OMB Solicitors

Know About Family Reports

When you and the other parent of your child or children, cannot reach an agreement on the living arrangements for your children after separation, and you have exhausted all avenues of dispute resolution, as a place of last resort, litigation can be commenced.

How though, when a Court is faced with two parents, with different views on what is best for their child or children and different perspectives on the history of their parenting relationship, is a Judge to sift through these different perspectives and make a decision in the best interests of the children?

A Judge does not meet your child.  They know them only as a name and as they are described by their parents.  This is where a Family Report comes into play.

Arguably the Family Report Writer is the second most powerful person in your parenting proceedings after the Judge.  Why is this so?

• They are typically the only person who will meet both the parents and the child or children outside of the court room. They have the opportunity to interact with the children and observe them with their parents and significant others.  The observation aspect of the Family Report is more often than not more impactful than the interviews.
• They are independent. Whilst appointed by a Court or the parties (if they are funding a private Family Report), they are independent in so far as they have no vested interest in your outcome.
• They are experts in social sciences including psychology or psychiatry in some cases. They apply different knowledge bases and influences to assist the Court, rather than the lawyers speaking of things through a legal prism.

Family Reports can be undertaken prior to any litigation processes, as a further step along the way to resolving matters by agreement.  Even though not Court appointed in that event, the report will still hold significant weight by the Judge.

So, what is this seemingly all-powerful document called a Family Report?

It is a report prepared after interviews and observations which comments on the child’s views, wishes, experiences and family dynamics.  It then ties all of those matters together and makes recommendations.  Relevant family dynamics that may be explored include:

• Parenting capacity or incapacity.
• Domestic and family violence.
• Drug or alcohol use or abuse.
• Mental health or emotional health functioning and irregularities.
• The child’s views and wishes (subject to their age and maturity level).
• Special needs of the child or children.
• The extended family dynamics including grandparents, aunts and uncles, new partners, siblings, stepsiblings, or half-siblings; and
• Relevant cultural considerations for families of indigenous origins or other foreign cultures.

Whilst very important, it is oft quoted in the Family Law Courts, “Family Report Writer’s don’t make Orders, I make Orders” or such other variation of that decree.  They are simply a piece of evidence that is assessed along with all other evidence that is accepted by the Court.

Given the significance of a Family Report, it is important to prepare for your interviews appropriately.  Some things to remember:

1. You will be assumed to be on your best behaviour, so you don’t have to put on any more of a front than you are.
2. Dress respectfully and speak with the Family Report Writer respectfully and professionally. They are just doing their job.  Remember that anything you say can be reported verbatim to the Court.  A memorable quote from a Family Report that I saw some years ago, which made its way into the final judgement “You can tell Judge X that I don’t care what he says he is (insert many expletives here), I am doing what I want for Child X”.  Needless to say, that litigant was not viewed in a particularly favourable light.
3. Be mindful that it is not just what is said during your direct interview that can be included in the report. Your interactions in waiting rooms with the staff of the Writer, with your ex and their new partner or family and with your children are all likely to be being observed and form part of the Writer’s assessment of you.
4. Do not use the interview process as an opportunity to dig a thousand knives into your ex. Behaviour such as domestic violence, drug use or poor decisions are likely to be raised by the Family Report Writer and you will have an opportunity to address those concerns at that time.
5. Be positive about the other parent. It astounds me the number of litigants who think that it is important to say all the bad stuff in order to “win”.  It is quite the converse.  Showing that you can see the good in the other parent and speak of them with kindness when it comes to their role in your children’s lives and how that is a positive for your children will produce a fair more accurate report.  The reality is the cases that a parent has NOTHING to offer to a child are extremely rare indeed.
6. Do not be someone you are not. Be honest and candid.  Accept when you may have done things wrong, you are human and there are no perfect parents.
7. You do not have to present them with “evidence” to support your case. It is likely that they will have or will eventually, read the court documents but as noted above, it is likely their observations and interactions with you and with your children will be more important to a social scientist.
8. Do not coach your children about what to do and say during the interviews. There are age-appropriate resources available via the Family Court Website to assist in what to say to children and how to say it.  Coaching will be patently obvious to an experienced Family Report Writer.

Where time permits, it is important to prepare for your Family Report interviews.  An experienced and expert Gold Coast Family Lawyers will be able to speak with you openly and honestly about their concerns for how you may present during the interviews and how to best combat any worrisome behaviour.

 

How being involved in extreme social media campaigns can affect the Court’s perception of a parent’s insight and child focus.

Judge Neville of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in Caddell & Taggard [2020] FCCA 872 (published 1 June 2020) coined a number of colloquial phrases from popular culture and history in a recent judgement regarding the living arrangements for a three-year-old girl.  From Sherlock Holmes to Chief Justice Gleeson of the High Court of Australia to describing the Father as a “sitting duck”, Judge Neville sought to assist a self-represented litigant to understand how his conduct, perceived by him as genuine and non-aggressive, was actually damaging and harmful to his relationship with his daughter.

The Father’s “zeal” in the presentation of his evidence was considered so alarming by Judge Neville that he cautioned the Father that he was considering proceeding with the matter on a “show cause basis” meaning that the Father would need to show very good reason why the Court ought not make the Orders sought by the Mother. Not shielding the Mother and her legal representatives, nor the ICL from scrutiny, the Court identified that it could have been more assisted by the ICL undertaking a more careful examination of the mother’s evidence and adopting a “less is more” approach to the cross examination of the Father.  The Court noted that when it came to the Father’s cross examination, when a nail has been “hammered into the floor, it serves little purpose other than to inflict needless damage to drive it through the floor”.

The Father was described as a self-represented litigant who was flailing and raging against an array of forces, he perceived to be marshalled against him (it was all a conspiracy according to the Father).  That is what everyone “saw” according to Judge Neville.  But he suggested that the legal representatives ought to have “observed” that there were many other forces at work, including the Father not being able to seek how significant and damaging his conduct was.  The persistent and unrelenting cross examination of the Mother’s advocate was sought to be put to an end by the Court wherein the advocate indicated she had a right to put her client’s case forward in the time that was allocated.  This was considered not appropriate by His Honour.  Confirming what most experienced family law advocates know, His Honour indicated that when he tells an advocate that the utility of proceeding with cross-examination is unnecessary or unhelpful, it was clear guidance that nothing further was required to assist their client’s case.

The Father urged the Court to consider his conduct arising because he was “frustrated” and “annoyed” but not “angry”. The Court did not find favour with this distinction, finding often that the Father was not only angry, but “infuriated”.

The Father could not see that the prolific messages to the Mother (38 on one occasion alone to ask for more time) were more than “extreme” to the Mother. When further incidents of concerning behaviors were put to the Father, he repeated his mantra that he was not “angry” just “frustrated”.

It was the Father’s social media that were his own undoing.  His posts were very candid and public including on various Father’s Rights group pages and the Father’s Rights group he, himself ran.

Judge Neville stated specifically “Lest it not be clear, I regard the Father’s social medial posts to be extremely concerning in every relevant respect”. The Court considered that his social media posts to various “Fathers Groups” clearly presented the Father as he “unashamedly” saw himself, a “crusader” for the rights of oppressed Fathers, that he was their “champion” and someone who would go to any length to ensure that his rights as a Father were not stopped or thwarted by the Mother or anyone else.

After making Orders for the Mother to have sole parental responsibility for the child and a graduated time regime, the Court implored the Father to genuinely seek assistance about how to curb his impulsive and obsessive behaviour, curb his social media posts and to seek advice from experienced Gold Coast lawyers not online in the forums of “aggrieved personalities”

In a Court of impression, how you conduct yourself both inside and more importantly outside of the Court building is of utmost importance. Guidance from experienced Family Lawyers Gold Coast, who can speak about who a particular course of action may be perceived is invaluable to achieving an outcome which is in the best interests of your children. Before you post remember – Is it necessary? And when in doubt do not post!

Contact our OMB Gold Coast Solicitors on 55550000 to have a free and confidential discussion about your parenting matter or any family law dispute, we pull no punches and will give you honest and strategic advice.

Whilst there is no one fits all strategy in a parenting dispute, there are some pretty safe rules or tips I give my clients when advising them on how to ensure their outcome – negotiated (preferably) or litigated – is something that reflects the best interests of the children.

So, here’s my parenting matters “do not do” list:

1. Don’t trash talk the other parentChildren exposed to negative views of their parents will often feel pressure to take sides. Even if you are in another room and you think they can’t hear, think again because kids often enjoy a sneaky listen to adult conversations.  Perhaps have another channel of stress relief rather than a good old “bitch” session.

2. Don’t make your kids feel sad for you, intentionally or otherwiseThis isn’t even direct acts of seeking sympathy it can include unintentional or subconscious behaviour such as:

• • Crying in front of the kids
  • Telling them that their mum or dad is taking them to Court
  • Saying how sad you are about the relationship being over or about having to sell the house or move out.

3. Don’t refuse to communicate with the other parentYour kids need to see you and their other parent getting along. The Court also takes a dim view of parents that intentionally refuse to communicate, as this may cause concern that you cannot promote the relationship between the child and the other parent.  You don’t need to be best friends, just be child focussed and polite.

4. Don’t withhold time unless there are absolutely necessary reasons for doing soThe situations within which withholding time may be considered reasonable can include:

• • Violence towards the parent or child
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Risk of sexual abuse
  • Emotional abuse, including the “trash” talk referred to above (but this would have to be extreme.

5. Don’t make up “mud” and sling it just to try to get an advantageAllegations of abuse of drugs and alcohol will be monitored with appropriate testing, such that if there is or has been no problems, this will soon be found out.  Likewise, if you do have a problem and lie about it, this too will be found it.  Truth always is the best option.

6. Don’t split up the kids, unless there are developmental or other reasons for doing soKeeping sibling units together is of most importance, however sometimes with massive age differences (say 7 years and a 6mth baby) there will need to be arrangements put in place that are appropriate for each of their developmental needs.

7. Don’t think you know it all and don’t have to prepare for court appointed interviews or reportsThis preparation DOES NOT involve telling the children what to say or how to act.  What it means is that you need to consult with your lawyer about what the process will involve, the types of questions that may be asked and how to critically think about your behaviour and reflect on it appropriately.

8. Don’t engage in behaviour that will see your kids play you and their other parent off against each otherYes, children will test your boundaries, but each parent needs to adopt a consistent enough approach to rules and structure.  Absence of this will encourage them to test the boundaries in both households, seizing the opportunity to gain an advantage by making either or both parents feel guilty.

9. Don’t involve the kids in their parent’s arguments, show them court documents or tell them about the “judge” making them do things etc.You are your child’s hero and information provided in family law proceedings is just not information your child needs to know.  This may have the effect of negatively impacting their view of their other parent, who, whilst you do not like too much right now, is still their hero.

10. Don’t talk about “your” rights instead of focusing on the best interests of your children, even when those interests do not align with what you “want

Parents do not have rights when it comes to children. The Family Law Act makes no provision for this. Children have rights.  Deeply entrenched parental conflict can result in parent’s forgetting this. Before you make a decision to take a step or engage in conduct, stop and think about why you are doing this and how or whether it is in the best interests of your children. If it is not, then simply, do not do it.

Taking the time to consider the above will hopefully assist you in moving your parenting matter forward in the best interests of your children. OMB Solicitors family law Partner Abbi Golightly is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and a recommended Family Lawyers for complex parenting disputes by the Doyles Guide. Using these skills and knowledge we will guide you through your parenting matter with the best interests of your children as the paramount concern. Contact us on 07 5555 0000 for your free initial consultation.

The latest practice direction from the Family Law Courts (the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia) provides the “how, what, when and where” of the new Covid-19 List established to assist separated families in the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The full practice direction can be found here.

The Court has set out the criteria for inclusion on the specialist list as follows:

1. The application must be necessitated as a direct result of the pandemic;
2. The matter must be urgent
3. The application must be supported by Affidavit which addresses the mandatory criteria as follows:
   1. Why it is urgent
   2. How the dispute is as a direct result of Covid-19
   3. Details of current allegations of risk (such as abuse or family violence)
   4. Details of the reasonable attempts to resolve the matter by negotiation
   5. Details of how the proposed Respondent(s) can be provided with the court documents including a current email address
   6. If possible, provide (even by way of photos) a copy of the current orders, parenting plans and family violence orders
4. If safe to do so, you must have attempted reasonably, to resolve the dispute;
5. The matter must be capable of being dealt with by electronic means

The list will be managed by the Chief Justice of the Family Court and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court and will be present in each registry of the Court. Registrars will assess urgency, as is the normal procedure and “triage” them to the COVID-19 List Judge.

In a measure designed to ensure that truly urgent applications are dealt with urgently, the direction is that must be listed within three (3) business days or less if critically urgent.

If found to not meet the criteria for the COVID-19 List, then the matter will be allocated in the usual course of events to a docket Judge in the relevant registry.

As the list will be managed nationally and electronically, your appearance could be before any Judge in any registry around Australia. The Court will however ONLY be dealing with the discrete Covid-19 application and putting in place arrangements to deal with those specific issues.

In order to assist litigants in person particularly, the Practice Direction identifies some example scenarios as to what matters may fit into the Covid-19 List:

1. Where the current orders are for supervised time and the relevant centre or provider is unable to supervise as a result of their closure or government requirements
2. Where border restrictions result in the inability for parents and children to travel between homes
3. Where parents or children have tested positive for Covid-19 or cannot fulfil their parenting obligations as a result of concerns of infection
4. Where the risk of family violence has increased as a result of the restrictions on movement imposed by the government during the pandemic.

Gold Coast Lawyers at OMB Solicitors can assist urgently with preparation and filing of an Application for inclusion in the Covid-19 List. We have in place all necessary technologies to ensure we can meet with you electronically and attend to filing of material swiftly, such that your parenting arrangements can be managed appropriately during the current global environment.

Contact Abbi Golightly, our Partner and Accredited Specialist Family Lawyers on 07 5555 0000 for an urgent free initial consultation.

Confusion, concern and worry about your Family Law issues in these Covid-19 pandemic times is understandable.  Abbi Golightly an accredited specialist in Family Law and partner at OMB Solicitors offers some guidance with her COVID Q & A.

Are the Court’s still open?

Yes, however procedures have been put in place conducting hearings mostly by telephone or video conferencing. 

Will my court date still go ahead?

Yes, in the majority they will proceed although some matters which are considered “not urgent” will be adjourned to a future date, to allow urgent matters to be dealt with. 

What do I do if I feel concerned for my safety?

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.  The Court is prioritising urgent matters concerning the safety of children, dealing with them via telephone or video conference. 

I am isolating – do I have to physically go to Court?

Generally speaking, no. The Court has implemented a new “Face-to-face in-court Protocol” to ensure that social distancing requirements are strictly followed.  Contact a Family Lawyer to discuss the specifics of these protocols. 

My matter had an appointment for an interview to get a report, how will this work?

The Court will contact you to make arrangements.  Adults will be contacted by phone or video.  If children need to be interviewed, an assessment will happen about how that will occur.  If those interviews have to occur face-to-face, then the interviews will follow the required protocol. 

How might COVID-19 impact my parenting arrangements?

The court is aware that strict compliance with parenting orders may not be possible and in fact may be impossible.  The best option is to try to reach an agreement with the other parent and failing that contact a specialist family lawyer for advice.  In the highly unusual circumstances, which Australian families now face, there may be situations that make compliance very difficult.  The Court expects parents to continue to act in the best interests of the children and act reasonably.

How can I change my parenting agreement or order?

• Communicate with the other parent and if agreed, it should be documented in writing, even by text message. 
• Get help to reach an agreement.  Contact a Family Relationships Centre, or your family lawyer who can help you by phone, video call or other contactless means. 

If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact our OMB Gold Coast lawyers for a free, initial consultation.