Trusted Family Lawyers in Townsville

Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage. When granting a divorce the court needs to be satisfied that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and you have been separated for at least 12 months. Getting a divorce does not resolve parenting or financial matters.

Although the divorce process can be perplexing and emotionally taxing, the assistance of our experienced divorce lawyers can significantly ease the journey. We offer detailed legal insight and advice throughout the divorce process, ensuring that clients are fully aware of their rights and entitlements. We also streamline the proceedings by preparing and presenting all the necessary documentation to the court, a task that can be overwhelming without legal guidance.

The formal completion of the divorce procedure occurs when the Court issues a Divorce Order, which dissolves the marriage. This happens one month and one day after the court hearing,
with no further documentation or appearances required. With the help of a competent and experienced lawyer, the process can be simplified and less stressful, allowing you to focus on rebuilding your life post-divorce.

After a separation you will need to divide your property, this is called a property settlement. Property settlement and financial agreements are critical aspects of family law. Binding financial agreements, drafted by family lawyers, establish financial settlements and supports before, during, or after a marriage or de facto relationship. Separation agreements define terms of financial separation to avoid disputes.

The property settlement process involves identifying the property pool, assessing both parties’ contributions, considering future needs, and determining a fair and equitable distribution of assets and liabilities. Proper property settlement requires listing all assets and debts along with their values. Special attention should be given to their acquisition timeline, which is vital for understanding legal rights and obligations in financial matters.

Seeking legal advice early can significantly benefit the negotiation and agreement process for property division, ensuring more favorable outcomes for clients. Determining how to divide the property and then going about such division is a complex area of law and you should obtain legal advice as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected.

Parenting arrangements and child support are significant concerns in family law disputes. Family lawyers manage parenting arrangements, focusing on creating agreements that serve the child’s best interests and help prevent costly court proceedings. These plans, reached through mediation or negotiation, can be formalized and made binding via consent orders, which outline children’s living circumstances and parental responsibilities.

Separating parents need to make arrangements for their children, this includes deciding things like where the children will live, how the parents will manage drop offs and collections, who will make decisions for the children. There is no standard or one size fits all arrangement, your family is unique and the arrangements that best suit your children will be unique also. We can help you navigate these arrangements by helping you negotiate with your ex partner, formalising any agreement you reach or helping you through the court process.

In matters of child support, family lawyers assist clients by determining appropriate payment schedules and finalizing child support agreements.

• Child Protection

• Child Support Lawyer

Family breakdown doesn’t just affect the parents and the children. As well as ensuring that a child’s relationship with their parents is protected the law also recognises that other relationships are important to children - such as grandparents, step parents etc. If your relationship with a child is being affected by a family breakdown and you want to ensure that the child’s relationship with you will be maintained and protected contact us for help.

Couples can enter into a financial agreement which sets out how your property will be divided if you separate, commonly these are referred to as a prenuptial agreement, but the correct term is a binding financial agreement (BFA). A BFA is effectively a contract which details what each person’s rights will be if the relationship ends. They can be created before, during or after a relationship or marriage. BFA have serious consequences and it is a requirement that you obtain independent legal advice before a BFA can be entered into. If you are considering a BFA contact us.

Protection in domestic violence cases is a critical aspect of family law. We offer the following services:

• Advice on obtaining protection orders in domestic violence cases

• Ensuring that clients understand their legal options for safety

• Assistance with the legal processes involved in making court applications for protection orders

• Help with appeals and overturning of orders if necessary
  
  Whether you require a Protection or someone has made an application for an order against you, you should get legal advice as soon as possible. Orders (even temporary / interim Orders) can have serious consequences for all parties. Some of those consequences can include employment issues, family law and criminal law issues. You need a lawyer who has extensive experience in domestic violence matters and can also advise you in relation to all areas – you need a family lawyer, a criminal lawyer and a domestic violence lawyer. We practice in all those areas and only those areas. We also have close relationships with a number of services who can assist with non-legal matters which is essential when dealing with a domestic violence matter.

If the Department of Child Safety become involved with your family you need expert advice as soon as possible. This includes if the Department are seeking to engage with you on a voluntary basis (intervention with parental agreement / care orders, safety plan etc) or if they have applied to the court for orders concerning your children. Often you won’t know the Department have applied for orders until after the order is made and obtaining early advice is essential.

A matter involving the Department of Child Safety is not a family law matter. Child protection law in Queensland is complex and unique and you need a lawyer that has experience and expertise in Childrens Court child protection matters.

For more detailed information, learn more here:

• Child Protection Lawyers

Undergoing fertility treatment or considering other options such as surrogacy when starting or expanding your family is stressful. We can assist by providing you with advice and representation in relation to the legal aspects of your journey including egg, sperm and embryo donation and storage (anonymous or known) and surrogacy

Court proceedings can be intimidating for anyone, particularly so in family law issues. However, with the right legal representation, you can navigate these legal proceedings with confidence.

We can provide confident guidance through each step of the court process, ensuring you are well-prepared and informed at all stages.

Should the court make orders, an experienced lawyer can assist in accessing sealed orders or advise on the subsequent steps if applications are declined. With a seasoned legal professional by your side, you can rest assured that your rights will be protected, and your interests will be well-represented throughout the proceedings.