Vol. 1, June 2010.

Mahler Family Law

At a glance:
Page 1 Welcome: The official Newsletter
launch of Mahler Family
Law.

Page 2 USQ Law students in moot

New Toowoomba family law firm
court with local
Toowoomba Magistrate We are excited to launch our specialist family law firm, Mahler
Family Law.
Page 4 What should I expect when
meeting with a family The firm principal is Richard Mahler, an Accredited Family
lawyer? Law Specialist, who has worked exclusively in family law in
Toowoomba and south-east Queensland for over six years.
Page 5 How much child support
should I pay? Child Prior to this, he worked in a commercial top-tier firm in
Support Agency releases Brisbane.
new calculator.
Richard is also a Law Lecturer at the University of Southern
Queensland.
continued …

Mahler Family Law

123 Margaret Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
PO Box 1363, Toowoomba QLD 4350
T: (07) 4638 0811 F: (07) 4639 5237 E: admin@mahlerfamilylaw.com

www.mahlerfamilylaw.com
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Mahler Family Law Newsletter Vol. 1, June 2010

A brief introduction to our team

The team at Mahler Family manager and • Helga Telleman,

Law include: paralegal.
• Christine Hoy, our • Richard Mahler,
receptionist. Accredited Family
• Kate Mahler, PR Law Specialist and
Principal.
accounts and
administration.
• Cath Farrell & Kahler
Rissman, at reception.

We look forward to the opportunity to be of service to you.

USQ Students argue High Court case

Toowoomba Magistrate Kay Ryan joins Associate Professor Anthony
Gray and Lecturer Richard Mahler in judging a moot.
USQ law students argued issues surrounding bikie gang violence in a mock court
trial, held at USQ last month, before Toowoomba Magistrate Kay Ryan.
The case is one that is currently being heard in the High Court of Australia.
Continued …

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Mahler Family Law Newsletter Vol. 1, June 2010

‘Anti bikie laws declared invalid

is a highly relevant issue.’

students really enjoyed themselves.’

'I can see this becoming an annual

event for the School of Law.’

'We are currently preparing to hold a

similar event judged by another
L-R Professor Anthony Gray, Magistrate Kay Ryan and member of the judiciary in Semester
Lecturer Richard Mahler making judgment at the bench.
two.’

'The Toowoomba judiciary are

committed to USQ and that can only
'The students received With an
overwhelmingly mean good things for our students.'
feedback from someone
who works on the bench, positive response
which is great exposure to from all involved,
legal processes,’ Richard Mr Mahler said
Mahler said. that the moot
court would
'And anti-bikie laws being become a
declared invalid in South regular event.
Australia is a highly
relevant issue.’ 'This was the
first time we
'This was a very have held
meaningful point of law to something like
argue in order to expand this and
students’ knowledge of Magistrate
the Constitution.' Ryan and the

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Mahler Family Law Newsletter Vol. 1, June 2010

Continued

What should I expect when meeting with a family lawyer?

Meeting with a family lawyer
for the first time can seem
daunting.
In order to prepare for the
visit, and to save both time
and money, keep in mind
that a lawyerʼs job is to
advise you on your rights
and obligations under the
law.
This process is done by
applying the law to the facts
of your particular situation.
Therefore facts are
essential. The facts a family
lawyer needs to know are
the following:
1. A history of the
relationship.
2. If applicable, the current
arrangements with the
children.
3. Details of the assets,
liabilities, superannuation
entitlements, and other
financial resources of the
parties at the start of the
relationship, the end of the
relationship and currently.
4. Your goals and desired
outcomes.
The family lawyerʼs role is to
provide you with the
following:
1. A clear summary of your
rights and obligations.
2. An appraisal of your
urgent legal needs such as
spousal maintenance and
living arrangements.
3. An answer to all of your
questions.
4. A discussion of the legal
system and processes
involved including mediation
and litigation.
5. An estimate of your total
legal costs and timeframe
for completion.
6. A strategy in how you
can move forward.

Did you know?

The Family Court now use an online filing system.
This means less time, less cost, and more convenience.
The government has set up www.divorce.gov.au that
enables people to lodge an online divorce application
without having to use a lawyer.

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Mahler Family Law Newsletter Vol. 1, June 2010

How much child support should I be paying?

The Child Support The paying parent can

Agency have an online know exactly where
child support they stand and not be
calculator that makes afraid to progress
it really easy to figure financially without
out how much child worrying about the
support you should be Child Support Agency
paying. If you haven’t meddling in their
already, log on to: affairs, while the
www.csa.gov.auhttp:// receiving parent can
www.csa.gov.au/> and have certainty in
follow the links to the knowing that regular
“Estimator”. payments will be made
throughout the agreed
The assessment period.
primarily relates to
each party's income, So, speak to your
how much time the family lawyer about
children spend with the pros and cons of
each party, and the entering into a private
indexed table of the Child Support
costs associated with Agreement.
raising children.

You can then use

this knowledge to
negotiate a private
Child Support
Agreement. Such
an Agreement can
be a “win-win” for
both parties.

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Mahler Family Law Newsletter Vol.1, June 2010

Mahler Family Law

Our Values
At Mahler Family Law we recognise the great trust placed in us when acting on a client's behalf. We feel
a solemn responsibility in this regard, and believe it is essential to do much more than simply run a
successful business.

As such we embrace the following values:

Client focus
Ethics above reproach
A non-litigious approach
Transparency in our dealings
Professionalism over commercialism
Committment to timely, cost effective outcomes
Making a positive contribution to the community

Mahler Family Law

Specialising in all areas of family law including;
123 Margaret Street
Separation & Divorce, De Facto, Childrens’ Matters
(including relocation and recovery orders), Property settlement PO Box 1362, Toowoomba QLD 4350
matters, Financial agreements, Child support, Spousal T: (07) 4638 0811 F: (07) 4639 5237
Maintenance, Advocacy in court hearings, Domestic Violence
and specialist family law mediation services. www.mahlerfamilylaw.com