Caring & Professional
Our caring and highly professional approach ensures you feel supported throughout your Family Law matter.
25 Yrs Experience
With extensive experience across every aspect of family law, you can rely on the advice and guidance we provide.
On Your Side
Working with us means you have a team on your side who are proactively working on getting you the best outcome.
Our highly experienced team of family lawyers support individuals going through family law matters in the Eastern Suburbs and city of Melbourne.
Navigating family law issues can be distressing without the right law firm on your side. Family breakdown, divorce and custody matters can leave you feeling lost. There is so much to consider, and it can be hard to think clearly when your emotions are running high. You need to feel sure you have the right legal support. You need to know that the advice you receive will help you move through challenging situations and get on with your life.
Family lawyers will help you with any legal matter that relates to marriage, parenting matters or other legal issues that arise within your family. You may need legal representation if court proceedings are taking place, or just some clear advice about how to handle a dispute. Most family law matters can be handled with negotiation and alternative dispute resolution.
Our team will step you through the process. We’ll ensure you know your options and do our best to resolve your matter out of court. If the court process is unavoidable, you’ll have the best advice and representation until your case is finalised. Whatever you are facing, we’ll work hard to see you arrive at the best outcome possible.
Choosing a family lawyer you trust to work with is essential in finalising your family law matters.
Here are some considerations to make before engaging a family law practitioner:
Do some research and get a feel for who is out there. Ask about fees, options and if they have worked on similar matters, especially if your situation is complex.
Most importantly, work with someone who takes the time to listen and understand your needs. It’s your life, and you want to make sure that your lawyer is working to achieve the best outcome for you.
Meet Our Lead Solicitor
Rachel has 24 years experience as a solicitor in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. She is also an accredited National Mediator, Arbitrator and Federally Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Rachel believes that it is important to listen to her client and try to resolve matters as early as possible. She understands it’s more important to move on with your life rather than be involved in endless legal proceedings.
“I had a criminal matter handled by Rachel. She went above and beyond and not only got me a really good result but she also provided support for family through the whole ordeal which isn't part of her job but yet she did it anyway.”
- Brock H
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Family lawyers can help you with all aspects of your divorce and separation to ensure the process is as simple as possible. Filing for divorce is generally relatively straightforward unless circumstances complicate it. These can include marriages in countries other than Australia, lost records or nullifying a marriage. Family lawyers can help you finalise a divorce order, financial matters and parenting arrangements. Whether you are ending a marriage or creating a pre-nuptial as a de facto couple, family lawyers can help you during your relationship and after a relationship breaks down.
It can be highly distressing for everyone if you and your ex-partner cannot agree on care arrangements or who your children live with. If there are no consent orders in place, a lawyer can help you to write up a parenting plan that will be made into final orders. If there are orders in place, a family law practitioner can help you to request changes. Parenting matters can take time and often start with negotiations between both parties and their lawyers. Family lawyers can help you with complex negotiations and engage in alternative dispute resolutions. If an agreement cannot be reached, it may need to be resolved in the Family Law Courts, at which stage a family law practitioner will represent you and support you throughout the court process.
Most child support cases are handled out of court. Court proceedings related to child support would only be necessary as a part of a property settlement in court that includes clauses of financial support for the children or spousal maintenance. The other time that you may need a family lawyer for child support matters is when an amount is disputed – for instance unpaid or overpaid amounts that end up requiring court proceedings to finalise.
If you are making – or disputing – a financial agreement or child support issue with your ex-partner, having an expert family lawyer will ensure that a fair and equitable outcome is adhered to, whether done through mediation, collaborative law or Family Court.
Family Law disputes about Child Support can arise through the Government collection and distribution scheme and binding financial agreements with the other parent. Having a lawyer educated in navigating this area will help ensure you have the correct advice and a more swift resolution.
Couples who have experienced a relationship breakdown can choose to resolve financial and property matters privately or through the Family and Federal Circuit Court. Many factors are considered, including:
Absolutely. A DVIO, also known as an FVIO, PSIO or AVO, is an order placed to uphold the safety of one person from the actions of another.
If you need to have an order put in place for your safety, a family law specialist can ensure that you
Please get in touch with our team of family lawyers if you need more assistance. We can have offices located in the CBD & eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and can also assist you via phone and video meetings if you are unable to make it in.
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