Hey Family Law

The Principal of the Firm, Jerome Hey, has a background in complex property settlement matters involving business interests and corporate structures. Being an Accredited Family Law Specialist and having worked exclusively in family law since admission to the legal profession, Jerome has encountered many different factual scenarios and whilst each case is unique, this specialist knowledge provides you with the best representation.

Jerome commenced working in the legal profession in 2006 upon completing his dual degrees in Law and Psychology. Having attended the Southport School and Griffith University and working in local Family Law firms since graduation, Jerome has always called the Gold Coast home.

Being admitted as a lawyer in 2007 and working exclusively in Family Law since that time, achieving the Queensland Law Society Accreditation as a Specialist in Family Law in 2013 and having been a Partner in his previous firm for 5 years, Jerome is well versed in all things Family Law.

Divorce is one of the more straight forward processes in Family Law. Once a couple have lived separately for 12 months and married for a total of at least 2 years, either of them are entitled to apply for divorce in the Family Law Courts. Depending on whether there are children and if the application is made jointly will determine whether a formal court hearing is required where parties and their lawyers must attend.

Since the 2009 amendments to the Family Law Act, de facto couples have the same entitlements as married couples for property settlement and spousal maintenance from their former spouse.

Whilst the right to claim a property settlement differs between the two types of relationships, once the court has jurisdiction, Judges apply the same legal principles to determining a property settlement outcome and whether a party has a legal obligation to provide their former partner with spousal maintenance.

In addition to property settlement orders, some parties may be entitled to claim spousal maintenance from their former partner. The public policy component of the spousal maintenance legislation is such that if there is an established need for support and the other party has a capacity to meet this need, then the entitled party should not need to rely on government assistance to support their needs and those of children of the relationship.