Family Lawyers Sydney
Divorce, Parenting & Property Settlements 

Our initial free consultation covers general advice and is limited to around 20 minutes. Such consultation is useful if you need to understand in general terms what your rights are, how your matter is likely to proceed and the costs involved.  However, if you require detailed legal advice specific to your circumstances or have a specific legal query, you would need to arrange an in-depth consultation (of at least 1 hour duration) so that we can take proper detailed instructions and provide you with a comprehensive legal advice given your unique circumstances. This type of in-depth consultation would be suitable for someone who wants detailed advice specifically as it applies to their unique circumstances and, preferably, had already received general advice from us or another solicitor previously, although this is not a requirement. Booking an in-depth consultation allows us to get started immediately without delays on your matter and to address any specific legal issues you may have. You can now book your in-depth consultation online!

We deal with all kinds of applications for divorce from standard applications, where you have been physically separated for more than 12 months, to more complex applications where you have been separated under the one roof, or your former partner cannot be found or is overseas, or where you have been married for less than 2 years. At our initial free consultation we will assess the prospects of success of your application and will advise you of our applicable fixed fees, depending on the complexity of the matter, timeframe for obtaining the Divorce Orders and any issues surrounding your divorce matter, including related family law parenting and property matters.

If you and your former partner are able to reach an agreement in relation to the parenting and/or property issues, such agreement should be formalised by way of obtaining Consent Orders from the Court, or alternatively, by executing a Binding Financial Agreement.  At Surge Legal we offer a fixed and fair fee for an Application for Consent Orders, provided there is an agreement reached between the parties. If your matter involves property issues, we are usually able to defer our fees until the conclusion of the matter. The whole process takes around 2-3 months from start to finish, including a period of up to 6 weeks for the Court to review and approve the Application.  At the start of the matter we organise an initial in-depth conference with you (please note that we cannot act for your former partner at the same time and it is recommended that your former partner obtains independent legal advice with a different lawyer also, although it is not a strict requirement). Contact us for a free initial consultation right now!

Executing a Binding Financial Agreement (often informally referred to as a “Prenup”) during the relationship, prior to marriage or at any other time is an effective way of formalising the division of the matrimonial property pool in the event of a separation or breakdown of relationship and providing certainty and peace of mind for the parties involved.  A Binding Financial Agreement could also be used as the only viable alternative to an Application for Consent Orders for couples, who have separated or divorced, particularly in the circumstances where an Application for Consent Orders is likely to be rejected by the Court if the agreement made is not just and equitable pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975. At Surge Legal we specialise in drafting and reviewing Binding Financial Agreements in a variety of circumstances as follows:  agreements made during cohabitation, agreements made after separation or divorce, agreements made during marriage or in anticipation of marriage. The type of Binding Financial Agreement you require will depend upon your particular circumstances and needs. We offer a free initial consultation to advise you as to the type of Agreement better suited for your needs.

As part of your family law matter, we will advise you about multiple aspects of your case, including Child Support. Ensuring a party receives the required child support payments after separation is often overlooked as the emphasis is made on Consent Orders relating to children and property settlement issues.  If you have a child support assessment in place, but want to have some certainty about future payments, negotiating a Binding Child Support Agreement is the perfect solution.  We will ensure that your legal rights and entitlements are maintained by entering into a Binding Child Support Agreement, which can be drafted to your specific needs and preferences.  It is often the case that as part of settling your Family Law matter, we will recommend that  Binding Child Support Agreement need to be entered to better protect your rights. Contact us now to find out more.

We act in a broad range of Family Law matters, including complex parenting disputes, property settlements and high net worth cases. In high-value and particularly complex matters, we work closely with experienced barristers and other professionals where appropriate to develop a strong, considered strategy for your case. Our family lawyers have extensive experience practising in the Family Law jurisdiction and a detailed understanding of the legal, procedural and practical issues that can arise throughout a matter. We also offer fixed fee options for many Family Law matters, including litigation, where appropriate having regard to the circumstances and complexity of your case. At Surge Legal, you will have an experienced family lawyer by your side throughout the process, focused on protecting your interests and achieving the best possible outcome in your circumstances.