Family & Relationship Law
When the unthinkable happens
When you start a relationship and begin your journey together it is unlikely that you are thinking about how it might all fall apart. We don’t plan our relationships thinking this will do for now or the next 5 years. We jump in wholeheartedly. So when things go wrong or you grow apart, it can take you completely by surprise and be heartbreaking. It is during this time of heartbreak and heightened emotions that decisions need to be made – what will happen to the children, how do we divide our property, where are we going to live, how will we afford it.
Get the right support
You might turn to friends or family for advice. You might search the internet for advice and you may have found yourself here at this webpage. Information and knowledge during this time of crisis is so important. The more information and knowledge you have, the easier it will be for you to make key decisions in the short and long term. However a lot of information can also be overwhelming without advice and guidance.
When you make an appointment to meet with one of our family lawyers you will receive detailed information and advice tailored for your dispute; an assessment of realistic outcomes for you; and a strategy to best assist you to resolve your matter as efficiently as possible. You should also be prepared to talk about or at least start thinking about, your short and long term goals. We strive to ensure that whatever the legal outcome for your matter, a legal outcome which is aligned with your goals will ensure that you can move forward with a sense of certainty and ownership of the decisions made.
We can assist you with the following family and relationship matters:
Before & during your relationship
- At the beginning of or during your relationship we can assist you to prepare a financial agreement (pre-nup) which sets out your financial arrangements and what you intend to occur in the event that you separate.
- We can also advise you about a financial agreement prepared by your partner’s lawyer.
After your relationship
When your relationship ends we can assist you to:
- Apply for a divorce after you have been separated for 12 months;
- Negotiate and document a short or long term parenting agreement (previously called ‘custody’);
- Negotiate and document your property settlement;
- Go to the Family Court if your matter is in court or proceedings are necessary;
- Facilitate a mediation or attend mediation with you;
- Apply for or respond to a domestic violence protection order.
Surrogacy support
We also provide services to assist in clients in the surrogacy process advising birth parents and intended parents about the legal obligations processes involved.
If we can assist you with any of these areas and other family and relationship matters which aren’t specifically listed above, contact us today.
