A coalition of more than 60 legal organisations has urged the federal government to abandon a plan to scrap the Family Court as a stand-alone entity, warning that a proposed courts merger risks the safety of child and adult victims of family violence…

The family law system in Australia is groaning under the weight of a vast backlog of more than 20,000 cases and families are waiting up to five years for bitter child custody and property disputes to be resolved…

A 16-year-old boy suffering from autism has been granted permission to begin sex change treatments, provided he has his sperm frozen in case he wants children…

AS children line up to place their present orders with Santa, mums and dads will be putting in orders of their own – court orders on which parent will get to spend Christmas Day with the children…

A MARRIAGE break-up has cost a couple 11 years, more than $1 million in legal fees, a judicial “marshal” and now the “emotional collapse” of the ex-wife – still without a result…

FOR more than 25 years, volunteers at the Parramatta Family Law Courts have lent an ear to those in need. Now, as many of the mature-age helpers decide to retire, there is a genuine fear that the group’s dwindling numbers will leave visitors and their families without support. ..