KHQ Family & Relationship Lawyers

17/09/2026

𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹.

In our latest 𝟯 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁, Lana Davey shares what she believes really matters when helping people navigate separation and divorce.

Three minutes. A few questions. A chance to get to know the person behind the lawyer.

familylaw

11/09/2026

Daryl Kerrigan might have told the High Court Judges they were "𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨," but the highest court in the land wasn't joking yesterday.

The High Court of Australia has officially refused special leave to appeal in the landmark family law case 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘷 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.
Unlike The Castle, there is no happily ever after here for family trust structures. This final refusal leaves the Full Court’s ruling intact, permanently shifting the landscape for asset protection.

🏡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 "𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲":
If you think your discretionary family trust is going straight to the pool room, safely out of reach on relationship breakdown, the rules have changed.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia can now look past formal structures if a separated spouse holds effective practical control over a trust and some/all of the trust assets can be pulled into the divisible asset pool, instead of being treated as a financial resource.

💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:
Relying on a ‘watertight’ discretionary trust deed alone is no longer enough. To safeguard multi-generational wealth from court intervention, a carefully structured BFA remains the most reliable mechanism to prevent an adjustment of trust owned property.

👇 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-judgments/judgments/special-leave-dispositions/caldwell-v-caldwell-ors

v Caldwell

Judgment date 10 September 2026 Case number B41/2026 Before Gageler CJ, Gordon, Edelman, Gleeson, Jagot, Beech-Jones JJ Files Caldwell v Caldwell & Ors (B41-2026) [2026] HCADisp 215.pdf (106.48 KB)

04/08/2026

Jodylee Bartal, was recently featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, sharing her insights on the often-overlooked costs of family law litigation.

In the article, Jodylee discusses the range of expenses that can arise throughout court proceedings, from family reports and expert evidence to court fees and business valuations. She also explains why, where appropriate, resolving matters through negotiation or mediation can help reduce both the financial and emotional costs of a dispute.

Read the article here:

Parents navigating separation and divorce may face tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected costs if they head to court.

27/07/2026

An early start in Sydney this morning as I attend The Hatchery’s Ending Coercive Control Family & Domestic Violence Conference.

I’m incredibly proud that KHQ Family & Relationship Lawyers is sponsoring this important conference for the third consecutive year. Our ongoing support reflects KHQ’s unwavering commitment to addressing family and domestic violence, supporting meaningful reform, and contributing to conversations that drive real and lasting change.

For me, this work is deeply personal. Having spent many years acting for clients affected by family violence and coercive control, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact these behaviours have on individuals, children and families. It is a privilege to be part of a firm that not only recognises the importance of this issue but continues to invest in education, advocacy and initiatives that make a difference.

As the legal landscape continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that practitioners, policymakers and frontline professionals come together to share knowledge, challenge thinking and improve outcomes for victim-survivors.

Thank you to The Hatchery for bringing together such an outstanding group of speakers and delegates. I’m looking forward to a day of learning, collaboration and continuing the conversation about how we can all play a role in ending coercive control and family violence.

27/07/2026

Coercive control isn't defined by a single incident. It's a pattern of behaviour that strips away a person's independence, safety and sense of self over time.

From financial abuse and isolation to intimidation, surveillance and threats, the warning signs can be difficult to recognise. But the impact is profound.

Swipe to learn:

• What coercive control is
• How it impacts Australians
• Why this is still happening

As proud sponsors of the 2026 Ending Coercive Control Conference, we're committed to supporting conversations that drive meaningful change.

24/07/2026

We're proud to be sponsoring the 2026 Ending Coercive Control Conference in Sydney on 28-29 July.

As awareness of coercive control continues to grow, the conversation is increasingly focused on how the law, frontline services and communities can better identify, respond to and prevent this form of abuse. Following Australia's first criminal conviction for coercive control, the importance of continued education and collaboration has never been clearer.

Our Family & Relationship Law team is looking forward to joining practitioners, policymakers, advocates and researchers for two days of important discussion and shared learning.

Learn more about the conference: https://the-hatchery.co/event/coercive-control-conference-nsw/

15/07/2026

We're excited to welcome Ellen Anderson back to our Family & Relationship Law team.

Ellen has rejoined the team as a Senior Associate after spending time in Canada with her young family. Her practice spans the full spectrum of family law, and she is known for her practical, down-to-earth approach to guiding clients through complex and often emotional matters.

Read more about Ellen's experience: https://khq.com.au/our-people/ellen-anderson-lawyer/

We're so pleased to have Ellen with us again, and we look forward to everything she'll bring to the firm and our clients.

25/06/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲.

In Episode 7 of our 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘓𝘢𝘸 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, Jodylee Bartal explains how assets are assessed and allocated following separation, and why the law recognises both financial and homemaker contributions when determining a fair outcome.

23/06/2026

Coercive control is now firmly at the centre of Australian family law, with recent legislative reforms and court decisions reshaping how family violence is assessed in parenting and property matters.

The law now recognises coercive and controlling conduct, including financial abuse, as family violence, with significant implications for separating families and the way evidence is presented before the courts.

In our latest insight, Monica Blizzard examines the recent reforms, the landmark Pickford & Pickford decision, and what these developments mean for individuals navigating separation.

Read the full article on our website: https://khq.com.au/blog/coercive-control-and-family-violence/

18/06/2026

Can you rely on AI in family law? Recent court decisions suggest the risks of getting it wrong are significant.

As artificial intelligence becomes more common in legal practice, Australian courts are sending a clear message: AI is a useful tool, but it is no substitute for professional judgment. For separating families, it also raises important privacy and confidentiality considerations.

In our latest insight, Monica Blizzard explores how AI is reshaping Australian family law, the lessons from recent cases, and what practitioners and separating families should keep in mind.

Read the full article on our website: https://khq.com.au/blog/ai-and-australian-family-law/

Artificial intelligence (AI) is entering Australian courtrooms: not always with permission, and not always with good results.