Family Lawyers in Brisbane for Separation

Family Lawyers in Brisbane

Separating couples in Brisbane deal with the federal family law system, and court applications are made to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Time limits may apply to property claims. According to the court, applications for property adjustment must be made within 12 months of a divorce becoming final, or within two years of the end of a de facto relationship.

Many separated couples reach agreement without a court hearing, and the court encourages this where it is safe to do so. A family lawyer can explain your options and help formalise an agreement through consent orders or a financial agreement. If agreement is not possible, the same lawyer may run the case in court.

Cooper Grace Ward
Level 21, 400 George Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3231 2444

Cooper Grace Ward runs a family law team from its George Street office in the Brisbane CBD. The team advises on divorce and separation, parenting orders and plans plus property settlements for married and de facto couples, including spousal maintenance. It also handles child support, binding financial agreements and surrogacy agreements, and can draw on the firm’s tax, superannuation and corporate lawyers where a separation involves business or trust assets. Negotiation, mediation and collaborative practice are offered alongside court work.

Daykin Family Law
Level 12, 269 Wickham Street
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Tel: (07) 3852 5490

Daykin Family Law is a family law firm with its main office on Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley and appointments available in Noosa. It is led by Shannon Daykin, an Accredited Family Law Specialist. Work covers divorce, property settlement, child support, parenting arrangements, spousal maintenance, de facto separation, grandparents’ rights and domestic violence, along with binding financial agreements, surrogacy and adoption. Initial consultations run for an hour in person, by video or by phone.
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Bennett & Philp Lawyers
Level 5, 69 Ann Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3001 2999

Family matters at Bennett & Philp Lawyers are handled from the firm’s Ann Street office in the CBD. The team advises on parenting arrangements, property settlements through consent orders, spousal maintenance, child support agreements and binding financial agreements, and acts in divorce and domestic violence matters. It also advises on protecting family and business assets held in trusts or companies. The firm practises collaborative family law and offers eligible clients access to litigation funding through a third party provider.
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Barton Family Lawyers
818 Gympie Road
Chermside QLD 4032
Tel: (07) 3465 9332

Barton Family Lawyers focuses on family law, with offices on Gympie Road in Chermside and on Anzac Avenue in Petrie, serving clients across Brisbane’s north. Services include separation and divorce, property settlement, superannuation splitting, spousal maintenance, parenting and child support matters, child relocation, consent orders and binding financial agreements. The firm also acts in domestic violence protection orders and Family Court matters. It offers mediation and describes fixed fees for most matters.
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McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Level 23, Central Plaza, 345 Queen Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3231 0600

McInnes Wilson Lawyers offers family law services from its Queen Street office, with other offices in several capital cities and Maroochydore. The team handles divorce applications, property settlement, spousal maintenance, prenuptial and cohabitation agreements plus parenting and child support agreements. It also acts in change of name and passport applications for children, relocation matters and contested hearings, for married, de facto and same sex couples. The firm says it works with clients’ accountants and financial planners where needed.
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Attwood Marshall Lawyers
Level 6, Santos Place, 32 Turbot Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: 1800 621 071

Attwood Marshall Lawyers has a Brisbane office in Santos Place on Turbot Street, as well as offices on the Gold Coast, in Kingscliff, Sydney and Melbourne. Its Brisbane family lawyers handle divorce and separation, parenting plans and orders, property settlements and spousal maintenance, binding financial agreements, child support and consent orders. Mediation, domestic and family violence protection orders and surrogacy are also covered, along with matters for same sex and de facto couples.
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Family dispute resolution before parenting cases

Legal Aid Queensland explains that you will usually need to try family dispute resolution before applying to court for parenting orders. The application generally needs a certificate from a dispute resolution practitioner, and that certificate is valid for 12 months. There are exceptions, for example where there has been family violence or the matter is urgent, so get legal advice about your situation.

Going to family dispute resolution does not mean you have to agree. Costs vary between services and some are free.

Choosing a family lawyer

Ask whether the lawyer works mainly in family law or splits their time with other areas. In many cases a lawyer who runs family matters every week will know the court’s procedures well and can tell you early what is realistic. It also helps to ask how quickly the firm usually replies to calls and emails.

Parenting and property matters can take very different amounts of work, so ask for a written estimate for each stage. Knowing early whether a barrister may be needed also makes it easier to plan for costs.