Family Law

In an area as sensitive and complex as family law, our experienced team can provide practical, straightforward and realistic legal advice focused on your unique family situation.

Family law issues will likely have significant long term financial, lifestyle and emotional consequences for both parties. We also understand that the outcome of your case will affect other members of your family, including children, grandparents and relatives. Doyle Wilson focuses on providing solutions that minimise emotional and financial hardship.

First and foremost we aim to prevent disputes. Where disputes do occur, we use our negotiation skills to attempt resolution in a timely manner. Where an agreement cannot be reached in the negotiation stages we have the skills and experience to represent you in court proceedings. We have represented many clients in the Family Courts of both Queensland and New South Wales.

We will also advise you of other elements to consider, such as the terms of your will and the nomination of any beneficiaries under any superannuation or life insurance funds you hold.

Doyle Wilson has experience offering advice in the following areas:

• Prenuptial financial agreements and advice
• Separation and divorce
• Property and financial settlements
• Arrangements for children
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Domestic violence issues
• De facto law
• Family court appeals
• Family provision legislative and wills
• International disputes, including child abduction
• Intervention orders
• Spousal maintenance
• Third party disputes
  

Before Marriage – Pre Nuptial Financial Agreements and Advice

Obtaining advice before marriage may minimise many problems incurred in separation and divorce later on.

Our experienced team can advise you on how your property may be divided if you separate from your partner in the future. We are experienced in preparing Pre Nuptial Financial Agreements which can outline any future divide in property and assets.

Separation and Divorce

Gaining independent legal advice before or during the separation period is beneficial to ensure you understand the full range of legal solutions available to you and also to prepare you for the difficult period that lies ahead. Early advice is often important to ensure you receive the most beneficial property and financial settlement later on.

If the decision to file for divorce is made, we are able to help you complete an application for divorce or respond to an application made by your spouse so that the divorce is granted as quickly as possible.

Ending a marriage or de facto relationship is very emotional and we treat each matter with empathy and understanding.

Property and Financial Settlements

The division of financial and property assets (or the ‘Settlement’) can be extremely complex, not to mention emotional.

Where appropriate, we focus on resolving disputes in a manner which preserves ongoing dealings with your partner especially where children are involved. In most cases this negotiation method results in less financial and emotional hardship.

An assessment of the following factors is important in any property and financial settlement:

• Asset and liability values
• Businesses and farming enterprises
• Earning potential of both parties
• Financial and non-financial contributions during the relationship
• Property values
• Superannuation
• Trust, company and partnership structure

Arrangements for Children

Certain parents can agree on their own arrangements for financial child support, parenting arrangements, residence, how much time the children can spend with each parent (‘contact’) and where the child will live.

Even if your personal negotiations have not faltered, it is beneficial to get legal advice to ensure you know all the elements to consider when finalising the arrangements for your children. Ensuring grandparents and other relatives have visiting rights to the children is one element you may need to consider.

It is also useful for many parents to formalise the parenting responsibilities in a Child Support Agreement. These agreements will ensure the parties adhere to their responsibilities in the future. We can also advise on any application for spousal maintenance or adult child maintenance.

Over the 25 years Doyle Wilson has been practicing family law, the team has developed contacts with many well regarded counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists that may help you and your children through this difficult time.

Alternative Dispute Resolution     

Collaborative law is an emerging dispute resolution method that involves problem solving negotiations between the parties and lawyers without any court proceedings. The parties work together to achieve an outcome that meets both of the parties needs.

Our family lawyers have settled disputes through mediation or collaborative law which greatly reduced the stress, delay and financial costs that would have been experienced in court proceedings. Other possible benefits include:

• Maintaining your privacy
• Greater focus on the need of the children
• Provides a fairer outcome for both parties, not just one
• Maintaining amicable relations between the parties  

Family Law Contacts:

NSW
Andrew Doyle
Igor Kazagrandi

QLD
Rebecca Lorimer