in terms of resolving before they get
there what steps can LGBTI couples take
at the start of a relationship when the
relationship's getting pretty serious
what's the legal advice you provide at
that point? yeah look I always encourage
people to have really non romantic
decisions at that point about what might
happen if their relationship ends. look
in Australia we do have what's called a
binding financial agreement which is
effectively like an American-style
prenup. I guess people would have heard
of that and what that can do is set up
for people in the event their
relationship was to end how they'd like
their property to be divided and what
that does is then prevent them ever
having to go to court or ever coming to
see a lawyer at the end because they
know that it's there. look they're
they're not simple agreements they're
complicated, the law is really technical
about it. both parties have to have
independent legal advice and have a
lawyer sign off to say they've given
them that advice. I actually think that's
fabulous because what it avoids is
people's fear that someone's getting
screwed over for one of a better phrase
through that agreement so everyone knows where they stand and as lawyers it's
incumbent on us to give people advice
about the impact of that agreement on
their rights because obviously they're
contracting out of the ability to do
anything at the end and also the
advantages and disadvantages of them
entering into that agreement. I think
there's a few groups of people often
people these days are getting into
second, third relationships or they might
have been married before and they've got
assets they want to protect. they might
be once bitten twice shy. the other thing
I see a lot is older people whose
children are encouraging parents who are
entering into relationships because they
want their inheritance protected but
also similarly parents saying to their
children we're going to have some family
money that's going to flow to you and we
want that protected in the event there's
a separation so again I think a really
important non-romantic conversation for
people to have and then for them to go
and see a lawyer individually and get
some advice about whether that's right
for them
