Welcome To South West Sydney's Most Reputable Family Law Firm

We work with individuals and families going through separation, parenting issues, and property matters.

We understand that these situations are not just legal. They are personal. Our role is to help you understand your options, make informed decisions, and move forward with clarity.

Family Law Services

Support when things feel uncertain

In many cases, parents are able to reach an agreement without going to court. These arrangements are often built around what works best for the child and each parent’s situation.

Bateys Law Firm

Meet our talented team of dedicated directors and lawyers, committed to delivering expert legal solutions

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Bruce Batey

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Kelly Batey

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I relocate (move) with the children?

The court doesn’t allow unilateral decisions to be made regarding relocating a child where that relocation makes it difficult and impractical for the other parent to have continued involvement with the child. If the parents can come to an agreement on relocating the children then there is no issue and this can be done. In certain circumstances, the court will allow a relocation to happen even though the relocation may make it difficult for a parent to spend time with the children.

If you are concerned that your bank account or mortgage redraw facility will be depleted due to your spouse withdrawing large sums of money, it may be appropriate to stop your spouse’s access to those accounts. This may be as simple as changing the authority on the account to both of you to sign for any withdrawals. Saying that, if it has been common practice for your money is to be shared, it may be necessary to make arrangements to ensure that regular household bills and expenses of the children are met or contributed to. Where both parties are earning a reasonable income it may be appropriate for the access to your bank accounts to be stopped. If you and your spouse own a property it is important to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made so the mortgage continues to get paid. By continuing to pay things such as the mortgage and council rates, it limits your spouse’s post separation contributions and the associated adjustments in their favour in terms of their percentage of the asset pool.

If you have an agreement with your spouse that you can take the children overseas then there is no issue with that. It is important that you have the conversation with your spouse to ensure both parties know exactly what is planned. In circumstances where one of the parents is concerned that the children may be taken overseas and not returned, they may apply to the court to have the children included on the Federal Police airport watchlist. If this has happened, the children will not be able to leave the country. If your children are on a watchlist and you do require to take them overseas you will need to get a court order either removing the children temporarily or permanently from the watchlist.

 

If your matter ends up going through formal court proceedings resulting in a final hearing, it could take in excess of two years before final orders are made. If agreement can be reached between the parties through the court process, consent orders can be made at any time through the proceedings.

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