By Keeva Stratton
The separation of a marriage or a long-term relationship is always a difficult time, but when children, or significant assets, are involved, emotions can cause logic to dissipate – and the result is often some very expensive and entangled Family Court proceedings. To help simplify the legal side of your separation, Slater and Gordon’s head of Family Law, Ian Shann, has composed an important, yet straightforward guide, Know where you stand, to give you a basic understanding of this very complex, and emotionally charged, area of law.
Know where you stand, from Wilkinson Publishing, aims to provide practical tools, tips and resources to assist you to avoid excess stress and legal bills at a time that is often difficult enough. Ian Shann explains: “This is my attempt to explain family law in everyday language and to make it understandable and accessible. It’s not a book for lawyers – it’s a book for the users of the family law system”.
Shann himself has experienced Family Law from both sides—as lawyer, and as a husband and father, through his own separation from his wife of 17 years. At the time of his separation he was living overseas and had three young children, making his process especially complex and emotionally draining.
Now, having spent 20 years in Family Law and having helped thousands of his clients navigate this seemingly complex area of law, Shann wanted to share his expertise so that those experiencing the difficulties of a break-up can enter their own negotiations with a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
By sharing his knowledge, Shann hopes he can provide rational explanations and logical solutions that will help couples to avoid messy disputes. He explains: “This book has a simple aim — to be an easy to understand and straightforward explanation of why it’s best to resolve disputes and how to resolve them. And, when that’s not possible, it explains sensible and rational ways to work through the system.”
The Family Courts often witness painful and drawn-out private disputes that become very public, further adding to the hurt surrounding a break-up. Before your separation escalates into a court battle, it might be worth your time, happiness and money to get a clear understanding of your rights.
Know where you stand is available now at bookshops and online at www.wilkinsonpublishing.com.au, and www.slatergordon.com.au (RRP $29.95)
