In this episode of Beyond Borders: International Family Law, hosts Susan Warda and Antonia Marran from Mills Oakley are joined by Amanda Donovan, Director at Haigh Lyon Lawyers in Auckland, for a detailed comparative look at family law across the Tasman. Amanda brings nearly three decades of legal experience across Family Law, Estates and Trusts and Mediation. 

Together, the panel breaks down how legal frameworks in Australia and New Zealand handle key cross-border issues, including:

• Relocation & Custody: The criteria courts use when evaluating a parent’s request to move across borders with children, the critical role of cooperation, and Hague Convention risks.

• Property Division: The fundamental differences between New Zealand’s equal sharing regime and Australia’s four-step “just and equitable” asset pool assessment.

• Economic Disparity & Maintenance: How both jurisdictions address financial imbalances, career sacrifices, and spousal support.

• Prenuptial & Financial Agreements: Key validity requirements for contracting-out agreements and binding financial agreements (BFAs), including cross-border enforceability and multi-jurisdictional drafting.

• Divorce & Separation: A breakdown of requirements, fees, and court procedures for dissolving marriages in each country.

If you, a colleague, or a friend are dealing with a relationship breakdown that spans international borders, this episode illustrates why consulting cross-border family law experts early is crucial to securing your family’s future. 

For further information, contact Susan Warda at Mills Oakley.

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