Perth Divorce Lawyers – here for the journey.

No but we do offer a fixed fee initial appointment. The initial consultation is about an hour.  If our clients prefer, we are happy to have a 15 minute general discussion of their matter before they commit to making an appointment.  This can be done by telephone or online.

During the initial consultation we get to know each other and discuss the history of your relationship, what you are concerned about and what you hope to achieve.  We will ask you a range of questions and based on what you tell us we will give you as much advice as we can based on our preliminary discussions.  What we talk about will depend on whether you want to resolve parenting matters, property matters or other family law issues.

Yes, you certainly can.  We offer prospective clients a 15 minute general assessment of their family law matter.  This done by either telephone or online.

No.  Solicitors rarely act for both parties to a transaction.  This is because it creates a conflict of interest and would prevent us from being able to act in your best interests and uphold our obligations to you.  We do not act for both spouses in the same matter.

In Australia, the sole ground for divorce is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This is usually established by a 12-month separation period, indicating that there’s no likelihood of reconciliation. 

The courts won’t really dig into the reasons for the breakdown, so things like infidelity or disagreements don’t formally play into the decision. Remember, this is just about ending the marriage legally, separate from property settlement or child custody issues, which are handled separately.

First off, after separation, there’s a mandatory 12-month waiting period before you can file for divorce. This is to ensure that the relationship has broken down irretrievably.

Once you lodge your application, it can take a few months to process. If everything is in order, including arrangements for any children, a hearing date is set, which is usually about 2 months after filing. If the court approves the divorce, the order becomes final one month and one day later.

You’re looking at a bit over a year from separation to the finalisation of the divorce, provided there are no hitches along the way. It’s always a good move to chat with a lawyer to navigate the process smoothly.

An uncontested divorce is where both parties agree on all terms, making the process quicker and less costly. In contrast, a contested divorce involves disagreements on divorce terms, leading to court interventions, making it more time-consuming and expensive. 

A collaborative divorce is a method where both parties work together, along with their lawyers, to negotiate and settle the terms of the divorce amicably without going to court.

A legal separation is like putting a pause button on the marriage. While you’re legally separated, you remain married but live separately and can have formal agreements regarding things like finances, property and child custody. It allows couples to live apart while still retaining the legal benefits of being married.

A divorce is the formal ending of a marriage. It’s a legal process that terminates the marital union, meaning you’re no longer legally bound to each other and are free to remarry if you wish. It often involves settling issues like property division and child custody permanently.

After a divorce is finalised, specific terms can potentially be modified, particularly those pertaining to spousal maintenance and child support or custody arrangements. These can be reviewed if there’s a significant change in circumstances, like a substantial shift in income or a change in the needs of the children.

If one party refuses to sign the divorce papers or cooperate, you can still proceed with the divorce. You’d need to provide evidence that your spouse was served with the divorce papers and that you’ve been separated for at least 12 months. If you meet these criteria, the court can grant the divorce without the other party’s agreement.