Find the best of Divorce Solicitors in Canterbury

At FJS Lawyers, we recognise that navigating legal issues is often overwhelming and emotionally challenging. We have  the experience to ask the right questions and to provide practical and sensible advice. Our empathetic  approach helps clients to feel understood throughout their legal journey. With all these criteria in mind, we came up with a list of the 10 best divorce lawyers in Melbourne. While not always the sole indicator of quality service, experience can play big factor in legal expertise.
Emma joined us in September 2017 and is the Managing Partner of our Esher, solicitors canterbury Guildford & Brighton offices. She advises on all aspects of family law and assists clients going through a separation whether they are married, in a civil partnership or unmarried. Family laws pertain to divorce, adoption, child custody, support and abuse, reproductive rights, domestic  violence, or division of property. If kids are involved, check how they talk about parentingDivorce  lawyers should keep the focus on practical arrangements and your children’s well-being, including support issues. In the event that you have chosen to separate, there might be a lot of inquiries and confusions.

It does require both parties to receive independent legal advice and is harder to change once in place. Separation occurs when partners cease to live together as a couple or engage in a marriage-like relationship, while divorce is the formal legal termination of a marriage. Separation may come in forms such as a change in sleeping arrangements, notification to family and friends of separation, and division of finances. While partners do not need to agree to separate, or require any legal processes, divorce necessitates an order of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia to be recognised. Welcome to our Family Law Services page, where we offer expert legal guidance and support to help you navigate the complexities of family matters with confidence and peace of mind.
An application for divorce requires that you have been separated for at least 12 months. Our team offers practical and creative solutions to tackle legal challenges as they arise, equipping you with the dynamic support required to achieve your legal goals. We understand that this is a deeply personal and often emotional time. Our role is to provide clear, compassionate legal guidance so you can move forward with confidence. In Australia, it requires that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, demonstrated by a 12-month separation period. The ethics and reputation of each one of our lawyers, precedes them individually and us as a firm.
We can also provide you with all the information you need following the breakdown of your relationship or marriage with your former partner at a reasonable cost. Carew Counsel Solicitors is a highly regarded family law practice in Victoria. They specialize in family law, including divorce, child custody, and intervention orders. For businesses, their team has a deep understanding of, and experience in, the full range of a business’s legal needs.

In Australia, a divorce generally takes a period of four months to obtain a final Divorce Order. This time takes into consideration the point that parties have applied for divorce in court until the court has officially issued and finalised the divorce. If you are in need family violence services, please find community legal centres that can help you with family violence issues here.
Where Sebastian’s skills lie in deciphering complex financial matters within family disputes involving multiple types of assets such as property, pension portfolios, investments, family businesses, and corporate bonus structures. He has a track record of success in children cases such as applications for child arrangements orders, special guardianship orders, substance abuse by parents, domestic violence cases, and non-compliance with court orders. Sebastian’s work also involves negotiating and drafting pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Chair of Resolution Essex and a Resolution accredited specialist in complex financial remedies and Children Act cases, he supports a non-confrontational approach when advising and assisting clients. However, should the need arise, he can conduct his own advocacy as required. Blackwood Family Lawyers is a specialist family law firm located in the Melbourne CBD.

The sole ground for divorce in Australia is “irretrievable breakdown of marriage”. This ground is proved by demonstrating to the Court that you have lived separately and apart for more than one year, and that there is no prospect of cohabitation being resumed through a reconciliation. Australia will recognise a divorce overseas as long as it was obtained according to the laws of the country where it was granted. Under the Family Law Act, one of the parties to the divorce must have been a resident or citizen or the country or ordinarily reside in the country. You can still get divorced in Australia if you were married overseas in a few situations.
This process formally invalidates the marriage which is different to a divorce that formally terminates the marriage. A divorce order takes effect one month after it is made, or after a section 55A declaration (whichever is the later). A Certificate of Divorce issues at that time, whereupon the parties can remarry. You can file an Application for Divorce online through the Court portal or we can assist you through the process.
Once the court has granted a divorce order, the order will take effect one month and one day after the order was granted by the court. In Australia, marriage is the union of two  people to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life. When a child’s time with a parent needs to be supervised, it can be hard to know how to explain what’s happening — and wh...

They help separate mutual Self-Managed Superannuation Accounts (“SMSF”), business structures, family violence-related matters, defending criminal charges, and more. Many family lawyers practice divorce law as well, but that’s not always the case. The Australian family law is unique in a way that it does not require the divorce applicants to prove the fault of any partner.
We also engage in all methods of alternative dispute resolution including mediation, conciliation and collaborative law. At R+M Law, we pride ourselves on providing a professional, warm and responsive service with a focus on excellence in divorce and separation. We can process this type of divorce application using an online form, quickly and easily, without the need for costly appointments. The changes in your circumstances brought about by separation and divorce mean that reviewing your Will is essential. If you separate from your spouse and you had made your will following your marriage, your will remains in effect.

Our divorce solicitors are true industry experts who focus exclusively on family law, and we are a nationwide firm with 37 client meeting offices across the country. We help couples in Canterbury establish clear terms for their separation, addressing property division and financial support to minimise future disputes. As of July 1, 2024, the approximate cost of filing a divorce application is $1,125. However, there are other potential expenses to consider in addition to this fee, such as those for hearings, mediation and solicitor fees. You must appear in person on the date of the hearing, as the Court may decide on the divorce application in your absence. If you are planning on opposing a divorce we recommend you seek legal advice immediately.