Blended Families - Common Legal Issues
When family relationships are complex, it is really important to have clear, and effective ownership of property.
Family Violence is a Workplace Issue
“Well, you look put together, you look all right, what is wrong with you?‘ That was how Melanie Brown MBE of Spice Girls and Jenny Craig fame described the reaction to her experience of being in an abusive relationship for a decade but keeping it a secret.
Our country has the highest rate of domestic abuse per capita in the world. Since our country was hit by the Covid-19 crisis, 2020 saw a rapid increase in family violence statistics and it has been predicted that this will increase further increase by 2025.
The Family Court Process
For many parents, the Family Court is a terrifying prospect particularly when it involves having your life and your child’s laid out in court documents. The Family Court does however, have an important role in resolving disputes between parents and guardians.
Where there's a Will...
Recently, it’s been highlighted to me how important it is to have a Will and to make sure it is up to date. A Will deals with your property upon your death. Property includes real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, life insurance policies, shares, your Kiwisaver/superannuation account and your ‘stuff’ in general.
Children, Shared Custody and the Covid Vaccine
On 1 December 2021 the Covid-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, announced that Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 years are expected to start before the end of January 2022. The dose to be provided will be lower than that provided to adults. The Pfizer vaccine is already being administered to children of this age in America. This will become increasingly important as the Delta variant has shown that zyoung people, particularly those who are unvaccinated, are more susceptible to contracting it and requiring hospitalisation.
