The Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Queensland (FLPA) today urged people who are struggling with a family dispute to seek advice in an effort to resolve issues before taking matters into their own hands.
The call follows the death of a father and two-year-old son who fell to their death off Brisbane’s Story Bridge yesterday.
FLPA president Deborah Awyzio said many people assumed these were actions of people who were dissatisfied with court orders, but many times these cases had never even been in the court system.
“Despite the fact that family disputes can be very complex, the family law legislation does provide solutions for people who follow due process and remain patient,” Ms Awyzio said.
“Relationship breakdowns can be very difficult and emotional for everyone involved.
“We encourage people involved in difficult situations, whether they are before the courts or not, to seek advice and assistance from family law practitioners, including lawyers, counsellors and psychologists, who can assist in opening up a variety of options to quickly address their concerns.”
Ms Awyzio also encouraged individuals to be patient with the court system as family court applications have increased 9.3 per cent in the last four years with no comparative increase in court resources.
According to the recent Federal Magistrates Court Annual Report 2010-11, family law applications have grown from 76,881 in 2006-2007 to 84,094 in 2010-11.
Ms Awyzio said this increased demand on the courts and the workload pressures on Brisbane’s federal magistrates was prolonging the time that families were involved in litigation.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Merrett Pye on 0422 096 049 or Caroline Thurlow on 0414 565 575
About FLPA
The Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Queensland is the leading professional association for the family law sector in Queensland.
