We have separated and need to divide our property
Asset division, superannuation splits, mortgages, and financial settlements
We cannot agree on arrangements for our children
Parenting plans, custody disputes, relocation, and court orders
Sole and joint applications, 12-month separation, and service issues
I need to protect my assets before or during a relationship
Binding Financial Agreements, prenups, and defacto agreements
Our work includes divorce applications, financial and property settlements, parenting arrangements, binding financial agreements, spousal maintenance and family dispute resolution. You may need help with one issue or several connected issues following separation.
A divorce formally ends a marriage, but it does not by itself decide where children live or how assets are divided. Parenting and financial matters require their own consideration. We explain which questions need attention now and which can be addressed through negotiation or formal orders.
We assist clients throughout Melbourne, particularly the north and west, including areas such as Moonee Ponds, Glenroy and St Albans. You do not have to live near our Niddrie office to discuss a matter with the team.
Separation can create several legal issues at once, but they do not all follow the same process. Immediate questions may concern children, personal safety, access to money or the family home. Divorce, property settlement and parenting arrangements are separate matters, with their own documents, time considerations and ways of reaching agreement.
We help identify what is urgent, what information is missing and which issues can be addressed together. This may include checking existing court orders, preserving financial records, clarifying current care arrangements and discussing safe communication. A clear order of work can prevent an urgent issue from being lost inside a larger dispute.
Many family law matters are resolved through advice, disclosure, correspondence, negotiation or family dispute resolution. An agreement may then need to be recorded in consent orders or another suitable legal instrument. Informal arrangements can be useful, but they may not provide certainty or finalise financial rights.
Court proceedings may be required where agreement is not possible, a deadline is approaching, disclosure is incomplete or safety and urgency make another process unsuitable. If proceedings are considered, we explain the application, evidence, interim stages and likely timetable. We do not treat litigation as the default response.
For financial issues, gather recent bank, mortgage, superannuation, tax, business and debt records. For parenting issues, keep existing plans or orders, school and medical information, and a practical record of current arrangements. Bring any family violence order or court document. Complete information allows advice to focus on the decisions that matter.
For financial issues, gather recent bank, mortgage, superannuation, tax, business and debt records. For parenting issues, keep existing plans or orders, school and medical information, and a practical record of current arrangements. Bring any family violence order or court document. Complete information allows advice to focus on the decisions that matter.
The first weeks after separation often involve access to funds, living arrangements, communication and care of children. We help identify existing legal obligations and set priorities for documents, disclosure and negotiation. If there is no immediate risk, preserving a workable routine while advice is obtained may reduce unnecessary conflict. Where safety is an issue, the plan must instead address protection, urgent court options and safe communication.
The advice can then move from immediate stability to longer-term decisions. That may include a parenting proposal, a financial disclosure timetable, interim arrangements for expenses and a plan for formalising any agreement. Each step should have a clear purpose rather than adding correspondence that does not move the matter forward. We also explain which decisions require independent action now and which can wait until reliable information or the other party’s response is available.
Our family law team explains the legal process in plain language and helps you separate urgent decisions from matters that can be negotiated over time. Advice is based on your documents, family circumstances and safety concerns. We are upfront about cost from day one and do not promise a particular result. The team can coordinate connected parenting, financial and divorce issues while keeping each legal process clear.
No. Financial arrangements and divorce are separate processes. There may be time limits after divorce or the breakdown of a de facto relationship, so it is worth getting early advice.
No. There is no automatic equal split. A property outcome depends on the circumstances, relevant contributions and the applicable legal framework.
No. Many arrangements can be discussed and resolved through appropriate dispute resolution or negotiation. Some urgent or safety-related situations require a different approach.
Call (03) 9111 9945 and tell us which family law decisions are most urgent. Have any court orders, agreements or upcoming dates available. The team will help identify the correct starting point. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 7 pm. A callback can also be requested online.
Floor 1, 330 Keilor Rd
Niddrie VIC 3042
Hundreds of five-star Google reviews.
