Family Lawyers in Canberra for Separation

Family Lawyers in Canberra

Family law is federal, and in Canberra divorce, parenting and property cases are dealt with by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Many separating couples never need a court decision, settling instead through negotiation, mediation or collaborative law. A good family lawyer can explain where you stand early so you can decide which path suits your family.

Canberra has a mix of specialist family law firms and general practices with family teams. Some focus on resolving matters outside court, while others also run contested cases. Clients in the public service or Defence, or those with links across the NSW border, may want a firm that regularly deals with those situations.

Farrar Gesini Dunn
Level 1, 10 Rudd Street
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6115 9000

Farrar Gesini Dunn has a Canberra office on Rudd Street as well as offices in Sydney, Melbourne and regional areas. Its family law team handles separation, divorce, parenting orders, child support, property settlement, superannuation splitting and binding financial agreements. Clients can choose mediation, collaborative law, arbitration or court, and the firm runs a weekend negotiation model called Settle by Sunday. It also acts in family violence orders, surrogacy, adoption and international family law matters.

NS Family Law
Suite 1, Ground Floor, 5 Farrell Place
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6152 0493

NS Family Law (Neilan Stramandinoli) focuses solely on family law from its office on Farrell Place in the city. Its work covers parenting arrangements and relocation, child support agreements, spousal maintenance, family violence and property settlement, including matters involving businesses, trusts and self managed super funds. The firm offers a fixed fee first appointment and a range of fee options, from one off advice or drafting an agreement already reached through to full representation in court.
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Elringtons Lawyers
6A Thesiger Court
Deakin ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6206 1300

Elringtons Lawyers advises Canberra and Queanbeyan families on separation and divorce, parenting arrangements, relocation, child support and property settlements, including for de facto and same sex couples. It prepares prenuptial and other financial agreements and helps with spousal maintenance claims. The team assists people seeking a protection order and those responding to one. Its stated preference is to settle matters through mediation and negotiation, with court representation available when talks do not resolve things.
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BDN Lawyers
Level 1, 1 Farrell Place
Canberra City ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6230 1999

For separating couples in Canberra and Queanbeyan, BDN Lawyers handles divorce, property settlement, children’s matters, child support, binding financial agreements and de facto relationships. It also offers collaborative law and acts in domestic violence matters. The team helps families reach parenting plans or consent orders and can negotiate on a client’s behalf, appearing in court where needed. Matters suited to consent orders or a financial agreement may be quoted at a fixed price.
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Chamberlains
Level 8, 224 Bunda Street
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: 1300 676 823

Chamberlains has a Canberra family law team on Bunda Street, part of a firm with offices in NSW, Queensland and WA. The team handles divorce applications, parenting plans and consent orders, relocation disputes, property settlements and spousal maintenance. It drafts binding financial agreements and assists with ACT protection orders. Its site notes experience with clients in the Australian Public Service and Defence, and with matters that cross the ACT and NSW border. Fixed fee initial consultations are offered.
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Anna Wynne & Associates
Wotso Workspace, Level 2, 7 Neptune Street
Phillip ACT 2606
Tel: (02) 6190 6159

Based in Phillip, Anna Wynne & Associates focuses on helping separating families reach agreement outside court. The practice pairs an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner with a family lawyer and offers mediation, collaborative law and legal advice and strategy sessions. It describes its style as trauma informed and child focused. Fixed fee options and online appointments are available, and a free 15 minute chat is offered to talk through next steps.
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Family dispute resolution before a parenting case

According to the court’s pre action guidance, the Family Law Act requires people to attempt family dispute resolution before applying for a parenting order. In most cases you must obtain a Family Dispute Resolution Certificate before filing, unless an exemption applies.

Exemptions may apply in urgent matters or where there are concerns about family violence or child abuse, among other situations. Your lawyer can tell you whether one may apply and help you prepare for mediation if it does not.

Choosing a family lawyer

Ask how the firm charges. Several Canberra firms offer a fixed fee first appointment, and some will quote a fixed price for consent orders or a financial agreement. If you just need advice on an agreement you have already reached, say so, as some lawyers offer limited help at specific stages to keep costs down.

It also helps to gather key papers before the first meeting. Recent tax returns, superannuation statements and details of any property or business interests can make early advice on a property settlement more useful. Bring them along even if they are incomplete.