GAR Lawyers

20/05/2025

Christen Clarey

Financial Disclosure Analysis Specialist (In Collaboration with GAR Lawyers)

Christen Clarey is a qualified accounting professional with over 11 years of experience in financial analysis, audit liaison, and disclosure review. As an external consultant to Grace Ashworth Ridge Lawyers, she supports complex family law, fraud, and civil litigation matters with forensic-style financial insights.

With a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and a background in senior finance roles—including Financial Controller for a firm acquired by a London-based merchant bank—Christen specialises in identifying misappropriated funds, hidden assets, and spending patterns through meticulous disclosure analysis.

Her work is driven by both professional expertise and personal experience navigating financial misconduct in a divorce. Christen is passionate about translating complex data into clear, actionable reports that help GAR Lawyers build stronger, evidence-based cases

24/11/2024

Congratulations, Cameron Grace. You are officially on the roll, admitted as a lawyer in the NSW Supreme Court. It's been a wild journey!

21/12/2023

Parenting Orders: Understanding the Different Options for Care After Separation
Separation can be a challenging and stressful time for families, especially when it comes to agreeing on parenting arrangements.

However, it is usually best for everyone involved if parents can come to their own agreement, focusing on the needs and best interests of the child.

In this article on Law Talk, we will explore the different options for parenting agreements in Australia and what to consider when making an agreement.

Parenting Agreements: what are they?

There are no strict rules about how parents should make an agreement to care for a child after separation. A parenting agreement can be an oral agreement, a written parenting plan, or an agreement that is put into a formal court order, called ‘consent orders’. This requires an application to the court.

Parenting Plans

A parenting plan is a written record of an agreement between the parents about the care of the children that is also signed and dated. There is no required format for a parenting plan, and making a parenting plan is cheaper and less stressful than going to court for a parenting order. Community-based family support services that offer dispute resolution can help parents make a parenting plan to suit the particular family...continue reading in link.

16/10/2023

When a couple separates, an agreement is signed between the parties to distribute their assets, liabilities, and financial resources. It is possible to reach a property settlement with or without the court’s help. Almost anything of value can be considered property, including jointly held or individual properties, superannuation, business and trust interests, jewellery, cars, inherited assets, money, and animals.

Property obtained before or after a relationship is included in a property settlement. A property settlement can consist of assets acquired both before and after the separation. Both joint and individual liabilities, such as debts, loans, taxes, and stamp duty requirements, will be split between the parties.

Without the court’s aid, you can resolve a property dispute with the help of several tools. To prepare the property settlement, one should obtain advice from a lawyer due to the complexity of such an arrangement. It will save time and money if one can reach an agreement without the help of the court. Additionally, one might be able to mend fences with the other person, which could aid in settling any pending problems. If a person and the spouse agree on the terms of a property settlement, they should finalise the arrangement by requesting a consent order from the court or creating a financial agreement.

A property settlement is essential to the legal process in the event of the dissolution of a marriage or de facto partnership since it ensures that the parties’ assets and debts are distributed fairly. Amid the frequently stressful process of separation or divorce, property division can be a crucial matter to consider. To get the greatest outcome for oneself and one’s children, one must thoroughly understand divorce property settlement.

Whether a person was married or in a de facto relationship, they are still eligible to ask for a property settlement. If a person was married, they could submit an application for a family law property settlement after getting divorced and up to 12 months later. You can file for a property settlement up to two years after...

04/10/2023

Indirectly, grandparents have a significant impact on the lives of their grandchildren. The grandparent’s job in the family is to enrich their grandchildren’s life with wisdom, maturity, stability, and unconditional love. Grandparents may serve as the primary caretaker for a kid and can have a big impact on their lives. Understanding the rights of a grandparent to see and take care of grandkids is crucial in many circumstances. Clause 2 of section 60B of the Family Law Act of 1975 gives grandparents rights toward their grandchildren. In circumstances of separation, divorce, property division, and child custody, the Family Law Act of 1975 is applicable. Grandparents are entitled to file a petition with the Family Court requesting time to spend with their grandchildren. In the event of a divorce or separation, they might also apply for their custody. The Family Act Law explicitly states that grandparents may ask a court to consider their grandchildren’s best interests. However, it does not automatically provide them with the right to be in contact with the kids. The Family Law Act defines grandparents as the mother’s or father’s parents. A kid typically has four biological grandparents, whether alive or have passed away. Non-biological grandparents are also possible. Children have a right to regular communication with persons deemed crucial to their welfare, care, and development, according to the Family Law Act of 1975. Grandparents are expressly mentioned as being part of the group of persons with whom the kid should keep in touch. A grandparent will have the right to petition the court, but they do not necessarily have the right to care for or visit their grandchild.  

Custody and Access 

According to the Family Law Act of 1975, grandparents have the right to apply for a parenting order if they seek custody or visitation rights over their grandchildren. The court will issue an order only when it deems it to be in the child’s best interests. Parents can usually readily pick who will keep the kids. Additionally, they have little trouble making decisions for other ...

09/09/2023

Domestic violence, which males against women and children typically commit, is utterly deplorable in all of its forms. All states and territories in Australia, as well as the law, now recognize this. Domestic abuse occurs in many types of societies.  

In a broad sense, domestic violence refers to any situation in which a person is subjected to violence or other actions intended to dominate and control them in a personal or family setting. Even though domestic violence is frequently connected with physical violence, other behaviours may also be considered examples of domestic violence and includes abuse of any kind, including sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, financial, stalking, isolation from society or location, and cruelty to animals. It is not discriminating and can go for years using physical violence and taking advantage of power differences. The most vulnerable individuals are known to be most affected by domestic violence, particularly youngsters who see or are exposed to it. Children may suffer long-term physical, psychological, and emotional trauma. In Australia, domestic and family violence is a problem, not only in New South Wales. Based on the study, data demonstrate this.  

What is Domestic Violence? 

“Domestic violence” is typically understood in Australian community studies to refer to relationship abuse, especially physical abuse between a male and female partner, most frequently committed by the male spouse. (A person who has or currently has an intimate relationship with another person is referred to as a “partner”; for example, a married or de facto partner.) However, abuse that takes place in any relationship inside households can also be referred to as “domestic violence” or “family violence” (including abuse of children, elders, or siblings). 

The Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW) governs domestic violence in NSW (the CDPV Act). Acts of physical abuse, intimidation, and stalking in a domestic relationship are all considered domestic violence under Section 16 of the Act. People who engage in this behaviour may face criminal prosecution or Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs). Section 5 of the statute

26/05/2023

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀
Divorce and legal separation cases demand empathy, sensitivity, and thorough guidance from legal experts in the field. The emotional and psychological trauma our clients experience through a divorce is something we are aware of and sympathetic to.

Learn more about how we can help guide you with clear options https://garlawyers.com.au/divorce-separation/?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=GAR+Lawyers&utm_campaign=publer

If you would like to learn more about this topic, or if you want some legal assistance. Please feel free to call us direct on 1300 706 490 or visit our website https://garlawyers.com.au/?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=GAR+Lawyers&utm_campaign=publer to book a free consulation meeting.

19/05/2023

Who gets the Children?
One of the most recognised principles of family law is that a child should have a meaningful relationship with both parents, which can be achieved in many configurations.

A no contact parenting order is a court order that limits or prohibits the amount of contact a parent has with their child.

Learn more about what is involved with a No Contact Parenting Order on our website https://garlawyers.com.au/all-you-need-to-know-about-no-contact-parenting-orders/?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=GAR+Lawyers&utm_campaign=publer

Who gets the Children? One of the most recognised principles of family law is that a child should have a meaningful relationship with both parents, which can be achieved in many configurations. For

12/05/2023

What you need to know about property and financial agreements under Australian family law. If you are confused about your financial options and arrangements. You may find this post from our Easy Law talk helpful.

https://garlawyers.com.au/family-law-financial-agreement/?utm_source=fb_page&utm_medium=GAR+Lawyers&utm_campaign=publer

05/05/2023

In Australia, spousal maintenance is financial support that is paid by one spouse to the other after they separate or divorce. It is designed to help the receiving spouse meet their needs and maintain their standard of living, and is paid regularly. The amount of spousal maintenance that is paid can be agreed upon by the couple, or ordered by the court.

Contact us for separation lawyers north in Sydney