Judge Heffernan in the matter of Coulter & Coulter (No. 2) [2019] FCCA 1290 (15 May 2019) heard an application of the father to exclude video recordings made by the mother of the father when he attended her home for hand overs of the children and two audio recordings of conversations between the father and […]
Author Archive | Trevor Jolly
How does parental conflict hurt children??
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Parental Conflict does harm children, but to many parents it is a surprise to find out how it does harm children. click here to find out more What about from a developmental lens? How does it harm children developmentally?
Children who live in Meth homes: The Dangers and Long-Term Effects
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OVERNIGHT STAYS FOR 0-4 YEAR OLDS – WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
There is a lot of debate around and research into when overnight stays for 0-4 year’s olds should commence, or at least when this should happen with regularity. The research tells us that the 0-4 period is a very significant development stage in a child’s life, both neurologically and behaviourally. It is also the period […]
A STORY OF PARENTAL ALIENATION / GATEKEEPING – Part 2 – WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON CHILDREN?
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON CHILDREN OF PARENTAL ALIENATION? PART 2 Children who are exposed to PA suffer in a variety of general as well as specific ways from parental alienation. It will often have both temporary and lasting effects on their lives. This is obviously not the intention of the alienator, but it is […]
Interesting Statistics on Overnight stays with non-resident parent
It is important to distinguish between day-time only contact and overnight stays because the latter provides greater opportunities for family activities to occur, which encourages emotional bonds to develop between children and their non-resident parents. According to the Family Characteristics Survey (ABS 2012-13): 51% of children did not spend a single night at their non-resident parent […]
TRIAL JUDGE ERRED IN HOLDING THAT IT WAS JUST AND EQUITABLE TO SPLIT PROPERTY FOR COUPLE SEPARATED YET LIVING UNDER SAME ROOF
Separating property after a separation is often tricky and an emotional occasion as it brings about the realisation that the relationship is really over and there’s no turning back. In this case – the parties lived together although separated for quite some time – Wife bought land five years after parties separated their finances – […]
Victorian Legal Aid under Investigation for bungled Family Law matter
Watch the Channel 9 News report by clicking the link below:- Calls for legal inquiry after Family Law Watch List case bungle
Equal time sought by shift working father!
Equal time sought by shift working father dismissed as it was neither in the child’s best interests nor reasonably practicable – Order made for significant and substantial time, commencement of which to be based on father’s work roster In Marchand & Mahony [2017] FCWA 67 (6 June 2017) O’Brien J of the Family Court of […]

A STORY OF PARENTAL ALIENATION OR GATEKEEPING (PART 1)
PARENTAL ALIENATION OR GATEKEEPING WHAT IS IT? PART 1 I started to write this article in response to a good friend of mine who happens to be experiencing the effects of parental alienation. I have travelled along the journey and experienced the sadness, hurt, anger and frustration that goes hand in hand with separation […]