amica: Simplifying Separation and Family Law Matters in Australia

Navigating separation and family law matters can be challenging, but for Australians, a government-supported online tool offers a helping hand—amica. Launched by the Australian Government, amica provides a streamlined, cost-effective, and confidential platform for couples to resolve family law issues without needing to go to court. What amica Offers

1. Property Agreements: amica helps you create property agreements. These agreements can assist in finalising the division of the money and property of the relationship.

2. Using artificial intelligence, amica offers a suggested division of your money and property. It considers things like the length of the relationship, the age and health needs, the contributions to the relationship (including the capacity as homemaker or parent) children/s ), the future arrangements for taking care of children, how much each person earns, and their future needs. This suggested division provides a starting point for negotiations.

3. Parenting Agreements: amica helps you resolve disputes about children without going to court and to have cooperative and shared parenting after separation. For couples with children under the age of 18, amica provides resources and templates to create parenting agreements or parenting plans which prioritise the needs of the children and what would be in their child’s best interests. amica ensures the arrangements comply with Australian family law and allows for customisation to fit the unique needs of each family.

4. Application for Consent Orders: Once both parties you both reached an agreement for property you can create and download an application for consent orders ready for filing with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia or Family Court of Western Australia. (note that amica only does applications for property not for parenting).

5. Superannuation Splitting: Superannuation is considered an asset for division of money and property after separation. One unique feature of amica is its ability to navigate the superannuation splitting process simply and efficiently to generate an agreement and application for consent order which you can then file in Court. One accumulation type fund that has a withdrawal benefit of more than $5,000 may be split. You may choose to use a portion of your superannuation to transfer from one party to the other. This is not a cash payment but a transfer of superannuation from one fund to the other, so it has different rules and a different legal process. With this feature, you can now use a portion of your superannuation to contribute to the overall settlement, in that you can agree to offset some of the cash settlement as superannuation.

6. Affordable and Convenient: One of amica’s key advantages is affordability. It’s designed to reduce the financial burden associated with legal services while still achieving legally recognised outcomes, making it accessible to more Australians. You have the flexibility to use amica at your own pace and in the comfort of your home.

7. Confidential and Secure: amica respects the privacy of all users. The platform is secure, ensuring that any sensitive information remains confidential throughout the process. This allows you to work through often emotional topics, without the pressure of public court hearings.

How Does amica Work?

The process of using amica is straightforward:

• Step 1: Registration: You create an account on the amica.gov.au website. You can then invite your former partner to join.

• Step 2: Input Information: you are prompted to input personal and financial information. This step helps the AI offer customised recommendations for property based on your individual circumstances.

• Step 3: Negotiation: Couples can negotiate through the platform, using amica’s suggestion (for money and property) as a guide. The interface supports easy collaboration, with both of you being able to review and amend suggestions until an agreement is reached.

• Step 4: Agreement: Once you both agree about parenting and property, the final documents can be prepared and downloaded. There may be a fee to generate the documents.

Why Choose amica?

amica simplifies what can otherwise be a lengthy and stressful process. For couples seeking amicable resolutions, this platform provides a dignified way to part ways, while protecting their children, finances, and personal peace of mind.

Whether you're seeking to finalise property settlements or arrange shared parenting responsibilities, amica is a safe, accessible solution for Australians dealing with the complexities of separation. You can visit amica.gov.au to find out more.