News and articles

Practical general information from Empower Family Law & Mediation about family law developments and common questions.

Parenting and accessible participation

Relocation: I want to move with the children

What to consider before relocating, how the child’s best interests guide the decision and what a practical relocation proposal should address.

In detail: the questions to work through before raising a move, what makes a proposal persuasive, what happens if the other parent does not agree, and what the Court will want to understand about the particular child.

Neurodivergence in family law matters

Communication, planning and sensory adjustments that can support effective participation in legal appointments, mediation and Court events.

In detail: where neurodivergence fits within the best interests test, how a child’s views actually reach the Court, the adjustments worth asking for at appointments, mediation and court, and the practical detail of transitions between households.

Separation and property

Cryptocurrency and family law

How digital assets can affect disclosure, valuation, record-keeping and negotiation in a property settlement.

In detail: how digital assets are treated in a property settlement, what the disclosure duty reaches including holdings in companies and trusts, the rule about transfers before and after separation, valuing a volatile asset, and what records are worth keeping.

Separation: the dos and don’ts

Practical early steps for safety, children, records and finances, together with common actions to avoid.

In detail: practical steps in the first weeks, covering safety, recording the separation date, preserving financial information, and the specific legal duty that sits behind the advice not to move assets. It also covers what becomes disclosable in parenting matters, which catches people out.

Why timing is important

Common family law time limits, the value of early evidence and situations that may require urgent advice.

In detail: the deadlines that determine whether you can bring a claim at all, the ones that operate once a case has started, and what is involved in applying out of time. It covers property and maintenance limits, service timeframes, the disclosure undertaking, and the one area with no time limit at all.

How to use these articles

Everything here is general information about Australian family law. None of it is advice about a particular situation, and family law changes: several significant reforms commenced in 2024 and 2025, so older material found elsewhere online may describe rules that no longer apply.

Each article carries the date its legal content was checked. Where an article states a figure, a threshold or a time limit, confirm the current position before relying on it, or ask us.

Where to start, depending on your situation

The articles are written around a situation; the service pages are written around an area of law. If you are not sure which you need, start with the situation.

Just separated, unsure what happens next — read Separation: the dos and don’ts alongside our separation page.
Worried about a deadline — Why timing is important sets out the limits that bite, and the ones that do not exist. Read it alongside property settlement.
Sorting out property — start with property settlement, read Cryptocurrency and family law if digital assets are involved, and see superannuation, which has to be dealt with at the same time.
Arrangements for children — parenting and child custody, and Neurodivergence in family law matters where communication or participation adjustments would help.
Looking for adjustments to how a process is run — read Neurodivergence in family law matters alongside family mediation.
Thinking about moving — Relocation: I want to move with the children and our child relocation page.

More resources

Frequently asked questions
Family law glossary
Our family law services
Article archive — the same articles gathered on a single archive page

The information in these articles is general and is not a substitute for legal advice about your circumstances.

Authoritative sources worth knowing

Much of what people need is published free by the courts and government, and it is often better to read it at the source:

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia — the court that deals with family law matters in every state and territory except Western Australia. Its site covers divorce, parenting, property, consent orders and court procedure, and publishes the forms and practice directions.
Family Relationship Advice Line, 1800 050 321 — free information and limited legal advice on parenting arrangements after separation, dispute resolution and referrals to local services.
Family Violence Law Help — plain-language information about family violence and the law. In immediate danger, call 000; to report family violence to police when not in immediate danger, call 131 444.
Services Australia — child support assessments, care percentages and payments.
Register of accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners — searchable, and worth checking before engaging a mediator, since only a registered practitioner can issue the certificate a parenting application requires.
Attorney-General's Department guides — A guide to dividing your property and finances after separation and Separating with debt: a guide to your legal options.

Speak with us

Your first 30-minute consultation is free. Call (03) 7020 6542 or contact our team to discuss your circumstances and next steps.

External sources listed were current as at 27 October 2026. This page is general information only, not legal advice.

How current is the information in these articles?

Each article records the date its legal content was checked. Family law changes, and several significant reforms commenced in 2024 and 2025, so material found elsewhere online may describe rules that no longer apply. Where an article states a figure, a threshold or a time limit, confirm the current position before relying on it, or ask us. Everything here is general information about Australian family law rather than advice about a particular situation.

Where can I read authoritative information for free?

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia publishes detailed guidance on divorce, parenting, property, consent orders and court procedure, along with the forms and practice directions. The Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321 provides free information and limited legal advice. Family Violence Law Help covers family violence and the law. Services Australia handles child support assessments, and the Attorney-General's Department maintains a searchable register of accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners.

Which article should I read first?

It depends on your situation. If you have just separated and are unsure what happens next, start with Separation: the dos and don'ts. If you are worried about a deadline, read Why timing is important. If you are sorting out property and digital assets are involved, read Cryptocurrency and family law. If communication or participation adjustments would help, read Neurodivergence in family law matters. If you are considering moving with children, read Relocation: I want to move with the children.

Can I rely on these articles instead of getting advice?

No. They are general information only and cannot account for the facts of a particular family. Family law outcomes turn on the whole history and current circumstances of the people involved, which is why two superficially similar cases can produce different results. Use the articles to understand the framework and the questions worth asking, then get advice about how the law applies to you.