We’re your trusted family lawyers
Our expert family lawyers in Adelaide and Sydney are trained not only in family law, but also in dispute resolution, negotiation, and client care. We’re here to help you resolve complex family law matters quickly and cost-effectively.
How we can help
Our dedicated team of Adelaide family lawyers and Sydney family lawyers specialise in all areas of family law, including financial agreements, property settlements, parenting arrangements, child support, mediation, family dispute resolution, marriage annulments and divorce proceedings.
We understand that everyone’s circumstances are unique. Our expert family lawyers will work closely with you to listen to your needs and resolve family law matters quickly and cost-effectively.
Why work with an expert family lawyer?
- Navigating family law matters without legal support can be overwhelming – our Adelaide family lawyers and Sydney family lawyers are experts in dispute resolution, negotiation and client care.
- Our family lawyers are equipped to de-escalate conflict and work towards sustainable resolutions, whether through agreements, mediation, or litigation.
- An expert family lawyer will address your issues with sensitivity, efficiency, and legal precision.
- With a family lawyer by your side, you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Our promise to you
- We get things right the first time, helping you avoid mistakes that lead to costly and stressful delays.
- We’ll provide you with professional support to lighten the burden of your legal matters, so you can focus on what matters.
- We’re considerate of your financial circumstances. Our lawyers provide you with accurate and fair costs throughout the legal process.
- Ethics and integrity underpin everything we do at our law firm, from the corporate clients we service to the quality of work we deliver.
We specialise in
Divorce and separation involve complicated legal considerations, so it’s highly recommended to get professional legal advice to make sure you understand your rights and obligations.
A separation is when one or both partners decide to end their relationship and live separate lives, and doesn’t require a legal process.
Separation can be initiated by one partner and doesn’t require joint consent, so long as the partner who has initiated the separation communicates this to the other party.
Divorce is the legal ending of a marriage, and to apply for a divorce, at least one party must be an Australian citizen, live in Australia permanently, or ordinarily live in Australia (and have done so for the 12 months before filing). Court applications for divorce can be made individually or jointly.
Some of the family law matters that our team can assist with during relationship breakdowns include:
- Property and financial settlements
- Spousal maintenance
- Parenting arrangements
- Mediation/family dispute resolution (FDR)
- Marriage annulment
- Divorce proceedings
Family law mediation, also referred to as Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), offers a less adversarial, more cost-effective, and emotionally supportive alternative to legal action.
A qualified FDR practitioner will work together with the parties as an impartial facilitator to manage conflict, de-escalate tension, and guide participants towards a resolution they can agree on. With strong principles of cooperation and child-centred negotiation at its core, FDR helps separating couples find a way to work together, easing pressure on the court system while empowering families to find practical, personalised solutions to their circumstances.
In Australia, FDR is usually required before a couple can apply to court, with some exceptions such as cases of family violence, abuse, urgency, or where there’s an inability of one party to participate effectively.
In a separation or divorce where children are involved, the Australian legal system places their best interests as the highest priority when determining parenting arrangements. The system supports stability, security, and the ongoing involvement of both parents in a child’s life, where doing so is safe and appropriate.
Parenting arrangements that a family lawyer can assist with facilitating include:
- Creating a parenting plan
- Consent orders/legally binding agreements
- Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)
- Court-ordered parenting arrangements
Property settlements allow separating couples to divide their assets and debts. The goal is to reach a fair and equitable distribution that takes into account any contributions and future needs of both parties.
The legal framework for property and asset division is outlined in the Family Law Act 1975 and applies to both married and de facto couples. This legislation gives the courts the power to make orders for a just outcome. Time limits apply to property settlements – 12 months after a divorce is finalised for married couples, and two years from the date of separation for de facto couples – though extensions may be granted in certain circumstances.
A binding financial agreement, sometimes referred to as a “prenup”, is a legally binding document outlining how property and other assets will be divided in the event of a relationship breakdown. An agreement can be made before, during or after a relationship, but it must meet specific legal requirements, and can be changed or cancelled if both parties agree to it.
Financial agreements may cover:
- Property settlements
- Consent orders
- Superannuation
- Spousal maintenance
- Child support
- Binding financial agreements
FAQs
“Family lawyers play an important role in helping people navigate challenging family transitions,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales.
“Family law matters can include relationship breakdowns, parenting arrangements, and asset division. A family lawyer provides legal advice and guidance throughout the resolution process, working to achieve a fair outcome that is legally sound and as amicable as possible,” says Mario.
The four fundamental areas of family law include:
- Divorce and separation
- Mediation and dispute resolution
- Parenting arrangements
- Property settlements and financial agreements
“The difference between separation and divorce is that separation has no legal framework – it can be initiated by either partner when they decide to end their relationship, so long as they communicate their intention to the other,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales.
“Meanwhile, divorce is the legal ending of a marriage. Australia’s ‘no-fault’ divorce system means that a reason doesn’t need to be provided, and the sole ground for divorce is an ‘irretrievable breakdown of the marriage’, demonstrated by a 12-month separation with no reconciliation,” says Mario.
“Yes, couples can still be classified as separated even if they remain in the same household, as long as they lead separate lives, such as sleeping in separate rooms, not sharing meals, and operating independently,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “Couples may be required to demonstrate proof of their separation in a shared home.”
“A divorce or separation could potentially affect your visa status,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “If your visa is a temporary visa, and you hold it because your spouse or partner qualified for the visa as the primary applicant, then your temporary visa may be subject to cancellation as you are no longer entitled to the visa due to your relationship ending. Relationship status changes also affect points-tested visas where you are the primary applicant. And if you are applying for or hold a temporary partner visa, then your visa may be refused due to the relationship ending. For these reasons, it’s important to get professional legal advice about your visa status as soon as possible if your relationship ends.”
No. A divorce is only a way to legally end a marriage; resolving any division of assets or custody will require separate arrangements.
“Yes, there is a time limit to apply for property settlement after separation,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “For married couples, court applications for property settlement must be made within 12 months of their divorce being finalised. For de facto couples, a time limit of two years from their date of separation applies.”
“When it comes to the difference between a parenting plan and a parenting order, a parenting plan is a written agreement made between parents that outlines a child’s care arrangements,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “A parenting plan reflects a mutual agreement, but is made outside of the court and is not legally enforceable. Whereas a parenting order is a legally binding decision made by the court about a child’s care arrangements.”
Yes, parenting arrangements can be changed if both parties agree or there’s a significant change in circumstances. Changes can be formalised in a new parenting plan or by court applications.
A variety of assets that may be considered during a property settlement, including real estate, superannuation, investments, vehicles, and debts, regardless of whose name they’re in.
“A financial agreement is a legally binding document that outlines how property and financial assets will be distributed if a relationship ends,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “This is sometimes referred to as a ‘prenup’. It can be made before, during or after a relationship. A family lawyer will be able to help you with this.”
“If you separate or divorce your partner, your superannuation will be treated as part of the shared property pool and may be shared between parties during property settlements with a formal agreement or court order,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales.
You can find our family lawyers in Sydney and Adelaide, but if you’d like legal advice from elsewhere in Australia, our lawyers can support you with virtual consultations.
Meet the PAX Law Team
PAX Law founders Mario and Constantine are respected thought leaders in Australian immigration law, and lead our team with the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We recognise the level of trust you place in us and provide emotional support throughout the entire process.
Mario Amor
Principal Solicitor
Constantine Paxinos
Director
Christina Paxinos
Practice Manager
Natalia Zambrano
Assistant
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Next steps
Fill in the below form to book a personalised, one-on-one consultation with one of our expert Adelaide family lawyers or Sydney family lawyers. We can meet online or in person at our Sydney or Adelaide offices.
The personalised consultation costs $330 (this includes GST) and we’ll credit this fee against the overall price for the legal process. During the hour-long consultation, you’ll receive a genuine analysis of your case and personalised advice to help you understand your strategy, risks, timelines, costs, and pros and cons of different options.
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