It's NOT "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" for some

It's NOT "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" for some.

While most of us are caught up in last minute gift shopping and wrapping, planning food for Christmas Day and packing for time away at the beach or other haunts, others are doing it tough.


Some have been given notice that their jobs will not be continuing in the new year, some are feeling dread at the prospect of unimpeded time "relaxing" with a partner they scarcely have time to chat to most of the year and yet others are dealing with recent losses or reliving past ones.


At Brisbane Mediations, we know that all is not always as it seems in people's lives. In keeping with the generous spirit of Christmas, we should all spare a moment to check on the people next door, ring the relative who lives alone and has not been in touch for a while, reach out to friends and above all else appreciate and hug our loved ones.


We hope all our followers have a wonderful, safe and restorative Christmas and New Year and that you share your good things. If you are one of those who is struggling, hang in there.  In dark times, Christmas is like that moment just before the dawn.  If you see it out, a fresh new year will make things look very different and, with the right support, you can start making the changes needed in your life.


Merry Christmas!


Denise, Mike, Krystina, Joanne and the Mediation Team

Consequences of Out of Control Litigation

A recent decision of His Honour Justice Benjamin in the Sydney Registry of the Family Court starkly demonstrates the consequences that can result when parties allow emotions to get out of control and fight to the death in the Family Court. 

The report on the case in the Daily Telegraph of 25 November 2014 speaks for itself with one party having run up costs of $690,000 fighting his estranged wife.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/couples-children-may-be-expelled-from-private-school-as-they-rack-up-a-690000-bill-in-infantile-divorce/story-fni0cx12-1227133142606

Para 18 of the judgment sums up His Honour's views where he said:

18. Whether they have previously done so or not, the legal practitioners representing the husband and the wife need to step forward and offer non-confrontational solutions to their respective clients.  The parties themselves should stop, take a deep breath, look around, think and find better ways to vent the anger, bitterness and aggression they may have for each other and consider the devastating impact that these proceedings may be having on their children and the devastating impact on the parties' economic circumstances.

http://www.familycourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/resources/file/eb39d60c5f9c5c0/2014_FamCA_918.pdf

One thing is certain, if the litigation continues, neither the parties nor their children will be the winners.