Family Lawyers in Hobart for Separation

Family Lawyers in Hobart

Family law in Tasmania falls under federal law, so separating couples in Hobart deal with the same national family law system that applies in most of Australia. Hobart family lawyers help with parenting arrangements, property settlements, child support and financial agreements. A few local practices work only in family law, while larger firms have family teams who can call on estate and property colleagues when a separation involves a business or a family trust.

Many family law matters are resolved by agreement, and several Hobart firms say they put negotiation and mediation first. Ask how a firm charges for a first appointment and whether it offers fixed fees for agreed matters such as consent orders or a divorce application. It also helps to ask who will be your main contact as the matter moves along.

PWB Lawyers
Level 1, 57 Elizabeth Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Tel: (03) 6235 1111

PWB Lawyers is a Hobart practice on Elizabeth Street that works only in family law. Its site covers separation and divorce, parenting arrangements about where children live and how they spend time with each parent, and property settlements dividing assets, debts and superannuation. The team also advises on spousal maintenance, binding financial agreements and child support. The firm notes that many parenting and property disputes can be settled through negotiation or mediation, and first appointments are charged at the solicitor’s hourly rate.

Simmons Wolfhagen
Level 4, 99 Bathurst Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Tel: (03) 6226 1200

The family law team at Simmons Wolfhagen works across the firm’s Tasmanian offices, including its Hobart office on Bathurst Street. It handles property settlements for married and de facto couples, binding financial agreements, parenting arrangements and disputes, relocation requests and child support. A nationally accredited mediator offers private mediation, and the firm also acts on family violence and restraint orders, surrogacy and matters for grandparents. Support for LGBTQIA+ clients is listed as a specialty, and the firm says it puts negotiation and mediation ahead of court.
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Murdoch Clarke
10 Victoria Street
Hobart TAS
Tel: (03) 6235 9311

Murdoch Clarke has a family law group at its Victoria Street office, with separate pages on its site for children and custody matters and for prenuptial and cohabitation agreements. The firm recommends an early one hour consultation, even before separation, to understand entitlements, options and risks. Many clients reach their own agreement and use the firm to prepare the settlement documents, while others use mediation or have the firm negotiate for them. Court proceedings are started where they are needed.
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Mead Family Law
Level 4, 85 Macquarie Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Tel: (03) 6270 2281

Mead Family Law is a Hobart family law practice on Macquarie Street. Its services include divorce, property settlement, parenting disputes, child support matters, family violence and financial agreements. The firm says it favours alternative dispute resolution such as mediation and arbitration where practicable, and looks for agreement through negotiation or within a court process. Its site also describes giving emotional support alongside legal advice during a separation.
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Abetz Curtis Lawyers & Advisers
83 Davey Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Tel: (03) 6223 8955

At Abetz Curtis, family law advice covers the period before, during and after a marriage or de facto relationship. The firm lists property settlements, complex financial disputes, spousal maintenance and child support, as well as divorce and de facto disputes. Agreements it prepares include prenuptial, financial and de facto agreements, plus surrogacy and donor agreements. Parenting disputes, relocation and guardianship are covered, along with restraining orders, mediation and arbitration. Its site says its main specialty is high net worth clients, although it acts for clients more broadly.
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Advocate Lawyers
Level 3, 152 Macquarie Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Tel: (03) 6204 9000

Advocate Lawyers offers family law from its Hobart and Kingston offices. The team gives pre separation advice in a one hour first consultation, prepares binding financial agreements and drafts consent orders and parenting plans for couples who have reached agreement. Where parties disagree about children or property, it can act in court proceedings. The firm says it prefers negotiation, mediation and collaboration in suitable matters. Fixed fees are offered for some agreed matters, such as divorce and consent orders, and it also assists LGBTQI+ families.
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Which court hears family law matters

Where agreement cannot be reached, most family law matters, including divorces, are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. According to the Magistrates Court of Tasmania, it can also hear limited types of family law matters, such as property settlements and parenting orders.

Your lawyer can explain which court is likely to deal with your matter, what steps may apply before an application is filed and how long each stage may take.

Legal Aid and other support

Separation can be expensive, and not everyone can afford a private lawyer for the whole matter. The Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania runs a free and confidential legal information line. It may also give advice specific to your situation if you meet its eligibility guidelines, and you can apply for a grant of legal aid.

Some people use Legal Aid for early advice and a private firm for the settlement documents. Keep copies of bank and superannuation statements and any agreements about the children, as most family lawyers will ask for them at the first meeting.