Services

Family Law

Hillhouse Burrough McKeown can provide you with advice regarding all aspects of Family Law:

  • marriage breakdown

  • de facto partnership breakdown

  • property settlement

  • divorce

  • pre‑nups

  • binding financial agreements under the Family Law Act.

We all know it is an extraordinarily stressful time when your relationship comes to an end.  That stress can be aggravated if you or your ex–partner choose to take the matter to Court unnecessarily. Not only that, but a lot of your financial resources built up over many years could be spent on lawyers.

After you have separated or divorced it is most beneficial to you both if you and your ex–partner can come to a fair agreement between yourselves.

If you can’t reach agreement between yourselves, there are many methods to try and achieve a resolution, without a court case, which have been introduced by the government, the Courts and lawyers. Those methods include one or a combination of private mediation (with or without lawyers), relationship counselling and round table conferences to try and avoid spending a great deal of money on lawyers and Courts.

However, it is in both parties' interests to ensure that any agreement reached is in writing and is binding on the parties. No one wants to believe that, having finalised a divorce, years or decades later an ex partner can commence Family Court proceedings . It can and does happen.

There may also be negative tax implications if you do not ensure that your settlement is properly documented.

Hillhouse Burrough McKeown can assist you in coming to an enforceable written arrangement with your partner after your separation or divorce or, if you have already reached an agreement between yourselves then we can ensure that agreement is reduced to writing and is enforceable.

If an agreement can't be reached then Hillhouse Burrough McKeown can, if necessary, take your matter to Court.

For Family Law matters, please contact Robert Lamb by email.