Family lawyers assist people considering or experiencing separation in more ways than you might think.
We will advise you on the law as it applies to you; that part is fairly obvious. But what isn’t is just how many legal issues family lawyers have to consider. They include:
- separation and divorce;
- de facto and matrimonial property settlements;
- spousal maintenance applications;
- parenting issues;
- applications by grandparents and other significant people in children’s lives;
- child support;
- child protection;
- domestic violence,
and the list goes on.
Family lawyers in and out of court
Family lawyers assist separated people both within and outside of the Family Law Court system. The majority of matters can be resolved by consent without the need to apply to court for orders. This saves the parties the stress, costs and emotional toll of being involved in court proceedings.
A settlement outside of court is most commonly achieved through lawyers conducting negotiations on your behalf, or if necessary, via mediation or settlement meetings. Your family lawyer can then take the necessary steps to make the settlement legally binding.
If your matter can’t be settled outside of court, or is urgent, your family lawyer can prepare the court material to commence the court application. Your lawyer will advise you every step of the way, represent you in dealings with the other party and their lawyer, the Judge and relevant court experts. Your lawyer will appear for you at court events including court mentions and hearings and court-ordered mediations.
Going to court
There is still a very high chance that even if your matter proceeds to the courts, it will settle along the way. Only about 5% of matters actually proceed to a trial at which a Judge makes the decision. This is good news. Even if you require the court to assist you to resolve your matter, statistics tell us that there is still a very good chance that you and your former partner will, in the end, be able to reach agreement on settlement.
Initially however, the real value in consulting an experienced family lawyer comes from their ability to analyse your particular situation and the applicable law and create a separation plan with you. For example, if you have children, property investments, insufficient income to support yourself and are in the process of separating, the laws relating to divorce, matrimonial property settlement, spousal maintenance, children’s matters and child support are all relevant to your situation.
Feeling overwhelmed? You needn’t. An experienced family lawyer who specialises in the practise of family law can advise you and map out the way forward. This can usually be achieved during a 1 hour initial consultation.
Our job is to take a complicated situation and make it as SIMPLE as possible.
If you are separating or divorcing or considering it, feel rest assured we are here to help. Contact me or one of our experienced family lawyers today on 07 4036 9700 to book your no-obligation consultation.