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Legal advice
It’s important to access some legal help so you can safely resolve your family law
issues when dealing with the processes of separation and divorce.
The law requires separating families who have a dispute about parenting arrangements,
property settlements or spousal maintenance to make a genuine effort to resolve their
issues by family dispute
resolution before they can apply to court. Urgency, domestic violence and
child abuse are some exceptions to this requirement.
Getting legal advice
You should get independent legal advice about your situation to protect your safety and so
you can make informed decisions and fully understand the implications of anything you
agree to or sign regarding your children or your finances.
Free legal advice:
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The
Family Relationships Advice Line 1800 050 321 — will
be able to provide you with information about the family law system. It’s available
8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday (local time), except
public holidays.
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Community Legal Centres —
independent, non-profit community organisations providing free legal services,
referral, advice and assistance to more than 350,000 people each year.
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Duty Lawyer Services where applicable
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Family Law Section
of the Law Council of Australia
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Women’s Legal
Services — provides free legal information to assist women in understanding
and protecting their legal rights. The service aims to assist people to make informed
choices and decisions about the options available to them. Within the legal system,
the service undertakes important roles in court representation, advocacy, law reform,
test case litigation, referrals and community legal education.
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Legal Aid
