Family life

Celebrations Of Life - All You Need To Know About Non-Religious Funerals

Funeral directors will receive all kinds of requests from bereaved families when they are asked to arrange a funeral for a dearly departed loved one, and one request which has grown in frequency to a considerable extent in recent years is for non-religious or secular funerals, which are often referred to as a ‘celebration of life’.

In these kinds of funerals, the families, often taking their lead from a request made by their loved one before they passed, will seek to have a positive celebration for the deceased to recognise the life they lived, rather than a sad, black-tie, traditional funeral where the emphasis is often on grieving the loss.

Before we go any further, we do not say the former is any better. The point we must make is that any funeral should first and foremost be conducted based on the deceased’s prior wishes, should they have made any regarding their funeral. If not, then whatever the family chooses to make them feel that they have said farewell to their loved one in the best way possible is what counts.

Do Grandparents Have Visitation Rights To See Children of Divorced Parents

By HEDC-Author

On June 1, 2022

In Family life

When we think of those most affected by divorce, we immediately think of the children and obviously the couple themselves, but rarely are the grandparents in anyone’s thoughts. That is why family lawyers from Davies & Co are often employed to help not only couples who are divorcing but also the grandparents, specifically for the reason that they are able to see their grandchildren and, in some cases, to pursue custody of them.

As the parent of the parent of children, grandparents often play a huge role in the upbringing of their grandchildren. During the week, they may actually spend more daytime hours with very young children of parents who work than the parents themselves. For this reason, and others, the bond that exists between grandparents and their grandchildren can be extremely strong.

When a couple separates and divorce proceedings begin, there can be animosity between them, and as such, that may be directed towards the parents of the other partner. As such, those grandparents might be denied any kind of contact with the children for no other reason than they happen to be the parents of one of the parties to a divorce.

5 Facts For Families Emigrating To Australia Who Want To Bring Their Pet With Them

By HEDC-Author

On February 9, 2022

In Family life

Whenever the term “family” is used in relation to visas to live in Australia, most assumptions are that it refers to partners, spouses, parents, or children, and for the most part that is the case. However, ask pet owners if their dog or cat is regarded as a member of the family and you will hear a resounding “Yes” in reply.

This raises the question as to whether families who are moving to Australia under a visa scheme can bring their pets with them, and the simple answer is “Yes, they can”. However, just as humans need to meet specific criteria and follow a process, so do their pet animals. Here are 5 facts from a migration agent about the process and how those making Australia their home, can also have their pets join them.

The Country The Pet Is In Can Impact The Process

Australia only allows pets to come from a limited number of countries on its approved list, and these are split into 3 groups with further stipulations. In all, there are currently 96 countries on the approved list.

Group 1 includes New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Cocos island. Pet dogs from these countries do not require an import permit and of the three, only cats from Cocos Islands require an import licence.

How to Clean Spilled Milk From Your Carpet

By HEDC-Author

On August 17, 2021

In Cleaning, Family life

If you have ever had the misfortune to smell milk that has gone off you will know it is not something that you would voluntarily assault your nostrils with. A worst-case scenario than that is when milk has been spilled on to a carpet and dried in, meaning that some pretty serious cleaning from a professional grade cleaning company like Gleam Clean needs to take place.

Hopefully, you have never had that experience, however, knowing what to do if it should occur, will not only be welcomed by your carpet, but we dare say the sense of smell of everyone who enters your home will be thankful.

The way in which milk ends up on a carpet can differ, be it from someone drinking from a milk carton instead of glass and it dribbling down their chin, someone knocking over a glass of milk, or babies, who, let’s face it, while they are gorgeous, they are also messy little darlings and take great delight in turning their bottle upside down, with the result that their milk ends up on the carpet below, drip by drip.

Divorce Rules If You Have Been Married for Less Than Two Years

By HEDC-Author

On August 4, 2020

In Family life

Have you been married for less than 2 years and want a divorce? In this article, we have shared the requirements that you need to know about divorcing less than 2 years into your marriage, what you need to present to the court and how family lawyers can help you.

Divorce lawyers will not only be able to advise you with regards to divorce law, they can ensure that all the steps you need to take to satisfy the court to the extent that it grants a divorce, are fulfilled properly.

When Are The 2 Years Calculated From?

Obviously, the premise of a divorce is that it ends your marriage, but there are certain technicalities that you need to be wary of. Divorce is a legal process of terminating a marriage or marital union and it usually takes place after the couple who are filing for a divorce have been married for more than two years.

The two years are going to be calculated from the date the spouses married to the date they have applied to the court for divorce. Before applying for a divorce, it is pivotal for the spouses to remain separate for at least 12 months.

How to Know Your Child Might Require Speech Therapy

By HEDC-Author

On April 25, 2020

In Family life, Self Esteem

Parents have a pretty important job. Not only do they have to provide food, shelter, love, and warmth for their child, but they also have to make sure they have all the tools they need to develop and enjoy the best start to life.

Sometimes, life throws a curveball, and some children require more of a helping hand than a parent can provide, especially when it comes to language and speech. Speech therapy can often be the answer, but how do you know if your child is on the right track or might require speech therapy? Read on to find out.

Does My Child Need to See a Speech Therapist?

There’s a common misconception that an expert in kids’ speech therapy focuses purely on speech. If your child seems to be speaking okay, then do they really need to see a speech therapist?

A speech therapist focuses on more than just speech. They can also help children with a wide range of language and speech development problems, such as the social aspect of language, known as pragmatics, and even eating. Sometimes, a weak lip or jaw can result in speech complications, so a speech therapist can also help with oral motor skills, as well.

How The Family Court Deals With Parents Who Use Drugs

By HEDC-Author

On March 14, 2020

In Family life, Substance Abuse

It is a simple fact that drug use takes place in our society, and when the user of drugs is a parent with responsibility for a child, it can create a number of ramifications for that parent, and dramatic changes for the child. As any family lawyers will tell you, family law places an emphasis on what is in the best interests of a child, and those interests most certainly do not involve being in the presence of a parent who is taking drugs.

If a court should be given an indication that the parent of a child is using illicit drugs then it will act. The way in which a court is informed of this is usually by someone close to the child filing either a ‘Notice of Child Abuse, Family Violence or Risk of Family Violence’ or a ‘Notice of Risk.

Despite the long names, these are basically documents that someone completes when they believe a child may be at risk. Specifically, they would submit that the child is being exposed to drugs, for example, the parent or parents are taking the drugs in full view of the child.