In the era of late-night Tinder swipes and situationship TikToks, Australia’s family law courts are playing referee in disputes where the label of “de facto” is anything but straightforward. To explore how the Family Law Act and recent cases determine whether you’re de facto, is Kathryn Kearley, College of Law lecturer, family law specialist, and our regular Family Law contributor.

The findings of the Australian Probate Report reveal a profession at an inflection point: thousands of suburban and regional firms collectively handle an estimated $150 billion in annual inherited wealth transfers. What’s surprising is how distributed probate is, with most firms managing only two to three matters per year. For probate practitioners, this report offers a rare chance to compare notes with peers across the country.

The Family Law Amendment Act 2024 transformed how property matters are handled in family law proceedings as it took effect on 10 June 2025. These amendments represent the most significant changes to property settlement, introducing new considerations to property adjustment framework. We caught up with family lawyer Kathryn Kearley to discuss these changes, particularly the amendments in property adjustment and financial cases.

Australia's new tort of privacy, which came into effect in June 2025, will impact 90% of Australian businesses previously exempt from privacy regulation. The tort introduces new requirements around the "serious invasion" test, journalism defences, and a challenging one-year limitation period. We spoke to Matthew Hodgkinson, Managing Partner of Papillon Technology and Privacy Lawyers, who breaks down the five core elements lawyers must prove under the new tort.

From 10 June 2025, major changes to the Family Law Act 1975 (‘the Act’) took effect across Australia. The Family Law Amendment Act 2024 introduced sweeping reforms to property settlement, following on from amendments regarding parenting arrangements and information sharing (which commenced in May 2024 under the Family Law Amendment Act 2023).

Family law practitioners may be well acquainted with the significance of the Rice and Asplund case when seeking to vary parenting orders. Mark Youssef, partner at Unified Lawyers and Accredited Specialist in Family Law, provides valuable insights into this fundamental threshold test, its practical application, and considerations for legal practitioners navigating this complex area.

We shed light on the significant changes coming to off-the-plan contract legislation is property specialist and College of Law adjunct lecturer, Greg Stilianou. Greg explains the key details around the proposed reforms, how they aim to rebalance power between developers and purchasers, and offers practical advice for legal practitioners and consumers.

A wrath of changes will be imposed upon Queensland legal practitioners, real estate agents, landlords, and mortgagees when the Property Law Act 2023 comes into effect on 1 August 2025. According to Tara Cush, College of Law lecturer Queensland, there will be the need to use specific forms to meet obligations under the new Act.

Family Law can be a challenging practice area at times. To assist we have collated a range of family law resources, from bench books to trauma-informed practice guides. These tools can assist family lawyers in navigating complex cases, particularly when dealing with matters involving domestic violence, trauma, and vulnerable clients.