Family Lawyers in Canberra, ACT

4 family lawyers with offices in Canberra are listed below, including Capon & Ellis Lawyers Belconnen, Farrar Gesini Marcusi Canberra, KJB Law Canberra and others. Listings are compiled from public information; practices marked Claimed have confirmed their details with us. Before engaging anyone, confirm their current practising status with the ACT Law Society.

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What a family lawyer in Canberra can help with

Family lawyers deal with the legal consequences of relationships ending: divorce, parenting arrangements, dividing property and superannuation, spousal maintenance and child support disputes. Most of this is governed by the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), so the core rules are the same across Australia, while family violence orders are made under State and Territory law in local courts.

  • Separation and divorce applications
  • Parenting arrangements, parenting plans and consent orders
  • Property settlement and superannuation splitting
  • Spousal maintenance and child support disputes
  • Binding financial agreements (before, during or after a relationship)
  • Family violence protection orders
  • Relocation, recovery and international child matters

Family Law in the Australian Capital Territory: what is different

Parenting and property matters are filed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, which has a registry in Canberra. Family violence orders (family violence orders) are made in the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court of the ACT.

Questions to ask before you instruct

  1. Are you an accredited specialist in family law, and who will actually run my file?
  2. What is your approach to mediation and family dispute resolution before court?
  3. What will the first stage cost, and when will you update the estimate?
  4. How long do matters like mine usually take in this registry?
  5. How will you keep me informed, and what will each update cost?

Costs and funding

Before parenting proceedings you will usually need a section 60I certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner; Family Relationship Centres offer this at low or no cost. Legal Aid ACT funds family law advice and some representation on a means and merits test, and community legal centres and women’s legal services give free initial advice. Lawyers must give you costs disclosure under the Legal Profession Act 2006 (ACT) before or as soon as practicable after starting work.

Guides from LawDirectory.au

Other practice areas in Canberra

Browse all Family Law practices or every practice in Canberra.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to go to mediation before court?

For parenting matters, usually yes: you need a section 60I certificate from an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner unless an exception applies, such as urgency or family violence. Property matters also have pre-action procedures.

How is property divided after separation?

There is no fixed formula. The court looks at what each person contributed (financial and non-financial), each person’s future needs, and whether the outcome is just and equitable. Superannuation is treated as property and can be split.

Is there a time limit?

Yes. Married couples must apply for property or spousal maintenance orders within 12 months of a divorce becoming final; de facto couples have two years from separation. Leave can be sought to apply late, but it is not guaranteed.

This page is general information, not legal advice, and inclusion in the directory is not a recommendation. See our disclaimer and how listings are compiled.

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