Family and Relationship Law
Our experienced family lawyers provide effective and clear solutions to help resolve your family or relationship issues.
Family law matters often arise during some of the most stressful and emotional periods in one’s life. Our goal is to help you understand their rights, protect your interests, and achieve favourable outcomes.
If you are facing divorce, obtaining early legal advice can help you understand your options and avoid costly mistakes. Speak with an experienced family lawyer at Lawson Stanford Lawyers today to discuss your circumstances.
Please use the button below to book an instant legal consultation, or a free call with our family lawyers.
Our Family Law Services
We assist clients at every stage of a family law matter — from early advice and negotiation to mediation and court proceedings if necessary. See below our service and know how we can assist you.
Property settlement
A property settlement in family law is the legal process of dividing assets, liabilities, and financial resources between separating married or de facto couples, governed by the Family Law Act 1975. There are several ways to reach a property settlement, each with different levels of legal protection, costs and procedural requirements.
Speak to one of our experienced family lawyers to understand your rights and likely range of settlement outcomes before discussing settlement options with the other side or making any agreements. We can assist you in evaluating your options, advising on the most appropriate approach, and supporting you in negotiating with the other party to reach a fair and legally sound outcome.
Divorce & separation
Divorce order is the legal end of a marriage and can only be granted by the Court.
Divorce application is separate to the process of property settlement, or the process for reaching parent arrangement.
You don’t need to obtain consent of the other party to apply for divorce, though you can apply for divorce jointly with the other party.
Parenting arrangement
Parenting arrangements are arrangements about how parents will care for children under 18 after separation. It includes but is not limited to the following:
- who has parental responsibility
- where your child lives
- where your child goes to school
- what medical treatment your child receives
Parenting arrangement can be formalized by way of informal arrangements or formal agreements such as a parenting plan or a parenting order.
Financial Agreement
Financial Agreement, also known as binding financial agreement and prenuptial agreement, sets out how your property will be divided in the event of separation. It is sometimes considered the quickest and most economical way to reach a property settlement. It is available to married and de facto couple and can be made before or during a relationship as a financial plan, or after separation as a way to property settlement.
Binding financial agreements are highly technical, detailed documents and, to be binding, must be drafted in accordance with strict legal procedure. We can help you determine whether a financial agreement is right for your circumstances, as well as record and document the most appropriate terms of the agreement.
Consent Orders
Consent Orders are legally binding written agreements approved by the Court that formalise arrangements between parties without the need for a court hearing. They can be used to finalise parenting arrangements, property settlements, spousal/de facto maintenance, and superannuation splitting after the parties have been separated on a final basis.
The Court can only make the orders sought if they comply with the requirements of the Family Law Act 1975. In parenting matters, the proposed orders must be in the best interests of the child. In financial or property matters, the orders must be just and equitable.
We can advise you on how the law applies to your circumstances and assist in preparing and filing Consent Orders to ensure they can be made.
Family Law Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Litigation is generally considered a last resort, but sometimes it may be the only option available to resolve disputes in family law matters.
Depending on the Court and registry where the proceedings are filed, the time between commencing proceedings and reaching a final hearing is typically between two and three years. However, opportunities for private negotiation and settlement remain available throughout the proceedings, and many matters are resolved before a final hearing.
We have the expertise and resources to assist you at every stage of family law proceedings, providing strategic advice and representation to help resolve your dispute as effectively as possible.
Child Support
Parents in Australia have a legal obligation to financially support their children. In most cases, this obligation continues until the child turns 18 years of age.
Child support arrangements can be determined through administrative assessments by government agencies or through private agreements between parents.
Understanding the available options and the legal implications can help ensure that the arrangements are appropriate and sustainable for the child and both parents.
We can assist you with the following matters:
- negotiating and drafting private child support agreements
- liaising with government agencies responsible for the assessment and collection of child support in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria
- providing advice on the child support assessment process
- representing you in court proceedings relating to child support matters
Spousal Maintenance
Following separation or divorce, one party may be required to provide financial support to the other for a period of time. This is known as spousal maintenance or de facto maintenance.
Maintenance may be payable where one party is unable to adequately support themselves and the other party has the financial capacity to provide assistance.
Our family law team can assist you with the following matters:
- providing advice on eligibility for spousal maintenance
- seeking spousal maintenance, or opposing spousal maintenance request
- representing you in court proceedings relating to spousal maintenance
Family Violence
Family violence includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse, as well as behaviour that is threatening, coercive, or controlling. A family violence order can help protect victims of family violence and individuals who may be at risk.
If you are experiencing family violence, or if allegations have been made against you, it is important to obtain legal advice as early as possible.
At Lawson Stanford Lawyers, we assist clients in navigating the family law aspects of domestic violence matters, including how such allegations may impact parenting proceedings, court orders, and family law disputes.
Where criminal issues arise, we work closely with experienced criminal defence lawyers to ensure our clients receive coordinated and comprehensive legal support.
Tax consequences and financial advice
The way assets are divided during a property settlement can have significant tax and financial implications, particularly when structures such as family trusts, companies, and self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) are involved. These structures can add an additional layer of complexity and should be carefully considered when negotiating and structuring a property settlement.
We cannot provide financial advice, but we have experience dealing with complex property and financial arrangements and regularly work with skilled financial professionals to help minimise unnecessary tax exposure and financial risk.
We have been working with accountants, financial advisers, mortgage brokers, and other professionals to identify practical solutions and achieve effective outcomes for our clients.
Legal fee and fixed fee solution
Lawson Stanford Lawyers always provide ongoing cost updates and estimate to our clients, which means you can make informed and confident decisions at each stage of your matter.
We also offer a fixed fee solution for certain family law services to provide certain, ease and transparency about the costs of your matter. It includes certain financial agreement, application for consent orders, divorce and child support agreement, from start to finish, and initial consultation.
Typical Family Law Matter Procedure
A family law matter will usually progress through several stages, although many disputes are resolved through negotiation or mediation before reaching a final hearing. We are ready to assist you at any stage of the process and work towards resolving your dispute as efficiently as possible.
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