BRISBANE FAMILY AND DIVORCE LAWYERS
Separation or divorce can be one of the most challenging times of your life. It often brings emotional stress, legal complexities, and important decision making that can impact your future and that of your children.
Choosing a Family Law Solicitor who is well experienced and suitable for your needs is the first essential step in this process.
At Ramsden Family Law, our leading Brisbane family and divorce lawyers are here to support you every step of the way. We provide clear, practical legal advice tailored to your specific situation, helping you understand your rights, entitlements, and options from the beginning.
To help you take the first step, we offer a free 30-minute initial consultation.
PRACTICE AREAS
HOW WE CAN HELP
As one of the top Brisbane family law firms, we have accredited family law specialists on our team who are dedicated to providing expert guidance and support, ensuring that your rights are protected, and your best interests are served throughout the legal process.
DIVORCE
We aim to make the divorce process as simple as possible by offering fixed fee applications from $800 plus GST, to reduce stress, expense and time.
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CHILDREN & PARENTING
If you and your ex-partner cannot agree on the care arrangements for children, it is crucial that a decision is a decision must be made quickly.
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PROPERTY DIVISION
If you are separating or thinking about it, it is important to get legal advice on dividing assets, debts, and superannuation.
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SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS
Under the Family Law Act same-sex and heterosexual couples have the same entitlements under the law, including the right to marry.
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MEDIATION
In family law, mediation and dispute resolution are often the first step. Helping both parties talk through their separation with professional guidance.
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FAMILY COURT REPRESENTATION
Going to court is a last resort. However, if you need assistance with court representation, our lawyers are dedicated to getting you results.
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
If you suspect that you and/or your children may be victims of violence, we are here to offer immediate advice to help reduce risk and protect your family.
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Pay At The End with JustFund
Separation can be financially stressful, and that pressure can delay getting the legal help you need.
That is why we offer a Pay at the End option in partnership with JustFund. JustFund provides flexible funding for eligible family law clients, with no upfront costs.
If approved, you can access a flexible line of credit to cover things such as your legal fees (including your barrister), mediator fees, expert fees (such as valuers), and related expenses to the separation. Repayments are not required until you reach a settlement.
Contact us today to find out more regarding payment options with JustFund.
EXPERT BRISBANE FAMILY LAWYERS
Our team includes 18 highly qualified family lawyers, including 7 Law Society Accredited Specialists, all focused exclusively on family and divorce matters. We are proud to be consistently recognised by the prestigious Doyle’s Guide since 2016 as a leading family law firm.
Whether you are navigating property settlements, parenting arrangements, or more complex family law challenges, our Brisbane family lawyers are here to guide you with professionalism, empathy, and expert knowledge.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR INITIAL CONSULTATION
Your initial consultation with one of our experienced Brisbane family lawyers is completely confidential and can be conducted via phone, video call, or in person, whichever is most convenient for you.
This consultation typically lasts around 30 minutes. During this time, we will discuss your concerns, understand your goals, and provide clear guidance on how the family law process works. We will also outline what you can expect moving forward and give you an estimate of potential legal costs.
Our family lawyers are highly experienced at getting to the heart of your matter and clearly explaining your options in simple terms. By the end of your consultation, you will have a clear understanding of the next steps, the critical issues that require attention, and the most effective path forward.
If the above fits in with your needs, you can then decide to provide us with instructions to assist you, moving forward.
DIVORCE APPLICATIONS
To apply for a divorce in Australia, you must have been separated for at least 12 months and satisfy the Court that your marriage has irretrievably broken down. We ease the pressures of this process by providing comprehensive, tailored advice for your unique divorce application.
Separation does not require living apart, you and your spouse can be separated while living under the same roof. In these cases, the Court will need evidence, usually in the form of Affidavits, confirming the separation is genuine.
If you have children, the Court must be satisfied that appropriate arrangements are in place for their care and support before granting a divorce. These arrangements do not need to be permanent. Once your divorce is finalised, you have 12 months to formalise the division of property, assets and liabilities.
As one of Brisbane’s affordable family lawyers, our fixed fee model is a key reason clients trust us to handle their divorce application from start to finish.
PARENTING MATTERS
After separation, you can formalise your parenting arrangements in one of two ways:
A parenting plan is a written and signed agreement between parents that sets out who the children will live with, how much time they’ll spend with each parent, and other key aspects of their care, welfare and development. Parenting plans are not legally binding or enforceable, but they can be reviewed, updated or amended as your family’s circumstances change.
Consent orders are a formalised, court-approved version of a parenting plan. To obtain consent orders, you must apply to the Court and lodge documents signed by both parties for the Court’s approval. Unlike a parenting plan, consent orders are legally binding and enforceable, giving both parents greater certainty.
Child custody disputes in Brisbane are resolved through these same parenting plan and consent order pathways, guided by the Family Law Act‘s requirement that the child’s best interests come first.
As experienced family lawyers Brisbane parents return to for custody and parenting advice, we help you decide which option is right for your family and ensure the paperwork is right the first time.
PROPERTY MATTERS
A property settlement is the formal division of assets between a married or de facto couple, making the split final, binding and enforceable. To be approved, any settlement must be “just and equitable” for both parties.
To determine the asset pool, we identify the assets, liabilities, superannuation and other financial resources belonging to both parties. This pool is then adjusted based on each party’s contributions, future factors affecting each party, and whether the resulting split is just and equitable, before the asset pool is divided.
Once you’ve reached an agreement, you’ll need to formalise it so it becomes binding and enforceable through one of two options:
A financial agreement is a private, binding contract between you and your partner setting out how assets, debts and financial resources will be divided, without requiring Court approval. Financial agreements can be made before a relationship (as a prenuptial agreement), during it, or after separation, offering an alternative pathway to consent orders.
DE FACTO AND SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS
Same sex couples in Australia have been legally entitled to marry since the definition of “marriage” under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) changed in 2017, giving them the same rights and entitlements as heterosexual couples. Same sex couples with children, whether adopted, born through surrogacy, or conceived using assisted reproductive technology such as IVF, are recognised as the legal parents of that child.
A de facto relationship is a couple, of the same sex or different sexes, who live together but are not married. De facto couples have the same legal rights as married couples once they register the relationship or meet the standard time requirement of 2 years together. Where a de facto relationship is harder to prove, the Court can consider additional factors to determine de facto status and the entitlements that follow.
MEDIATION/ COURT REPRESENTATION
Mediation is generally the preferred method of resolving a family law dispute. A qualified, impartial mediator helps you and the other party work through the issues and reach an agreement, without needing to go to Court.
If mediation doesn’t result in an agreement, you can continue negotiating or apply to the Court, where a Judge will make the final decision on your behalf. Because Court proceedings involve filing multiple documents and attending hearings, having legal representation is strongly recommended. If you and the other party reach a settlement outside of Court at any stage, you are still required to notify the Court of that agreement.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
As experienced family lawyers, we can advise you on the legal mechanisms available to protect you and your children. In Queensland, the Court can grant a Domestic Violence Order (DVO), also known as a Protection Order, which prohibits your partner from specific behaviours such as stalking, intimidation or harassment. Breaching a DVO is a criminal offence and can attract criminal sanctions.
Domestic violence can also directly impact custody and parenting arrangements. If you have children with your partner and decide to separate or divorce, the Court may be more inclined to award you sole parental responsibility to protect your child’s welfare.
Domestic violence is also a relevant factor when determining the division of assets in a property settlement after separation. If you have immediate concerns for your safety or your child’s/children’s safety, please contact 000.
Domestic violence support services in Queensland:
Reece Ramsden
Partner and Accredited Specialist in Family Law. Reece advises on parenting, property, domestic violence, surrogacy, financial agreements, and spousal maintenance with a collaborative approach.
Marius Eden
Partner, Accredited Family Law Specialist and AMDRAS Mediator with 30 years’ experience in complex property, parenting and relocation matters, including high-value settlements.
Our experienced Brisbane family and divorce lawyers provide trusted legal advice on divorce, children and parenting, property division, same-sex and de facto relationships, mediation, family court representation, domestic violence, and more.
MEET OUR TEAM
OUR LAWYERS
With 18 experienced family lawyers, including 7 Law Society Accredited Specialists, Ramsden Family Law is recognised as a leading family law firm.
Grant Furiosi
Special Counsel with almost 15 years’ exclusive family law experience in divorce, property, parenting, child support and domestic violence matters, with strong advocacy and practical advice.
Nicole Schippani
Associate with 6 years’ legal experience in family law, including complex property, parenting, divorce and maintenance matters, with a compassionate and pragmatic approach.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO PRIOR TO MY CONSULTATION WITH A FAMILY LAWYER?
You will receive a confirmation email with the details of your allocated family lawyer, the scheduled date and time of your consultation, and a short pre-consultation questionnaire.
This questionnaire has been carefully designed by our experienced family law team to gather key information about your situation.
Your responses will help us to understand your circumstances more clearly and ensure we provide personalised legal advice to suit your needs.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR FREE INITIAL FAMILY LAW CONSULTATION
Following your free initial consultation with our experienced family lawyers, you will receive a summary outlining your next best steps and legal fees.
Upon request, we can offer a range of flexible payment options, including fixed fee pricing for services such as divorce applications, as well as monthly billing and event-based billing. If you have concerns about legal costs or are working within a specific budget, our team can work with you to create a customised plan.
OUR FEES
At Ramsden Family Law, we understand the financial challenges that can arise during legal proceedings. That is why we focus on working with you by:
- Offering fixed fee pricing for selected family law services, such as divorce applications
- Creating customised fee structures that align with your budget
- Providing a detailed breakdown of our legal fees during your free consultation with an experienced family lawyer
- Offering flexible payment options, including the ability to pay at the end
