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Employment · Family · Disputes

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Insights & explainers

Law explained

Plain-language answers to the questions our clients actually ask — written by the lawyers who deal with them every day.

Employment Law

Big Changes are Here to Work From Home Arrangements from Fair Work Commission Announced

From 26 October 2026, the Clerks Award will include a working from home clause that lets employees request arrangements, without creating a right to them.

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Wills and Estates

What happens if you die without a Will in NSW?

Without a valid Will, a set of rules decides who inherits. Here's who is entitled, and why it may not match your wishes.

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Wills and Estates

Can I challenge a Will in NSW?

Who can challenge a Will, the 12-month time limit, and what the Court looks at when someone has been left out.

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Wills and Estates

What does an executor do in NSW?

What an executor does, whether probate is always needed, how long it takes, and when you can decline the role.

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Wills and Estates

What does an Enduring Guardian actually decide?

What an Enduring Guardian can decide, when the role starts, and how it differs from an Enduring Power of Attorney.

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Property & Wills

How your Will can affect a family law property settlement

Separation, inheritances, testamentary trusts and death during proceedings: how wills and family law property settlements interact.

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Property Settlement

Is my compensation payment protected after separation?

A compensation payment isn't automatically safe from a property settlement. How it's treated depends on what it's for and when it was received.

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Assisted Reproduction

Who decides what happens to embryos after separation?

Frozen embryos aren't treated like ordinary property. When separating couples disagree, consent and each person's autonomy are at the heart of the dispute.

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Property & Parenting

What happens if a party dies during family law proceedings?

A death during proceedings doesn't automatically end the case. What happens next depends on whether the dispute is about property, parenting or superannuation.

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Family Violence

Family violence: more than physical abuse

Under the Family Law Act, family violence goes well beyond physical assault. Here's what it covers and how it can affect parenting and property outcomes.

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Parenting Matters

When mediation fails: what happens next?

Mediation is expected in most parenting disputes, but it doesn't stop you going to Court if the other parent refuses or no agreement can be reached.

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Parenting Matters

What is a Child Impact Report?

When parents can't agree about their children, the Court may call on a Court Child Expert early in the case. Here's what a Child Impact Report is and how it differs from a Family Report.

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Employment Law

Sacked for misconduct, but the bank still had to answer for his bonuses

A lawful dismissal does not automatically entitle an employer to take back bonuses already awarded.

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Employment Law

What is unfair dismissal under Fair Work?

Who qualifies, what actually counts as a "dismissal", and what makes one unfair.

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Employment Law

How long do I have to make an unfair dismissal claim?

The clock starts the day you're dismissed — and it moves faster than most people realise.

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Family Law

The family car after separation: who keeps it?

Cars are often the first asset couples argue about after separating.

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Family Law

Can I protect my assets before marriage?

Financial agreements can protect what you bring into a relationship — but only if they're done properly.

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Parenting

What if my child refuses to see the other parent?

Children don't get to simply decide — but their views matter.

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Family Law

Separating when you own a business: what happens next?

Whether the business must be sold, and how its value is treated in a settlement.

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Family Law

Can I be forced to sell the family home?

A separation doesn't automatically mean the home must be sold.

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Family Law

What happens at the first court hearing?

The first Court event isn't a final hearing — it's about managing the case.

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Employment Law

Big changes to constructive dismissal claims under general protections

A major roadblock for employees alleging forced resignation has just been removed.

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Employment Law

When is a redundancy not genuine?

Being told your role is redundant doesn't automatically mean the law agrees.

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Employment Law

Three written warnings before termination — is that actually the law?

It's one of the most repeated pieces of workplace folklore in Australia — and it's not accurate.

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Employment Law

How to stop a bully legally

Workplace bullying isn't just something you have to put up with.

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Employment Law

Others are treated favourably but you're under scrutiny — what to do

Same mistakes, different consequences — and it's rarely accidental.

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Employment Law

Personal leave & sick leave — what's the difference?

Legally, they're mostly the same entitlement — here's what's actually different.

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Employment Law

Discretionary bonus — no obligation, right?

Calling a bonus discretionary doesn't give an employer unlimited freedom to refuse to pay it.

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Employment Law

Pregnancy and employment law: your rights and protections

From discrimination protection through to your right to return to your job.

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Employment Law

Help, I was given a deed of release — what is it?

It's never just paperwork — here's what to check before you sign.

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Employment Law

When does casual employment become permanent?

New rules put the choice to convert directly in your hands.

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Parenting

What is a Family Report?

When parents can't agree on parenting arrangements, the Court may order an independent Family Report.

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Family Law

What is a Single Expert Witness?

When there's disagreement about property values or complex finances, the Court can appoint an independent expert.

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Parenting

What is an Independent Children's Lawyer?

An ICL doesn't act for either parent — their role is to independently represent the child's interests in Court.

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Family Law

What happens when my child turns 18?

Parenting orders and child support generally end at 18 — but not always. What changes, and what exceptions apply.

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Family Law

What happens if someone lies to the Family Court?

Lying to the Court or hiding assets can seriously damage a party's case.

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Evidence & Disclosure

What evidence does the Court consider in family law cases?

The Court doesn't decide on allegations alone. Here's the kind of evidence — affidavits, documents, witnesses and experts — that actually carries weight.

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Divorce

What happens after divorce is granted?

A Divorce Order ends the marriage — but it doesn't touch property, super or parenting. Here's what still needs to be sorted.

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Property & Bankruptcy

Divorce and bankruptcy: when creditors become involved

Bankruptcy doesn't stop a property settlement, but it can bring a trustee — and your creditors — into the picture.

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Wills and Estates

Why you should have a Will

Without a Will, the law decides who receives your assets and in what proportions.

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Wills and Estates

Making a Will for the first time: what you need to know

It doesn't need to be complicated — here's what to consider before you start.

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Wills and Estates

Planning for the future: Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian

Estate planning isn't only about what happens after you die.

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Why us?
At Gorval + Partners, we don't try to do everything. We specialise in litigation and disputes — employment, family and commercial law — and that focus is what wins the outcomes generalist firms can't.
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Call
1300 330 642
Email
info@gorvalandpartners.com.au
Office
Level 6, 49–51 York Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Hours
Mon–Fri, 9am–5:30pm
After-hours appointments by arrangement
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