family
law

When a relationship breaks down, it’s highly emotional. Navigating the complexities of family law and deciding who gets what in a break up is also stressful. That’s when you need a lawyer who will look after your interests without inflaming an already sensitive situation, especially if there are children involved.

Pre-nuptial agreements are a way to minimise the stress of separation and divorce. They take away the uncertainty of what happens should a relationship fail, protecting the interests of both sides and delivering peace of mind. As well as outlining how assets will be distributed, pre-nups can also be used to protect business assets so they are quarantined and the business and employees can continue to operate during a break up.

We have lawyers who specialise in family law, whose approach when resolving disputes after a relationship break up is ‘first, do no harm’, then focus on getting the best possible outcome for their client, depending on their specific needs and objectives. Clients usually want their divorce settled quickly, fairly and without too much fuss. Our priority is to deliver certainty so clients can get on with their lives. As a national law firm, our lawyers collaborate to help in disputes across state borders.

services

  • Binding financial agreements
  • Child abduction (interstate and overseas)
  • Child support
  • Children and parenting issues
  • Complex commercial family law solutions
  • De facto financial settlements
  • Binding financial agreements
  • Child abduction (interstate and overseas)
  • Child support
  • Children and parenting issues
  • Complex commercial family law solutions
  • De facto financial settlements
  • Divorce
  • Family law property disputes and settlements
  • Relationship agreements
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what our clients say

“Having worked with Macpherson Kelley over many years all I can say is there is no one better within the area of Family Law. Macpherson Kelley’s attention to detail is second to none. I would commend the Family Law part of the practice wholeheartedly and without reservation.” Michael Sojka Managing Partner Rose Partners
“After fleeing an abusive marriage, I engaged the services of Macpherson Kelley. My settlement was completed in a timely manner due to their expertise, with understanding and professionalism. I highly recommend using this firm.” Senior Professional Victorian Manufacturing Company

recent experience

  • protecting the family company with a pre-nup

    To protect the future of a plastics company founded by his father 30 years ago, a son of the owner who was a manager and shareholder in the company, and his fiancée made a pre-nuptial agreement that would remove it from any dispute if they divorced. We drew up the agreement to make it clear the son was allowed to deal with the company without his wife’s consent and the business interests would not be in dispute if there was a marriage break up. Under the agreement, the wife would receive the family home and some other non-business assets if they divorced. By isolating the business from any potential matrimonial dispute, the company was protected from the risk of being wound up as part of a settlement.

  • negotiating separation priorities

    We acted for a client going through a divorce who had put her career on hold to raise the children. The woman and man had barely spoken during negotiations due to the stress of reaching a financial and parenting settlement. We focused on what her priorities were in the dispute and gave her realistic expectations about outcomes, costs and options to resolve the issues so she didn’t lose sight of what mattered. We negotiated for her to receive what she considered a just financial settlement enabling her to get on with her life as well as parenting orders made by consent that were in the best interests of the children. By the end of the process the relationship between our client and her ex-husband was better than it had been for many years.

  • no battle over assets

    As people get together later in life and bring with them substantial assets of their own, there’s an increasing desire to enter pre-nuptial agreements. When couples have children from earlier relationships, there’s added pressure to protect each party’s assets. We drafted an agreement for two independently wealthy people that would see one side receive a $10 million settlement if they divorced. Both were happy to have the agreement as it provided certainty of what would happen if they divorced, and would ensure there was no litigation over their respective assets.

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