Family Law

It is often said that relationship breakdown can be more stressful than the death of a loved one. No-one starts a relationship or a marriage with the thought that one day the relationship will end. Most people work hard to try and keep their relationships healthy but sometimes the only solution is to separate and come to some agreement about financial issues and arrangements for any children. At Southern Legal we encourage the parties to try and reach an amicable, or at least a workable solution and we always recommend alternate dispute resolution in an attempt to avoid costly litigation.

Separating partners may feel that some apportionment of blame should take place when a relationship breakdown occurs but the Family Law Act, which has been in place since 1975, was designed to avoid such ‘finger-pointing’ and recognises that the essential issue is whether there has been an irretrievable breakdown of a relationship. Taking a family law matter to Court is sometimes unavoidable and Southern Legal regularly appears in the Federal Magistrates Court and the Family Court but we always stress that it is preferable to mediate an agreement that results in a workable, but not ideal solution, than allowing an adjudication to take place and a decision being handed down that pleases no-one.

If you have a family law or de facto relationship issue you wish to confidentially discuss contact us for an obligation-free discussion.


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