breakup-guru-who-invented

25.01.2022 Prevention? Absolutely worth a try - just dont take funding away from working with survivors to do so! https://theconversation.com/how-working-with-men-and-boys-c

24.01.2022 This short article in "the Conversation" might help parents and their supporters in family law disputes about children to re-focus on the children. Please share! https://theconversation.com/in-the-family-court-children-sa

24.01.2022 I call this "ticking the boxes" - making sure you settle up all the financial matters when you separate, so there are no nasty surprises. The best way is to have a lawyer prepare consent orders or a Financial Agreement for you. It might seem expensive at the time, but can save you serious financial problems later. https://www.theguardian.com//joint-account-split-relations

23.01.2022 https://theconversation.com/why-breakups-are-so-hard-and-ho If you or someone you know is recently separated, this article might help you to understand the feelings. It might also be wise to get some legal advice to help you understand the legal consequences.

22.01.2022 Most family lawyers could tell you horror stories of cases that illustrate this article. While the writer suggests a long term, systemic solution, in the short term, if you or someone you know is in this situation, make sure they speak to a family lawyer before going to court. There can be ongoing and serious consequences if they take the easy way out, which will cost them more than the cost of legal advice on and intervention order. https://theconversation.com/how-victorias-family-violence-s

21.01.2022 So perhaps its the parents problem? http://www.abc.net.au//when-to-stop-pushing-kids-i/9448022

20.01.2022 So what do you think should be the legal status of your beloved "fur baby"? http://www.abc.net.au//pet-ownership-your-dog-is-p/9414096

20.01.2022 So why is the violence against women not recognized as criminal and violent behaviour that indicates risks of other violence - could it be that it is somehow still condoned? See the correlations https://theconversation.com/we-wont-stop-lone-actor-attacks

20.01.2022 I often have clients come to me puzzled about how their violent and controlling partner is able to know where they are. The answer is often in their devices or even trackers on their cars. If you think this could be happening, check your phone, or go to your phone or electronics store and ask them to check. If you have an intervention order in place, go to the police - it could constitute a breach of the order. This article discusses how new technology can be used to protect rather than to abuse. https://theconversation.com/technology-is-both-a-weapon-and

20.01.2022 Scary reading, but with a solution. Of course, relationship breakdown is one of those "one big life upsets that can create financial mayhem. While we cant future proof ourselves, we can get good advice - before the crisis hits. http://www.abc.net.au//the-accountant-who-fell-int/9528320

20.01.2022 Getting restless during isolation? "Think of the COVID-19 restrictions as an opportunity to re-engage with your friends who might be unsafe, using your own social isolation as an explanation for why youre calling more often than usual," suggests Alison Macdonald, acting CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria. https://www.abc.net.au//helping-at-risk-dv-women-/12110004

20.01.2022 Consequences. http://www.abc.net.au//mother-jailed-for-ignoring/10071786

19.01.2022 A poignant perspective on the younger step mum https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/divorce https://www.theguardian.com//a-letter-to-my-dads-younger-g

19.01.2022 As a Family Lawyer, Im usually encouraging my client to look to the future - how do we resolve this problem so everyone can move on? Then we have the problem of the new partner on the other side - here a some solutions https://www.theguardian.com//the-secret-to-coping-with-you

18.01.2022 Keeping it together after baby is born. I found this article - by Darby Saxbe in The Converstation - so fascinating I had to share it. It also discusses the role of higher testosterone and levels of aggression. https://theconversation.com/postpartum-depression-can-affec

15.01.2022 Having watched parents misunderstand, misinterpret and manipulate their children over many years during the court process, Im not sure that the calm and reasonable conclusions expressed in this article by Angus Randall for the ABC would work without early intervention from counsellors and even Independent Childrens Lawyers. http://www.abc.net.au//kids-dont-wont-to-be-kept-/10016852

14.01.2022 Back to nature for the weekend http://www.abc.net.au//20/abc-open-pic-of-the-week/7501274 -can scroll across the pictures.

14.01.2022 The really sad thing about this story from the ABC is that parents who refuse to pay child support are focusing on the parent theyre not paying, rather than the children. One of the first things a judge asks about in a parenting dispute is whether child support is being paid. Paying or not paying child support speaks louder than any affidavit about a parents commitment to the child. https://www.abc.net.au//child-support-payments-pa/11750710

14.01.2022 a friend of mine shared this article, so I thought Id copy my comments here as well! The article identifies the problem of courts not believing a child who says s/he has been abused, blaming (guess who!) the mother for coaching the child - parental alienation syndrome - because the alternative, of the father actually abusing the child, is so terrible. There are big differences between what is described in this article and Australian procedures and laws. We dont put children in the witness box in "custody" (which we call "parenting") cases and we do have a doctrine of unacceptable risk, so I suspect the US case reported in the article would go differently in Australia. https://m.pghcitypaper.com//childrens-advocates-s/Content

13.01.2022 Have a great weekend! http://www.abc.net.au//20/abc-open-pic-of-the-week/7653724

13.01.2022 This article by Mark Tobin for the ABC doesnt say that there was a court order for the sale, so perhaps Russell Crowe just decided to clear out his collections, as he says. However, if a court needs to order the sale of property, whether it be land or other belongings, to ensure a "fair and equitable" division of property, it will do so. http://www.abc.net.au//russell-crowe-divorce-aucti/9630220

13.01.2022 Elder abuse is such a difficult area to navigate. The law does provide remedies, but often the abuser is one of the people the older person relies on. https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au//22773-national-plan-to-c

13.01.2022 Infidelity, whether real or suspected, is often an issue for my clients - it may even be the issue that brings them to see me. This Article in The Conversation, by Gery Karantzas, Associate professor in Social Psychology / Relationship Science, Deakin University helps to explore the reasons why people stray. If you do decide that your relationship is over, its best to get independent legal advice as part of understanding your options, https://theconversation.com/its-not-just-sex-why-people-hav

12.01.2022 Apart from the "human interest" aspect of this story, it also highlights some of the limitations of the Family Law system. According to this article, judges now raise concerns that they dont have the constitutional power to address the problem. I would have thought they could make orders against the individuals requiring them to do certain acts as they do in other cases. http://www.abc.net.au//chained-women-jewish-wives-/9464038

10.01.2022 From ABC & The Conversation, this article by Gery Karantzas, with French president and his older wife by 24 years pictured, made me stop and think. And no, in all my years and experience as a family lawyer, Ive never had a client complain that the age difference was a problem. http://www.abc.net.au//couple-with-a-larger-age-ga/9680764

09.01.2022 I wonder whether potential clients could reduce their need for my services by following these points! https://www.theguardian.com//the-love-bubble-ten-mistakes-

08.01.2022 Sensible, practical advise to consider before you actually separate. http://www.abc.net.au//how-to-tell-your-child-you/10155300

08.01.2022 Wow, this article raises so many issues about faith and law and culture, the inherent misogyny in many cultures (including our own) the unintended effects of racism. There is still so much work and agitation needed to ensure women in our country are safe in their own homes! This article is part of a fascinating series on the ABC website (see the text of the article for links to others) This one is by Hayley Gleeson with Julia Baird, Additional reporting by Sarah Malik and wonderful Illustrations by Amani Haydar http://www.abc.net.au//abused-muslim-women-denied-/9632772

08.01.2022 Ive just read this letter in full in the Australian Family Lawyer journal (originally reproduced last year). It is a wonderful explanation, not only to the 14 year old, but also to the adults involved, of how and why the decision was made. If you can find a full version, its well worth reading.

08.01.2022 While the Australian family law courts also have the power to jail recalcitrant litigators, like the British Courts they are reluctant to do so. However, sometimes, some people are just so stubborn there is no other option. https://www.theguardian.com//elderly-millionaire-jailed-fo

07.01.2022 Keeping safe? Perhaps the best advice we can give you when you are facing abuse is to see your local Family or Domestic Violence service. In Victoria, your local police will be able to put you in contact with the closest DV support centre where a proper risk assessment can be done. Read about the warning signs http://www.abc.net.au//tara-costigan-murder-escala/9466974

07.01.2022 The government recently announced changes in the family law system - not in what happens in individual cases, but in the court structure. My prediction is that, just like previous reforms, this wont fix the delays or the expense faced by families who need a court decision. Article in more depth from The Conversation https://theconversation.com/a-new-family-super-court-may-no

05.01.2022 Scary stuff! I actually wrote a blog about this very issue last week (http://www.margaretdonoghuelawyer.com.au/blog.html) and what parents can do to ensure the right information is before the court https://www.abc.net.au//family-court-report-write/11682902

03.01.2022 A cold shower after the heady empowerment of Hollywood starts and others speaking out against sexual harassment and violence - recommended reading for the thoughtful: https://theconversation.com/sexual-violence-may-be-in-the-h

03.01.2022 Feeling restless during isolation? "Think of the COVID-19 restrictions as an opportunity to re-engage with your friends who might be unsafe, using your own social isolation as an explanation for why youre calling more often than usual," suggests Alison Macdonald, acting CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria. https://www.abc.net.au//helping-at-risk-dv-women-/12110004

02.01.2022 This poignant letter from an anonymous father to his adult children demonstrates the pain of not communicating. Its a place where the law has no role. Those adult parents, in Australia, might have been able to claim maintenance from him while they studied, but the relationship is strictly their choice. I wonder what his adult children would say in response? https://www.theguardian.com//a-letter-to-my-estranged-adul

02.01.2022 Practical tips for keeping the relationship - from The Conversation by Leah Ruppanner and Claudia Geist https://theconversation.com/how-last-nights-fight-affects-t