MELBOURNE FAMILY & DIVORCE LAWYERS
Deciding to separate from your partner is a challenging and emotional time. With so many factors to consider, taking the first step to seek legal advice is crucial. While it may feel overwhelming, this step is essential to protect your rights and understand what you may be entitled to.
At Ramsden Lawyers, our Melbourne Family & Divorce lawyers are here to make that first step easier. We offer an obligation-free initial consultation, designed to provide clarity and support during this time.
Our team comprises of 12 highly skilled family and divorce lawyers, featuring 4 Law Society Accredited Specialists who focus exclusively on family law. From 2016 to 2024, we have been recognised in the Doyle’s Guide as Best Family Lawyers.
We combine extensive experience with a commitment to innovation and affordability, ensuring you receive valuable, client focused service tailored to your family law matter.
BOOK YOUR FREE 30 MINUTE CONSULTATION
We offer a free, confidential 30-minute consultation with one of our experienced Melbourne family lawyers.
Within this consultation, our lawyers will guide you through your best next steps and put forward your options should you wish to engage us as your legal representation.
OUR FEES
We understand the financial strain that family legal proceedings can bring. That is why we prioritise providing our clients with an affordable service. For certain tasks, we are able to offer a fixed fee and it is our priority to work within your budget.
In your free 30 minute initial consultation our experienced family lawyer will provide you with further information on our fees.
ARRANGE YOUR CONSULTATION WITH A FAMILY LAWYER
With over 20 years of legal experience, our family lawyers understand that each family law matter is not like the next. Finding the right family lawyer for your specific situation can often feel overwhelming. That is why we prioritise paring our clients with the right family lawyer for their matters. We believe in making sure that you feel heard and receive innovative advice that is essential for achieving the best outcome.
Our family lawyers offer an initial 30-minute consultation. To schedule your free consultation, contact our office at 1300 594 970 or complete our online enquiry form today.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE CONSENT ORDERS IN FAMILY LAW?
Consent Orders are a legally binding document that formalises your property settlement and future arrangements for your children when separating. It is important to note that both parties must agree to the terms outlined in the document.
At our Melbourne law firm, our experienced family lawyers can help you reach an agreement with your former spouse.
Once an agreement is reached, both parties will sign the document and it will be sent to the Family Court of Australia for review and approval. The approval by the Family Court of Australia makes the document more binding and provides protection for you in the future.
One of the best parts of Consent Orders is that you and your former spouse won’t need to attend court, saving you time, stress and money.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO PRIOR TO MY CONSULTATION WITH A FAMILY LAWYER?
We will send you an email confirming the lawyer you have been allocated, the time and date, and a short questionnaire about your situation. This questionnaire has been designed by our family lawyers to get the main information that will assist us in understanding your situation better and enabling us to tailor our advice as best as possible during the consultation.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY INITIAL CONSULTATION?
After your free initial consultation, we provide you with a verbal and written summary of what your fees will be. We offer fixed fee pricing on certain tasks, such as divorce applications, and other payment options such as monthly or ‘event billing.’ If you’re concerned about potential legal fees or have a certain budget, we can tailor a plan moving forward that can accommodate you.
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON DIVORCE APPLICATIONS?
If you’re seeking an official divorce order that allows you or your former spouse to re-marry, you’ll need to complete a Divorce Application. This process involves applying to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and doesn’t cover parenting arrangements or property settlements, which require different processes such as Consent Orders or a Binding Financial Agreement.
A tip for a smoother process: if both you and your former spouse can agree to sign the Divorce Application together, you’ll avoid the extra steps of serving the Application on the other party or attending court.
WHAT IS A FINANCIAL AGREEMENT OR PRE-NUP?
A Financial Agreement, also known as a Prenup or Separation Agreement, is an alternative way for separating couples to formalise their property settlement matters. With a financial agreement, you and your partner can have clarity on how assets accumulated during the relationship will be divided in case of separation. Financial agreements are suitable for parties who are entering into, during or after a de facto relationship, before or during a marriage, or following the breakdown of a marriage. Unlike Consent Orders, a financial order is not subject to the scrutiny of the Family Court, making it a much more customizable and unique option while providing adequate protection.
Our experienced family lawyers can guide you through the financial agreement process and tailor an agreement to suit your unique situation.
