Publications
WHO PAYS PRIVATE SCHOOL FEES AFTER SEPARATION?
Fri, 8 Feb 19
One of the biggest areas of contention we see in Gold Coast Family Law matters after parties have separated, is who is going to pay for the childrenâs private school fees.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) typically uses a specific formula to assess the amount of child support required to support a child on a day to day basis, taking into account the income of the parents, the care levels of each parent and the estimated costs of children of the child's age (periodic child support). Significant (and out of the ordinary) costs for the child, including, but not limited to, things such as private school fees and medical expenses (non-periodic child support), are generally not assessed by DHS.
Therefore, the collection and payment of those types of expenses will likely need to be arranged between the parties themselves, and it is an area where disagreements often arise as parties struggle to process the separation itself as well as trying to navigate life after separation.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Fri, 11 Jan 19
We trust that all of our valued clients, colleagues and associates have had a wonderful break, and are ready to charge into the new year full speed ahead.
Affinity Lawyers would like to extend well wishes to you all for a happy, safe and prosperous 2019, and we look forward to working with you in the near future.
NEW YEAR â A FRESH START FOR YOUR ESTATE PLANNING
Fri, 11 Jan 19
At Affinity Lawyers, we like to take the start of a fresh new year to remind you that itâs a great time to take stock of your circumstances, and get some of those pesky tasks that you never seem to have time to do â done.
For many tasks, including getting an up-to-date will drafted, completing it at the start of the new year allows you to easily remember the date it was completed, and serves as a perfect way for you to remember to review it as it was done on an easily remembered date/occasion.
SEPERATED FROM YOUR SPOUSE OVER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK? WHAT TO DO NEXT
Fri, 11 Jan 19
At Affinity Family Lawyers, we understand that separation from a husband/wife or long term de facto partner can be one of the most stressful and traumatic events in a personâs life.
Unfortunately, during/shortly after the annual Christmas/New Years break we generally see an increase in the rate of separations. Whether its due to families spending extra time together over the break, or increased family/financial pressures which generally arise with the Christmas/New Year period, it appears that many people decide that they are wanting a fresh break at the start of a new year.
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
Wed, 12 Dec 18
It is that time of the year again when people are starting to relax, and are getting ready to enjoy the Christmas/New Year break after the busy working year and start looking forward to 2019.
Therefore, we would like to extend to you some carefully drafted Christmas wishes, with an abundance of lawyer humour:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all . . . and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2019, and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.
AIRBNB AND BODY CORPORATES
Mon, 10 Dec 18
The ability for unit owners to rent out their units for short term accommodation via sites such as âAirbnbâ or âStayzâ has long been a grey area, with many body corporates attempting to stop these types of rentals from happening by attempting to enforce by-laws which have been explicitly drafted to exclude short term rentals. It has been an ongoing tug-of-war between unit owners and Body Corporates, with each vying for the âwinningâ position.
It appears that the âwinnerâ has now been determined, and the recent decision of the Body Corporate for Hilton Park CTS 27490 v. Colin Robertson [2018] by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal has provided clarity for unit owners by ruling that they are legally entitled to offer their units for short-term rentals (through schemes such as Airbnb or Stayz) and that any attempt made by the Body Corporate to restrict such use by way of a by-law or other means is invalid and will not be enforceable.
