The ‘Tinder’ dating app advertises itself by saying “Make every single moment count, Tinder is more than an app, it’s a cultural movement”. “1000’s of relationships have started through Tinder”. “Have a go and enter a dating site which can bring happiness to your love life”… and sexually transmitted debt, (not mentioning the disease, but we are not medical people, so you will need to make an appointment with your GP for those concerns). Let’s know more about the side effects of tinder.
As Family Lawyers we would have to agree with the statement, 1000’s of relationships have started and will continue for the rest of your life, as we now provide advice to a new group of parents with “the Children of Tinder”[1].
Imagine the setting… you’re sitting there in your home looking for some company and see what you think is a very pretty, handsome, friendly face. You have a quick chat with them, a bit like going for a job interview, both parties put their best face forward to present themselves for a possible date. And like a job interview, you do not share everything with your prospective date, including your family life.
So, what happens if you and that person you swiped right for, are actually not compatible and after the night decide to go your separate ways. However, in the time you spent with that person, a child is created and then born.
Short answer is that you have now created a life long relationship with that person to ensure that the child (or sometimes children) have the best possible start in life with two parents to care for them and who are equally responsible for the child’s health, welfare and education to ensure they grow up to be self-confident and well-adjusted adults.
That child’s rights are enshrined in our Family Law Act, with the object of the Act [2] being to protect the children and to ensure they have a meaningful relationship with all significant people in their lives. So now you get to have a life with the family of the person that you ‘swiped right’ for. If you are the parent of the child, you will need to be focused on the child’s best interests, which means providing financially for their needs, and ensuring that both parents families have a significant involvement with the child. The Family Law Act[3] also states that the child rights must be upheld unless the child would be subject to physical or psychological abuse. This will not be your decision, as only an expert in Psychology or Psychiatry can provide that evidence for a Judge of the Family Court to decide. There will also be the need to provide child support, an ongoing commitment until the child is 18 years of age. The financial cost is unlimited; however, The Australian Institute of Family Studies found the estimated weekly costs for low-paid families of raising two children – a 6 year-old girl and a 10 year-old boy – is $340.00 per week, or $170.00 a week per child. While at the lower unemployed standard, the weekly costs of raising two children is $280.00 per week, or $140.00 a week per child.[4]
So next time you go to swipe right, just remember it may cost you more than a couple of drinks and a meal. The financial commitment can last the rest of your life, and a continued co-parenting relationship with the other party for the next 18 years. If you have any questions, please contact one of our Gold Coast or Logan Family Lawyers for free family law advice.
[1] “the Children of Tinder” copywrite 2020 Advance Family Law.
[2] Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s60B 1 a)
[3] Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s60B 1 b)
[4] https://aifs.gov.au/media-releases/new-estimates-costs-raising-children-australia