CASE: Carpenter & Woodward [2021] FedCFamC2F 600

What if you just decide not to participate in family law legal proceedings? What happens if you just don’t turn up to your court date or submit any evidence? 

Can the court make a judgement without you there? Can they make a judgement against you? 

That is what happened in this family law matter in which the mother applied to the court for parenting and property Orders and the father did not file any material or participate in the matter in any way. 

As a further unusual element of this case, the father had no assets himself but was in line to receive an inheritance. Could his ex-spouse get a share of the inheritance? 

This podcast is not legal advice.

WARNING: Includes mentions of domestic violence and drug use.