In this follow-up episode, Family Law Partner Abbi Golightly returns to The OMB Law Board to unpack some of the most talked-about updates under the Family Law Amendment Act 2025.

From the landmark recognition of domestic and family violence in property settlements to the new definition of pets as “companion animals”, Abbi and Simon explore how these changes reflect the realities of modern Australian families.

Abbi explains what the courts will now mandatorily consider when domestic violence has impacted a person’s financial or emotional wellbeing, and how that could shape fairer settlements for survivors. The conversation then turns to a lighter but equally meaningful shift: how our beloved pets are being viewed less as property and more as valued family members in separation disputes.

It’s a compassionate, insightful look at the evolution of family law, and how empathy and practicality are shaping fairer outcomes for all.

🎧 Listen now on The OMB Law Board.