New ZealandFrom riches to rags: Man who banished wife from home ends up with a fraction of their fortuneShe left the upmarket family home with little more than a bag of clothes and some cash.02 Nov 11:00 PM
Lifestyle'I birthed my niece and nephew': Auckland surrogate makes sister-in-law a mumLike the fictional Phoebe in Friends, Rebecca Haworth helped her brother become a dad.01 Nov 04:00 PM
New ZealandMother leaves sons out of will sparking battle over $245k estateStepfather argued mother had provided for her children while she was alive.27 Oct 04:00 PM
PremiumPremiumOpinionEx-Files: How do I keep my family name out of the public arena in a parenting dispute?OPINION: Privacy and suppression rules vary depending on the court situation.20 Oct 02:08 AM
New ZealandLawyer decries Oranga Tamariki for children's lack of contact with parentsThe children have barely had contact with their parents in six months.17 Oct 04:00 PM
New ZealandFather fights to transfer te reo Māori-speaking son from kura to mainstream schoolNow, a Family Court judge has made the final call on where the boy should go.13 Oct 01:00 AM
New ZealandJustice Minister open to proposals as court delays impact familiesOne barrister says the court delays are hurting people.12 Oct 09:00 PM
PremiumPremiumOpinionOpinion: How to protect your wealth when your relationship endsOPINION: The best time to do it is before the relationship reaches the three-year mark.09 Oct 04:00 PM
New ZealandWomen's secret marriage ends with a court battle over $1m house and luxury carThe court found a 50/50 spilt of their property would be 'repugnant to justice'.06 Oct 03:00 AM
New ZealandKāinga Ora job cuts and police cost-savings difficulties | Focus Morning Bulletin September 26, 2024More job cuts proposed for Kāinga ora, police cost-savings difficulties and what key NZ institutions have fallen in public trust?Watch25 Sep 07:41 PM
New ZealandFamily trust not enough to protect man from losing 'life's work' to exHe was wrong to think his actions would safeguard home from any claim by a future partner.14 Sep 06:07 PM
New ZealandWill wars: Daughter claims she should get twice as much as her siblingsThe daughter argued she'd done more to care for her parents than her eight siblings.07 Sep 02:00 AM
New ZealandMāori King honoured, should AI run the defence force? | Focus Morning Bulletin August 31, 2024Kiingi Tūheitia continues to be honoured after his passing, mental health foundation demands answers and Israeli forces claim to have killed a Hamas commander.Watch30 Aug 08:38 PM
PremiumPremiumOpinionShane Te PouShane Te Pou: Act's thinly-veiled attack on the TreatyOPINION: It’s time that Karen Chhour took ownership of her actions.24 Aug 05:00 PM
PremiumPremiumNew Zealand'Fundamental problems' at Oranga Tamariki, warns OmbudsmanBoshier says Oranga Tamariki 'has a long way to go' to regain trust.21 Aug 05:00 PM
New ZealandPet rule changes could help people escape family harmVictims of family harm could benefit from changes to the Residential Tenancies Bill.12 Aug 05:00 PM
PremiumPremiumNew ZealandLong waits for Family Court time: Northland lags behind rest of NZNorthland has some of the country's longest wait times for Family Court services.01 Aug 05:00 PM
Entertainment'End the fighting': Angelina Jolie's plea amid lawsuit battleJolie asks her estranged ex to 'finally put their family on a clear path toward healing'.18 Jul 01:59 AM
New ZealandNZ lawyer cleared of wrongdoing for conduct in Australian courtroomThe man was embroiled in an international custody battle for his stepdaughter.08 Jul 06:00 AM
PremiumPremiumBusinessEx-Files: Would the court allow my lawyer to pull out of a hearing if I didn’t pay him in time?OPINION: There are a range of options for paying your lawyer.30 Jun 12:00 AM
New ZealandCancer, bankruptcy and a long legal battle: One estranged couple's fight for a family homeThe man argued it wasn't relationship property because he had inherited the house.28 Jun 12:00 AM
PremiumPremiumOpinionEx-Files: I’ve been slapped with a protection order - what are my rights?OPINION: How it affects work, travel and immigration.23 Jun 03:00 AM
New Zealand'The Australians are not as civilised as us:' Kiwi lawyer faces nine conduct charges'New Zealanders there do not get a fair deal,' he said of the Australian Family Court.07 May 07:00 AM
New Zealand‘Ignorant woman:’ Lawyer’s comments to judge earn him suspensionHe claimed a judge was sexist and labelled the court a "vagina court".05 May 02:00 AM
PremiumPremiumOpinionEx-Files: Can I appeal a shared custody order?OPINION: There are three things to consider before you decide to appeal a decision.05 May 12:30 AM
New ZealandHousekeeper's illegitimate love child wins paternity declarationUploading her DNA to a website helped an elderly woman connect with her estranged family.04 May 12:00 AM
New ZealandRecovering alcoholic wins custody of kids after court finds dad ‘gaslighting’Court finds ex-husband subjected his former wife to an onslaught of abuse.20 Apr 10:14 PM
New ZealandEstate wars: Woman goes to court after partner leaves $2m estate to his sonKaren Christiansen claimed she hadn't been adequately provided for.19 Apr 06:28 PM
New ZealandWoman awarded $1345 a week from her ex, two years after they splitWoman claimed she was defamed by her ex's 'vicious rumours', forced to start over.10 Apr 05:00 PM
New ZealandCourt security workplace culture ‘toxic and sad’, leaked report saysThe culture is so bad staff are "pulling sickies" as they hate being at work.03 Apr 03:16 AM
PremiumPremiumOpinionEx-files with Jeremy Sutton: Learn more about cost risks in Family Court casesYou need to weigh up all of your exposure to costs including those awarded against you.31 Mar 12:00 AM
New ZealandCourt mulls whether victim of domestic violence should have to pay costs to abuserLower courts found the man had been abusive but did not issue a protection order.12 Mar 01:35 AM
New ZealandArtist wins appeal, ex-husband fails in legal bid to get half her copyrightHowever, Sirpa Alalaakkola's ex-husband will receive a larger share of other assets.21 Feb 06:00 AM
New ZealandMow your own lawns, judge tells mum with ‘unaffordable’ child supportThe judge noted she drove a four-wheel drive vehicle when there were cheaper cars to run.16 Feb 09:00 PM
