Experienced Family Lawyers in Australia

Separation and Divorce

Separation and divorce can be overwhelming. At Lawsworth, experienced family law practitioners guide you through each stage with clarity, discretion, and care. From initiating proceedings to resolving complex financial and parenting issues, the team protects your rights and prioritises workable, long‑term solutions for you and your family. You can expect clear advice on your legal position from the outset, a tailored strategy for negotiation, mediation, or litigation, and comprehensive assistance with property and asset division, superannuation splitting, and spousal maintenance, as well as parenting arrangements, consent orders, and child support.

The firm also manages urgent and interim applications where required and offers fixed‑fee options for key stages with transparent costs throughout. Whether your matter is amicable or contested, Lawsworth works to minimise conflict, reduce delay, and secure durable outcomes. Contact the firm for a confidential initial consultation to discuss your options and the next steps.

Parenting Arrangements and Child Custody

Separation can be especially challenging for children. At Lawsworth, the wellbeing and protection of your children is the first priority. The family law team provides clear advice and practical support to help parents reach fair, child‑focused arrangements that reflect the best interests of the child under Australian family law. Assistance covers both negotiated and court‑ordered outcomes, including parenting plans and consent orders, time arrangements (often called custody and visitation), parental responsibility (decision‑making), relocation issues, changeovers and holiday schedules, as well as risk concerns such as family violence or safety planning.

Recognising that every family is different, the team tailors strategy to your circumstances—prioritising negotiation and mediation where appropriate, and acting decisively in court when required—to secure stable, workable arrangements that support children to maintain safe, meaningful relationships with each parent. Contact Lawsworth for a confidential initial consultation to discuss your situation, options, and the next steps.

Property and Financial Settlements

Financial matters after separation or divorce can be complex and time‑sensitive. At Lawsworth, experienced family lawyers provide clear advice on your entitlements and obligations and develop a tailored strategy to identify, value, and divide the asset pool fairly, including real property, businesses, trusts, companies, superannuation interests, investments, and liabilities. The team prioritises negotiation and mediation to achieve timely, cost‑effective outcomes, prepares binding financial agreements or consent orders to give your settlement certainty and enforceability, and addresses related issues such as spousal maintenance, disclosure, tax implications, and implementation steps like refinancing and property transfers.

Where necessary, decisive representation is provided in court, including urgent and interim orders to preserve assets or obtain disclosure. The objective is a durable settlement that safeguards your financial future and minimises conflict and delay. Contact Lawsworth for a confidential initial consultation to discuss your options and the next steps.

Family Dispute Resolution and Mediation

Many family law disputes can be resolved efficiently without court. At Lawsworth, experienced practitioners guide clients through Family Dispute Resolution and mediation to reach practical, mutually beneficial agreements on parenting and financial issues while safeguarding legal rights throughout the process. Services include pre‑mediation preparation and strategy, compliant disclosure, agenda setting, and skilled negotiation to narrow issues and achieve durable outcomes. Where agreement is reached, the team formalises terms for certainty and enforceability through consent orders or binding financial agreements and advises on related matters such as child‑focused arrangements, spousal maintenance, and implementation steps. 

If mediation is inappropriate or unsuccessful—due to urgency, risk, or impasse—Lawsworth acts promptly to pursue interim measures or court proceedings. The goal is to minimise conflict and cost, reduce delay, and secure outcomes that endure. Contact Lawsworth for a confidential initial consultation to discuss your options and the next steps.

De-facto and Same Sex Relationships

Lawsworth advises de facto and same‑sex couples on all issues arising from separation, including property and financial settlements, superannuation splitting, spousal maintenance, and parenting arrangements. The team provides clear advice on your rights and obligations under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), including eligibility as a de facto relationship, time limits for commencing proceedings (generally two years from separation), and the evidence required to establish or contest a de facto claim. Strategy is tailored to your circumstances, prioritising negotiation and mediation to achieve cost‑effective outcomes, and preparing consent orders or binding financial agreements for certainty and enforceability. 

Where necessary, decisive representation is provided in court, including urgent and interim applications to preserve assets, obtain disclosure, or address safety concerns. The objective is a fair, durable resolution that protects your financial position and supports child‑focused arrangements where children are involved. Contact Lawsworth for a confidential initial consultation to discuss your situation, options, and next steps.

Family and Domestic Violence

Violence or aggression towards another individual is unacceptable and should be addressed to prevent it from happening again. If you or someone you know is affected by family or domestic violence, our team can help you take swift and decisive legal action.

We also represent clients facing allegations of family violence, ensuring their side of the story is heard.

Our lawyers handle these sensitive matters with compassion, discretion, and a firm commitment to justice.

Spousal Maintenance and Child Support

Financial support is often pivotal after separation. At Lawsworth, the team provides clear advice and representation in seeking or responding to spousal maintenance and child support, explaining your entitlements and obligations and how they are assessed under Australian family law. Assistance covers initial assessments and strategy, calculation and variation of child support (including Services Australia assessments, change‑of‑assessment applications, and private child support agreements), arrears and enforcement, and the preparation of binding child support agreements for certainty. 

For spousal maintenance, the team assesses need and capacity to pay, negotiates interim and final arrangements, and, where necessary, pursues or defends applications in court, including urgent orders. Related financial issues—disclosure, tax and Centrelink interactions, and alignment with property settlements—are addressed to ensure arrangements are workable and sustainable. The objective is fair, transparent outcomes that provide stability for you and your children while minimising conflict and delay. Contact Lawsworth for a confidential initial consultation to discuss your situation, options, and next steps.

Prenups and Binding Financial Agreements

A Binding Financial Agreement (often called a “prenup,” though available before, during, or after a marriage or de facto relationship) can provide clarity and certainty about how assets, liabilities, superannuation, financial resources, and spousal maintenance will be dealt with if you separate. At Lawsworth, experienced family lawyers draft, review, and advise on BFAs tailored to your circumstances, addressing issues such as asset protection, businesses and trusts, inheritances, contributions, quarantine of premarital assets, and maintenance provisions, while coordinating with tax and estate‑planning considerations. To ensure enforceability, the team provides the required independent legal advice to each party, ensures full and frank disclosure, and drafts terms consistent with the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and current case law. 

Agreements can be negotiated collaboratively to minimise conflict and are implemented with practical steps such as valuations, superannuation splitting terms, and timing for transfers. A well‑constructed BFA can reduce risk, avoid costly litigation, and give both partners confidence about the future. Contact Lawsworth for a confidential initial consultation to discuss suitability, process, and next steps.

Court Appearances

When negotiation or mediation is not suitable or has been exhausted, Lawsworth provides robust representation in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia across parenting, property, and financial matters. The team prepares your case meticulously—gathering evidence, managing disclosure, briefing experts, drafting persuasive affidavits and position documents, and developing a clear litigation strategy for interim and final hearings—so that your position is presented cogently at every stage. Clients are guided through each procedural step, including pre‑action requirements, initiating applications, interlocutory hearings, family reports and conferences, conciliation or mediation events, and trial, with realistic advice on risks, timelines, and costs. 

Where urgency arises, the firm seeks protective and preservation orders, addresses non‑compliance through enforcement or subpoenas, and pursues child‑focused outcomes and commercially sensible settlements wherever achievable. The objective is to advance your case efficiently, minimise uncertainty, and secure durable, court‑sanctioned results. Contact Lawsworth for a confidential initial consultation to discuss your situation, options, and next steps.