ROBINSON + McGUINNESS FAMILY LAW – ‘FIRST TIER’ IN DOYLE’S GUIDE FOR 2021

The Doyle’s Guide celebrates leading law firms and lawyers who have been acknowledged by peers and by the legal profession for their expertise within their field.

We are proud to announce that Robinson + McGuinness has once again been recognised as one of Canberra’s First Tier Leading Family & Divorce Law Firms.

Members of the Robinson + McGuinness team have also been recognised for their excellence in the family law field. Our directors, Kevin Robinson and Sally McGuinness, have been recognised as Preeminent Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers. Kevin has also been recognised as a Preeminent Leading Parenting, Custody and Children’s Matter Lawyer for the fifth year in a row. Our Senior Associate, Anna-Kate Visser, was recognised as a Recommended Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer and a Recommended Leading Parenting, Custody and Children’s Matter Lawyer. Our Associate, Ellen Russell and our Lawyer, Peta Sutton, were both listed as Family Law Rising Stars.

We are extremely grateful for the recognition and we congratulate our team on their achievements!

You can find the full listing here

Parenting Plan or Parenting Orders: Which one suits my family better?

Parenting Plan or Parenting Orders: Which one suits my family better?

There are two ways in which parents may formalise their parenting arrangements following separation. The first is by way of a parenting plan and the second is formal Court Orders. Each document achieves different things and it is important to understand the difference…

Costs Orders in Family Law Proceedings

Costs Orders in Family Law Proceedings

Your ex-partner has threatened to take you to Court and tells you that if they do, you will have to pay their legal costs. Is this true? This tends to be a common ‘threat’ made by people following a relationship breakdown. The likelihood of this happening, however, may not be as realistic as your former partner would like you to believe.

The importance of updating your will post separation

The importance of updating your will post separation

Estate Planning is one of those things that we know we should do, however it is often one of the things that we never get around to. Or if we do, we put it in the drawer and don’t think about it again.

But this is not the case. Your Will is something that you should review every two to three years to ensure that it still reflects your wishes. You should also review your Will if there has been a change in your personal circumstances or financial situation.

Are your contributions to a de facto relationship worth less because you are not married? The Full Court says “No”

Are your contributions to a de facto relationship worth less because you are not married? The Full Court says “No”

In 2018, a Trial Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made Orders for a property settlement, in favour of the de facto husband. The outcome provided for the de facto husband to receive a significant adjustment of 75% of the pool of assets, and the de facto wife the remaining 25%.

In Whiton & Dagne [2019] FamCAFC 192, the Full Court of the Family Court overturned the decision of the Trial Judge, referring to his decision as a “‘leap from words to figures” insufficiently heralded by any reasoning”.

Family Violence in Family Law Cases

Family Violence in Family Law Cases

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that in 2017-18, the proportion of family law cases in which allegations of child abuse, family violence or risk of family violence was alleged rose to 30%.

There is a continuing growing awareness of family violence in the community, and recognition by the Courts of the impact that family violence can have on both parents and children following separation.

Financial disclosure in property settlements – produce, or go to prison?

Financial disclosure in property settlements – produce, or go to prison?

Both you and your ex-partner have an obligation to provide financial documents to each other and disclosure should be a relatively straightforward process. However, it can get tricky if one person does not want to provide certain information because they do not have it, believe the other person is not entitled to it, or are simply trying to hide something

Legal Aid Family Dispute Resolution

Legal Aid Family Dispute Resolution

If you or your former partner have a grant of Legal Aid, or there is an Independent Children’s Lawyer involved in your matter, you may be eligible to participate in a mediation funded by Legal Aid.

Family Dispute Resolution is often an efficient and productive way to reach an outcome in your matter without the stress and expense of going to Court.

Parental responsibility and schooling

Parental responsibility and schooling

Separated parents will usually share in making long-term decisions for the benefit of their children. One long-term decision relates to where a child will attend school. If parents cannot agree about their child’s schooling or one parent wants to change a child’s school without the other’s consent, parents may seek a resolution through the Family Courts.

Robinson + McGuinness recognised by peers as leaders in their field in the ACT in the prestigious Doyle’s Guide 2018 for the third year running

This month Doyle’s Guide released their 2018 listings for leading family law firms and leading family lawyers in the ACT. You can read the full listing here. We feel privileged to be named in both the leading law firm and leading lawyers categories for family law in Canberra for the third year in a row (each year since the firm’s inception). We appreciate the recognition within our legal community that the work we do is client focused and of the highest standard.

Our hard work has been spearheaded by Directors Kevin Robinson and Sally McGuinness, the tireless leaders of Robinson + McGuinness. Their hard work is reflected in their listing as two of the leading family lawyers in the ACT, Sally McGuinness being recognised as Preeminent. This is the fourth year that Sally has been personally nominated and the third year for Kevin. Kevin has also been recognised as a Leading Parenting, Custody and Children’s Matter Lawyer. You can find the full listing here.

While our Directors, Sally McGuinness and Kevin Robinson, are constantly assisting clients to achieve settlements that are tailored to their needs, family law is a team effort. That’s why we are grateful to not only be recognised as leading family lawyers in the ACT, but also as a leading family law firm. We appreciate being listed for a third year in a row, and especially for our listing as a second tier firm despite our relative youth! We are listed among our peers (and opponents) whom we respect and engage with on a daily basis. We enjoy what we do and we pride ourselves on having a positive firm culture which we extend to the clients that we service. 

You can find the full listing and details of those who accompany us here.