Family · Divorce · Separation
The legal end of a marriage, done plainly.
Most clients separating after a long relationship are not after a fight. They want a fair, quick, dignified resolution. We have done this work since 1986.
What we handle
Divorce, legal separation and the financial agreements either side may need.
A divorce application in Australia is a relatively simple legal process. The complications usually live around it — separation under one roof, blended families, an uncooperative spouse, or financial agreements that need to be signed before or after the divorce is final.
We prepare and file your divorce application, serve documents if needed, attend any Court hearing on your behalf, and coordinate with the parallel work on parenting and property. Most matters resolve without the Family Court ever seeing the parties.
For couples who want certainty in advance — pre-marriage, during a separation, or after — we draft Binding Financial Agreements that hold up if challenged. Drafting is the work that matters; many BFAs prepared elsewhere fail because they were drafted hastily.
If you are here because…
Three places divorce files most often start.
You have just separated.
The first call clarifies the timeline. We explain the 12-month separation requirement, what you can do during that year to protect your position, and what to expect when you can apply for divorce.
You have been separated for 12 months.
Time to apply. We prepare the application, serve documents if you are the sole applicant, and represent you at the Court hearing if one is required. Most clients never need to attend.
You are signing something.
A Binding Financial Agreement, a property settlement, a deed of release. Before you sign anything that purports to settle financial matters between you, send it to us. Reversing a signed agreement is much harder than negotiating one.
Common questions
What people most often ask on the first call.
No. Australia is a no-fault jurisdiction. The only ground for divorce is irretrievable breakdown, evidenced by 12 months of separation. The Court is not interested in who did what.
Yes. You can be separated under one roof if you can show the relationship has ended in substance — separate finances, separate sleeping arrangements, separate social lives. We help you document this with a separation-under-one-roof affidavit.
Usually no. If there are no children under 18 and the application is joint, attendance is not required. If you have children under 18 or are filing alone, you may need to appear briefly. We attend with you.
The Court filing fee is set by the Family Court. Our fee for preparing and filing a straightforward application is quoted on a fixed-fee basis. We tell you the all-up cost on the first call.
You can apply alone (sole application). We serve the documents, and the divorce can proceed without their cooperation as long as 12 months of separation can be established.
We'll call you back the same business day.
Tell us briefly what's happening. Steven will call you back for a free 15-minute conversation, the same business day. No obligation, no pressure to engage us afterwards.
Thank you. We'll be in touch today.
Your message is with our team. If it's urgent, you're welcome to call us directly on (08) 8522 6025.