Family Law

Family law issues can affect your children, home, finances and future arrangements. Our role is to explain the available options in plain language and help you decide on a practical way forward.

What can a family lawyer help with?

From our office at 61 Moore Street, Liverpool NSW, we advise on:

• separation and divorce
• parenting arrangements
• property and financial settlements
• child support
• spousal maintenance
• family dispute resolution and mediation

Wherever it is safe and appropriate, we look for a negotiated pathway that protects your position without unnecessary conflict. If court proceedings become necessary, you will receive clear advice about the process, likely timeframes and costs before each significant step.

Which law and court apply?

Family law matters are generally governed by Australian federal law, principally the Family Law Act 1975. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia deals with most family law matters, including divorce, parenting, property and financial disputes. Not every matter needs to go to court.

For an authoritative explanation of the federal family-law system, see the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia’s family law overview.

What happens at the first appointment?

The initial consultation helps us understand your circumstances and identify a suitable next step. We will usually:

• clarify the issues that need to be resolved and any existing agreements or court orders
• identify urgent concerns, including safety issues or upcoming court dates
• explain which documents or other information may be useful
• discuss whether negotiation, family dispute resolution, consent orders or court proceedings may be appropriate
• outline the likely next steps, timeframes and costs based on the information available

The appropriate process depends on the facts of the matter. Requirements and exceptions can differ where a matter is urgent or family violence or safety concerns are present. The Court’s marriage, families and separation guide provides further general information about separation and resolving disputes.

You do not need to have every document or answer before contacting us. If you already have court orders, agreements, correspondence or an upcoming court date, tell us when arranging the consultation.