SEPARATION & DIVORCE
When two people separate, it does not necessarily follow that they will obtain a divorce. It can, however, markedly alter your life situation. Parramatta City Legal can offer you the assistance and professional advice to help you through this trying period. Our Family law services are geared towards ensuring that your emotional and financial interests are best looked after.
Particularly when children are involved, emotional support can be instrumental in facilitating the needs of all concerned so that they may adapt to change and their heightened feelings. We are pleased that we can offer our clients referrals to able-bodied institutions to provide specialised counselling sessions, as appropriate.
Equally burdensome is the financial pressure that flows from separation and/or divorce. Issues such as property distribution, child and spousal maintenance, reconsideration of your Will and so forth can all be very stressful to the typical litigant. At fist instance, Parramatta City Legal, in the interests of saving time and costs, will endeavour to resolve all financial matters between you and your ex-spouse/partner amicably, without the intervention of the Court. If the matter does need to go to Court however, we are suitably competent and experienced to maximise your entitlement and finalise the proceedings at the earliest possible time.
In cases where parties have been separated for 12 months or more, either party may make application to the Court for a Divorce provided that there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This is a separate process which Parramatta City Legal can also assist you with. It is important to note though that obtaining a divorce does not settle the issues relating to the parental responsibility of children and property division.
CHILDREN
Almost invariably, the mother, father and ‘significant others’ will appreciate the need to put the child(ren)’s physical and emotional needs first. Issues involving who a child ‘lives with’ (formerly called ‘custody’ and ‘residence’), ‘spends time with’ (formerly ‘access’ and ‘contact’), specific issues (relating to long term and day-to-day decisions) can often be hotly contested issues between separated parents and ‘significant others’. This is where Parramatta City Legal can help.
Although it sounds intricate and involved, which it very well can be, we are always conscious of the highly sensitive nature of such issues. All our staff make a concerted effort to ensure that your experience with us is as least distressing as possible. To this end, we value understanding, patience and compassion. We are able to guide you through a vast array of parenting matters ranging from settling issues as to the nature and frequency of who the child ‘spends time with’ to obtaining an urgent Recovery Over from the Court when a child has been abducted.
Recent changes to the Family Law Act 1975 have meant that the law now encourages equal parenting between both mother and father and modifications in the way that the Court handles applications. When we carry out your instructions we will be mindful of guiding you through this revolutionary era of Family Law.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
Parramatta City Legal has the necessary skills and expertise to advise you competently on the adjustment of proprietary interests of you and your ex-spouse/partner upon separation. This can involve assessing the most effective way of dealing with the former matrimonial home, dividing superannuation interests and making applications for / resisting claims for spousal maintenance. We are also able to assist you by raising likely outcomes which will equip you well for an early settlement, if the proposed compromise position is reasonable.
Parramatta City Legal can also assist in protecting your future interests should your relationship break down. The mechanisms available include entering into Binding Financial Agreements (‘pre-nuptial agreements’) which will prescribe precisely how the parties’ assets are to be divided post-separation. Such instruments can also be made during or after separation by agreement. We are also able to protect your financial interests by applying to the Court for an order preventing your ex-spouse/partner from dealing with certain property if you fear that he/she may be selling marital assets to disadvantage you.
Our Family Law Practice is well supported by our Property Law department which will assist you in issues involving the sale of matrimonial assets, stamp duty exemptions, mortgages and conveyancing.
Overall, we set out to proffer not only valuable and sound advice, but also a realistic assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your case so as to avail you of the information necessary to finalise your matter with the maximum possible result.
Arrange a consultation with an experienced family lawyer.
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