Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill 2011
Mark Sullivan is a Director at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in Family, Relationship and Matrimonial Law
On 2 November 2011, the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill 2011 was introduced to Parliament. The Bill will increase the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) from 9% to 12%. Read the rest of this entry »
Treasury – New Online Form to Find Lost Super
Mark Sullivan is a Director at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in Family, Relationship and Matrimonial Law
On 23 September 2011, Treasury announced that a new electronic form will be introduced to make it easier to connect account holders with 5.8 million lost super accounts worth more than $18.8 billion. The new form will help streamline the process which currently requires fund members to post certified copies of their ID to their fund once they have located the lost super. Read the rest of this entry »
Still Breed them Local after 30 Years
Newcastle law firm introduces newly appointed Associate Directors
Mullane & Lindsay has announced the appointment of two new associate directors, both by internal appointment.
Michael McGrath practices in property and commercial law, with a particular emphasis on commercial leasing and on the tax implications of various transactions. Michael has been with the firm for 10 years.
Kristy Nunn works primarily in the area of civil litigation, and has particular expertise in professional indemnity and insurance claims generally. Read the rest of this entry »
Self Managed Superannuation Funds & Family Law Matters
By Vivien Carty
Vivien Carty is a Solicitor at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in our Family, Relationship & Matrimonial Law team.
Superannuation splitting laws enable separated couples to split their superannuation in a family law property settlement. The laws apply to married or divorced couples and defacto couples (including same sex couples) whose relationships broke down on or after 1 march 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
Greater Use Of Alternative Dispute Resolution
By Vivien Carty
Vivien Carty is a Solicitor at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in our Family, Relationship & Matrimonial Law team.
As a result of the Special Commission of Enquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW, a report was provided to the Governor of NSW in November 2008 and released on the same day to the public.
The Wood Report, as this report is known, made many recommendations to the NSW Government as to what changes could be made within the Child Protection system to cope with future levels of demand. Read the rest of this entry »
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
By Vivien Carty
Vivien Carty is a Solicitor at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in our Family, Relationship & Matrimonial Law team.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (aka ADR) is strongly encouraged before and during Court proceedings in the Family Court, the Federal Magistrates Court, and the Children’s Court of NSW.
One of the popular models of ADR is based on the LEADR model of mediation. In disputes about financial or property matters the parties exchange full and frank details of their financial situations before the conference. Without this exchange the issues cannot be properly explored during the conference. In children’s matters basic information is provided to the mediator such as the names and ages of the children, where the children are living and whether there are any family violence issues or orders. Read the rest of this entry »
Family Law Team expands at Mullane & Lindsay
Mark Sullivan is a Director at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in Family, Relationship and Matrimonial Law
Ashley Stevens is the latest solicitor to join the experienced team of Family and Relationship Law solicitors at Newcastle/Tea Gardens law firm Mullane & Lindsay.
Ashley joined Mullane & Lindsay in July 2010 in order to gain specialist Family and Relationship Law experience and to work with Accredited Specialist solicitors Mark Sullivan and Vivien Carty. Ashley joins fellow family law solicitors Ashleigh John and Kristy Davis. She is a proud University of Newcastle graduate, and had almost four years experience at other law firms prior to joining Mullane & Lindsay. Read the rest of this entry »
Changing a Child’s Name
By Ashleigh John
Ashleigh John is a Solicitor at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in our Family, Relationship and Matrimonial Law Team
Parents can consent to change their child’s name but what happens if one parent wants to change a child’s name and the other parent doesn’t agree? Sometimes the issue arises when a parent has been using a name for the child that is different from the name recorded on the child’s birth certificate and, when it comes time to enrol the child at school, the school requires the child to be recorded on the school records in the name shown on the child’s birth certificate. Read the rest of this entry »
Can a Parent be Ordered to Immunise a Child?
By Vivien Carty
Vivien Carty is a Solicitor at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and specialises in our Family, Relationship & Matrimonial Law team.
There is no compulsion for children to be immunised inAustralia, other than in circumstances where a Court orders immunisation. Sometimes parents are unable to agree on whether their child should be immunised. Where an Application is made under the Family Law Act for an Order in relation to immunisation of a child the Court, having regard to the best interests of the child in the particular case, may order that the child be immunised. Read the rest of this entry »
Budget Announcement to Strengthen Compliance for Child Support
By Mark Sullivan
Mark Sullivan is a Director at Mullane & Lindsay in Newcastle and leads our Family, Relationship & Property Law team.
The Federal Government will change the method under which a Child Support payer’s income is assessed to more accurately reflect their actual income. The changes will take effect from 1 July 2011 and will only apply to those payers who have not lodged a tax return for two or more years. Read the rest of this entry »