Civil and Family Law

Civil laws are used to resolve legal disputes between two or more parties. A party in a civil case could be a person, an organisation or company or even a government department. Civil laws are usually used to solve disputes where one party thinks someone else has caused them damage or interfered with their rights in some way. Parties who ‘lose’ a civil case are not punished like they are in a criminal case, but they may have to pay compensation or follow other court orders to fix the problem they caused. Sometimes the losing side will have to pay the legal costs for the other party. Examples of civil laws are: different types of compensation, discrimination, family law, complaints against police or other government organisations, adult guardianship and child protection.

Our Civil and Family Law Section provides legal advice and representation in areas such as:

• Complaints about Government services and Departments (Police and Prison officers)
• Compensation claims against Police and other Government departments for (negligence, false imprisonment, assault).
• Forfeiture of seizure of property – Where property was used to take Liquor, Kava or Drugs into a restricted area or used in the commission of a crime.
• Child protection matters including a duty service at the Children’s Court.
• Statutory compensation (MACA, CVSU).
• Consumer matters (credit, debt, motor vehicle sales and repairs).
• Health Care Complaints.
• Discrimination and Human Rights.
• Coronial Inquests.
• Employment.
• Urban and Remote tenancy – repairs, terminations, debts, priority housing applications, appeals at NTCAT tribunal.
• Centrelink and Income Management Including; Appealing debts – waiver and reduction,
• Decision about living arrangements (marriage like relationships, care of children).
• Family Tax Benefit Issues.

CIVIL CLINICS

NAAJA holds civil advice clinics in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. Our solicitors travel regularly to the following communities to provide advice:

FAMILY LAW

NAAJA have lawyers who specialise in Child Protection matters in and around Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, advice clinics are run weekly. Other Family Law services and advice clinics are available in Alice Springs only, we currently have no Family Lawyers in our Darwin and Katherine offices.

• Darwin – Milikapiti, Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu), Maningrida, Ramingining, Milingimbi, Nhulunbuy, Galiwinku, Gapuwiak, Groote Eylandt, Gunbalunya, Wadeye and Borroloola;

• Katherine – Barunga, Ngukurr, Timber Creek, Kalkarindji, Lajamanu, Yarralin, Bulla, Beswick, Bulman, Urapunga and Numbulwa

• Central Australia – Tennant Creek, Kintore, Hermannsburg, Papunya, Yuendumu, Ali-Curung, Elliot, Docker River and Mutitjulu