Honesty is very important in family court. People telling lies or hiding the truth during court cases can cause big problems.
This is true in courts all over Australia. When the court finds out someone is not being honest, they might no longer believe anything that person says.
This can change everything in cases about things like who gets to see the kids more or how money is divided. This blog post will discuss why always telling the truth in court is important.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat Happens If You Lie In Family Court?
If you are involved in a family court matter, honesty is crucial. Engaging in dishonest behaviour, such as lying on court documents, lying to a family report writer, or committing perjury in family court, can have severe repercussions.
Perjury, which involves lying under oath, is a serious crime, and the family court does not take such matters lightly.
Similarly, lying on court documents or providing false information to professionals connected to your case, such as a family report writer, is equally serious.
If you are caught being dishonest, you risk several consequences, including:
- Criminal Charges: Perjury is a criminal offence. You could face criminal prosecution with penalties including fines, community service, or even imprisonment.
- Losing Your Case: You lose credibility in family court by lying in any form. Once the court questions your honesty, it undermines your entire case. The judge may favor the other party, especially in cases concerning child custody or property division, if you are perceived as untrustworthy.
- Penalties and Compensations: If your dishonesty leads to unnecessary legal proceedings, the court may order you to pay for the other party’s legal costs. This additional financial burden can be significant.
- Adverse Impact on Others: Your actions could negatively affect related proceedings or cause harm to the parties involved. For example, lying about domestic violence or the needs of a child can lead to decisions that are not in the best interests of those the court intends to protect.
To avoid these severe consequences, it’s essential to approach family court matters honestly. If you are concerned about your case, consider seeking legal advice from a professional experienced in family law within Australia.
Also read: How to Speed Up Family Law Cases
Common Mistakes
The legal system in Australia requires certain protocols and standards to be strictly followed. Many individuals, particularly those without legal representation, make mistakes. Some common errors are:
- Poor Documentation: Not keeping accurate records of relevant events or communications can be detrimental. This includes financial records, correspondence, and incidents pertinent to custody or financial disputes. Proper documentation is crucial as it provides evidence that can support your case.
- Disregarding Court Orders: Some individuals do not take court orders seriously. This includes violations such as disregarding custody arrangements or breaching court orders. Non-compliance can lead to legal penalties, significantly harming your standing before the court.
- Letting Emotions Lead: Family court matters can be highly emotional. However, allowing anger or distress to dictate your actions or communications in court can be damaging. Emotional outbursts or contentious statements might bias the judge against you and are generally not conducive to the collaborative resolution process that courts prefer.
- Inadequate Preparation: Underestimating the need for thorough preparation is a common error. This includes being unprepared for presenting evidence, not understanding the legal processes, or failing to anticipate what the other party might present.
- Neglecting Expert Advice or Representation: Skimping on legal advice or choosing to represent oneself without a clear understanding of family law can lead to strategic and procedural mistakes. Lawyers can provide necessary guidance and strategic planning that laypeople might not consider.
- Lying or Exaggerating Facts: Whether lying on an affidavit or underestimating assets, dishonesty is illegal (potentially leading to perjury charges) and can severely undermine a case. Courts appreciate honesty, even if the facts are not in your favour.
- Involving Children Inappropriately: Using children as pawns in a dispute, speaking negatively about the other parent in front of the children, or trying to involve them directly in the case, for instance, asking them to choose sides, is frowned upon by the courts.
- Ignoring the Child’s Best Interest Principle: The court considers the child’s best interests paramount. Ignoring this principle when arguing for custody or other child-related matters can weaken your case.
- Underestimating the Financial Cost: Legal proceedings can be expensive. Some individuals fail to budget adequately for the possibility of a prolonged court battle, potentially leading to financial strain or an inability to continue with the case.
- Overlooking Mediation and Conciliation Opportunities: Many people ignore or undervalue the effectiveness of dispute resolution methods outside of court. Mediation and conciliation are often less adversarial, less expensive, and more conducive to reaching amicable resolutions.
By recognizing and avoiding these common mistakes, individuals can improve their approach to legal disputes in family court, potentially influencing the outcome in their favour.
Legal counsel or consulting with an experienced family lawyer can help avoid these pitfalls and provide guidance throughout the process.
Penalty for Perjury
The penalty for perjury in family court in Australia is the same as the penalty for perjury in any other court. It is a serious offence with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
However, the actual penalty imposed will depend on many factors, such as the severity of the perjury, the defendant’s criminal history, and any mitigating circumstances.
Perjury is defined as knowingly making a false statement under oath in a judicial proceeding. This includes making false statements in family court, such as lying about your income or assets or falsely accusing the other party of abuse or neglect.
If you are charged with perjury in family court, you should take the charge very seriously. It is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Here are some examples of what can happen if you are found guilty of perjury in family court:
- You could be sentenced to prison.
- You could be ordered to pay a fine.
- You could be ordered to pay the other party’s legal costs.
- You could lose credibility in the eyes of the judge, which could make it difficult to succeed in your case.
It is important to note that perjury is a serious offence and should not be taken lightly. If you are considering lying in family court, it is important to weigh the risks and consequences carefully. It is not worth risking your reputation and case for a lie.
Curious About the Reasons for Losing Credibility in Family Court?
At Justice Family Lawyers, we champion honesty and strategic expertise to uphold your integrity in court. Secure your future with a team that stands for truth. Contact us today for a consultation where your voice is heard and your rights defended. Don’t compromise on credibility; let Justice Family Lawyers guide your steps in the family court. Trust us to help you maintain an honest stance for the best possible results.
Principal of Justice Family Lawyers, Hayder specialises in complex parenting and property family law matters. He is based in Sydney and holds a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Communications from UTS.