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 file 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 grants the divorce the order becomes final one month and one day later.

You’re looking at about 12 months from separation to finalisation of the divorce, provided everything goes smoothly. It’s always a good idea to chat with a lawyer to make the process easier.

Uncontested divorce is where both parties agree on all terms, so the process is quicker and cheaper. Contested divorce is where there are disagreements on divorce terms, so court intervention is required, making it more time consuming and expensive.

Collaborative divorce is where both parties work together with their lawyers to negotiate and settle the terms of the divorce amicably without going to court.

Legal separation is like hitting the pause button on the marriage. While you are legally separated you are still married but living separately and can have formal agreements regarding finances, property and child custody. It allows couples to live apart while still retaining the legal benefits of being married.

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

After a divorce is finalised specific terms can be modified, particularly those regarding spousal maintenance and child support or custody arrangements. These can be reviewed if there is a significant change in circumstances, like a substantial change 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 would need to provide evidence that your spouse was served with the divorce papers and that you have been separated for at least 12 months. If you meet these criteria the court can grant the divorce without the other party’s agreement.