What are the new changes to the Family Law Act … and How do they impact ongoing cases
It’s the kind of situation most people never plan for but must face at some point: a separation. The conversations about who keeps the house, how bills are divided, and how to manage the family finances can feel overwhelming. Now, from 10 June 2025, the Family Law Amendment Act brings significant updates that change the way these conversations happen.
One of the most talked-about adjustments is the recognition of economic abuse as a form of family violence. For someone who has been financially controlled—where one partner restricts access to money, hides assets, or makes unilateral financial decisions - these changes are huge. Couples who thought they understood property and financial settlements may find the rules shifting in real time.
For example, imagine a household where one partner has always controlled the joint bank account. Until now, proving that kind of control as part of family violence was tricky. With the amendments, the courts can now factor this into decisions about property, maintenance, and custody arrangements.
What Do the Family Law Changes Mean?
So what does this mean in practice? For people in the middle of proceedings, it could alter the strategy and outcome of ongoing cases. Even if a hearing is still months away, the new rules apply as long as a final decision has not been made.
Take the case of a couple negotiating a property settlement. Previously, the distribution of assets may have seemed straightforward, based purely on financial contributions or agreements. Under the new law, if evidence shows one partner exerted financial control over the other, the court may take this into account. This is not just about punishment; it’s about ensuring fairness and recognising the real-life impacts of economic abuse.
For separated parents, these changes also have implications for child support and care arrangements. If one parent was financially abusive or manipulative, the court may consider how this behaviour affected the family’s wellbeing. The law is increasingly focused on seeing the full picture—not just numbers on a balance sheet.
Family Law Changes Are About More Than Money
It’s easy to think family law is all about splitting property, but the changes reflect a broader understanding of family violence. Recognising economic abuse sends a clear signal that controlling behaviour - whether it’s locking someone out of accounts, restricting access to funds, or pressuring a partner financially - is taken seriously.
For many, these adjustments bring relief and clarity. Individuals who have been in controlling relationships now have the law firmly on their side. Even for cases where there is no abuse, the changes encourage transparency and fairness in financial dealings. Couples are prompted to consider joint accounts, open communication, and agreements that reflect both partners’ contributions and needs.
What Are the Family Law Changes From 10 June 2025?
From 10 June 2025, anyone navigating a separation should be aware that the Family Law changes impact both new and ongoing cases. Key elements include:
Economic abuse is formally recognised as family violence.
Courts can take financial control and manipulation into account when deciding property settlements.
Ongoing proceedings can be affected if a final hearing has not yet occurred.
Decisions around child support and care may reflect the broader impact of financial abuse.
These changes are designed to make the law more human, more responsive, and more protective of those who have been vulnerable in a relationship. They also serve as a reminder that financial fairness is now inseparable from the broader concept of family safety.
In practice, this means that couples, lawyers, and mediators need to approach property and financial settlements with a full under
