ABOUT MADDY BROEKHUYSEN B. Juris L.L.B.
After a very acrimonious divorce in 1983, I decided there had to be a better way. I started working as a volunteer with the then Women’s Legal Service, which was then a telephone service only, and enrolled in UWA’s law school in 1984. I was always keen on assisting clients to settle their matters, rather than have a judge imposed decision, but this was not always easy in the litigious climate that existed. In 2002 I started my own firm, Attadale Legal, to enable me to pursue my passion to keep people out of court.
FAMILY LAW
In my practice I will assist clients who are trying to resolve their dispute with their ex-partner, be it through assisted Negotiation, representation at or advice prior to Mediation or through the Collaborative Process. While negotiation and mediation are relatively well known concepts, collaborative process is still fairly unknown, even though it has been around the US since 1984 and has spread around the world, including most European countries.
I first came across Collaborative Law in February 2007 when a wonderful practitioner and trainer from Canada came to Perth and offered training. I immediately felt this was the way things should be: transparency in disclosure, all parties together working for a solution that serves both parties as well as their children (if any), both financially and in parenting, and really enabling the parties to move forward without hatred, despondency or regrets.
Attending five days of workshops in Collaborative Practice in Toronto in December 2007 convinced me even more of the need to keep my clients out of the negative environment that is the Family Court (although in some cases the Court’s decision is really required, especially where one of the parties may be in a weaker position). I made a conscious decision then that I would assist people in finding solutions, through the Collaborative Process or other negotiations, but that I would no longer take on matters that would inevitably end up in court.
Collaborative Practice may not be for everyone and prospective clients should read the materials on the Collaborative Professionals WA webpage: www.collaborativeprofessionalswa.com.au
as well as the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP): www.collaborativepractice.com .
Both these pages have a wealth of information to assist you in deciding whether this kind of Conflict Resolution is for you.
WILLS
Although not a legal requirement, it makes live a lot easier for your loved ones if you have a properly prepared will, which appoints your personal legal representative (Executor) and, if you have children under 18, a Testamentary Guardian. A clearly written will ensures there is no doubt as to how you wish your estate to be distributed.
PROBATE MATTERS
Even if you wish to make an application for Probate of Letters of Administration yourself, it pays to get some professional advice as to how to go about it, avoiding the pitfalls and having to respond to Requisition Notices from the Registrar of Probate, which could end up costing you as much as having paid a lawyer to prepare and file the application for you in the first place.
IACP www.collaborativepractice.com
Collaborative Professionals WA www.collaborativeprofessionalswa.com.au
FLPAWA (Family Law Practitioners Association) www.flpawa.com.au
The Law Society of Western Australia www.lawsocietywa.asn.au
Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia www.familylawsection.org.au
How to end your marriage or relationship constructively without going to court - To find out more, click here and follow the prompts: Breaking Up Together
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…I made a conscious decision then that I would assist people in finding solutions, through the Collaborative Process or other negotiations, but that I would no longer take on matters that would inevitably end up in court…
THIS FIRM HAS NOW CLOSED
YOU MAY STILL CONTACT MADDY BROEKHUYSEN ON 93359877 AS SHE HAS JOINED THE TEAM AT
FRICHOT & FRICHOT LAWYERS IN FREMANTLE
Maddy Broekhuysen specialises in helping separating couples come to an amicable divorce agreement, including agreement on financial matters and arrangements for the children of the relationship/marriage.
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