This is one of the two areas in which the office specialises.
The aim of consulting a solicitor in family law issues is firstly to ascertain your rights. Once you have a clear understanding of your rights, instructions will be taken to work out what you want to do and what you want to achieve so that the dispute is resolved, if possible by agreement, and hopefully without the need for an application in court. An agreement is usually finalised by a Consent Order being made in Court. The focus is to resolve any problems in a timely and cost effective way.
Mediation is an important part of the dispute resolution process. If appropriate to your case, mediation will be arranged with an accredited mediator. Depending upon the nature of the dispute, the mediator appointed may be from one of the numerous government funded organisations, or a private mediator.
If Court proceedings have to be commenced on your behalf, or have already been commenced by the other party, they will be vigorously pursued or defended. Usually Court proceedings are at the Family Court or Federal Circuit Court at Parramatta. Sometimes a barrister will need to be retained and we will only instruct competent, experienced practitioners in that event.