Family Law

We have reached an agreement. It's time to move forward.

Over the years, we’ve seen clients struggle to navigate the separation agreement process. We’ve created an accessible, supportive and affordable solution for separating couples who have reached agreement.

Through Forward>>, we simplify the process of formalising your property and parenting agreements for set fixed fee, quickly and efficiently.

FORWARD>> IS

Complete your agreement online in minutes. After review we will provide guidance and recommendations – all within a matter of days.

Do it all online when and where it suits you. We provide real and personalised support, by phone, email and for ACT residents, in person. Our team is here to help every step of the way.

We work with you to produce quality legal documents, taking the time to ensure that your agreement will be enforceable at law, for real peace of mind.

Our pricing is clear at the start. No nasty bill shock or unpredictable costs.

We combine the convenience of a DIY service with the detail and attention of a full service firm.

We help you to prepare your separation agreement so you can move on with your lives with certainty.

1. Reach an agreement

The Forward>> process is for separated couples who have already reached an agreement, do not seek legal advice as to the fairness of their agreement, and/or they are very close to reaching agreement, and just need assistance to resolve any minor details. It involves a commitment to working together.

If you’re not quite there yet and would like to obtain individual legal advice or more information about your options before starting Forward>>, Contact us to book an one on one consultation or Comfort call.

2. Choose your starting point

There are two ways you can start the Forward>> process with us once you’ve confirmed you have an agreement and are ready to get started:

a.) Through an online interview..We will provide guidance to both of you around the process and send you an online interview to complete, which gathers all the personal and financial information we need to document your agreement.

b.) Through a joint information session. This can happen in person or online via video-conference. At this session, we can talk you through the process of documenting your agreement and gather the information necessary to document your agreement in real-time. After the joint information session, we will send both of you a summary and detail the next steps towards finalising your agreement. *Note that there is an additional cost for joint information sessions of $440 incl GST.

We’ll take you through the process and what to expect, answering your questions and explaining your options.

3. Document and lodge your agreement

This is where we take the reigns and turn your instructions into a draft Application for Consent Orders for you both to review and confirm. This will occur within 1-2 weeks from receiving completed instructions.

If there is anything further we need from you, either information or clarification, one of our friendly team will be in touch.

Once you’re both happy with the documents, we can finalise them for signing and lodging with the Court. Then we wait for it to be reviewed.

NOTE: If you seek legal advice about the fairness of your agreement, the law only allows us to act for and provide advice to one of you. We work with lots of friendly family lawyers from other firms who can assist the other party if they seek their own advice. We are happy to provide recommendations.

4. Finalise

Your agreement will then be reviewed and approved by the Court, and then you’re done!

Steps can now be taken with the appropriate professionals to implement your agreement. For example, if you are transferring a property, this means taking the documents to a conveyancer to arrange the transfer.

If you’re splitting super as part of your agreement, we’ll get the paperwork sorted on that for you too.

Essentials

$3,850*

incl. GST

(plus disbursements)

Orders for the sale or transfer of up to two (2) properties (i.e. your home and/or and investment property) between separating spouses. 

+

Simple property orders relating to items of personalty, motor vehicles and other items of limited monetary value.

Essentials + Super

$4,950*

incl. GST

(plus disbursements)

The Essentials + Super Package OR The Essentials Package

+

Orders to divide your superannuation (excluding Self-Managed Super Funds)

+

All correspondence to the super funds required for your super splitting agreement.

Essentials + Kids

$6,050*

incl. GST

(plus disbursements)

The Essentials + Super Package

Simple parenting orders.

This includes orders about day to day care arrangements and arrangements for special days such as Christmas and school holidays.

Pick the package that is right for you and get in contact to start the process.

Do you:

*Please note that package prices do not include extras or disbursements that may be charged by third parties such as title searches (if required), valuations and reports, ASIC searches and court fees.

** Please note that in some circumstances, an affidavit and/or letter to the Court may be recommended to complete your application. If you engage us to prepare these documents for you, additional fees will apply.

We also provide fixed fee services in:

When you pay for a Forward>> solution, we will hold the money in trust until your matter is finalised and then send you an invoice. This invoice will include the costs of any disbursements (i.e. additional title searches or valuation fees).

Legal Advice and Dispute resolution

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to handle conflict peacefully. 

There are endless reasons why couples separate. The Australian legal system treats the symptoms but rarely looks at the causes of a relationship breakdown.

Focusing on legal issues alone does not always resolve conflict, even once matters are settled. Exploring the cause of a separation can often result in a better outcome for everyone.

We provide you with support to address the legal issues and can also work with you to identify other issues that may disrupt an agreement or cause ongoing conflict. We work with other professionals such as financial planners and psychologists to provide well-rounded support and advice.

We offer and provide services and/or representation in the following:

  • Mediation (as your representative during the mediation process or as a mediator)
  • Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice (“collaborative law”)
  • Lawyer-supported negotiation
  • Parenting Co-ordination (as your parenting co-ordinator)
  • Arbitration
  • Court representation in select matters only

Contact us

for a free 20 comfort call to find out more.

Download our guide

5 Steps to an
Amicable Divorce

CONFLICT COACHING

Coaching by Balance is a distinct and separate service to our family law services and is premised on self-determination and client-generated solutions, choices and possibilities. 

The coaching focus is on helping people gain awareness and new perspectives to make changes that optimise their interpersonal relationships.

Please email Pepe at perpetua@balancefamilylaw.com.au or click here to request a copy of our conflict coaching form “Preparing for your First Coaching Session”

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AWARDS

Finalist - Corporate Kindness Awards

Issued by Corporate Kindness Awards · Winners announced April 2022

Winner - Sole Practitioner of the Year

Issued by Australian Law Awards · Dec 2021

Winner – Partner of the Year (Family Law)

Issued by Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards · Nov 2021

Winner - Service Business Award

Issued by Ausmumpreneur Awards · Sep 2021

Winner - Service Business of the Year

Issued by Roar Awards · Sep 2021

Winner - Innovation Award for Legal Education and Change Initiatives

Issued by APAC Insider · Aug 2021

Winner - Top Boutique Law Firm 2021

Issued by Australasian Lawyers · Aug 2021

Winner- Boutique Law Firm of the Year

Issued by APAC Insider · Aug 2021

Finalist - Boutique Law Firm of the Year

Issued by Australian Law Awards · Jun 2021

Finalist - Innovator of the Year Award (Company)

Issued by Australian Law Awards · Jun 2021

Finalist - Innovator of the Year Award (Individual)

Issued by Australian Law Awards · Jun 2021

Finalist – 30 Under 30 Award (Family Law)

Issued by Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 Awards · Apr 2021

Winner - Rising Stars in Family Law

Issued by Global Corp Media · Mar 2021

Finalist -Rising Star Ausmumpreneur of the Year

Issued by Ausmumpreneur Awards · 2021

Finalist -Social Change Hero

Issued by Roar Awards · 2021

Winner - Boutique Law Firm of the Year

Issued by Australian Law Awards · Sep 2020

Winner - Family Law Firm of the Year

Issued by Corporate Live Wire · Sep 2020

Winner - Service Business Award

Issued by Ausmumpreneurs · Sep 2020

Winner -Emerging Mumpreneur

Issued by Ausmumpreneur · Sep 2020

Finalist - Sole Practitioner of the Year

Issued by Australian Law Awards · Aug 2020

Winner - Rising Stars of Family Law

Issued by APEC Insider · Jul 2020

Winner – Family Law Firm of the Year (Australia)

Issued by International Advisory Experts (IAG) 2020

Outside of Balance, I am an adjunct lecturer and assessor with the College of Law in the ACT. In this role, I lecture and mentor future lawyers in the ACT and surrounding regions, as they complete their Practical Legal Training (which is the course you are required to complete to be able to practice as a lawyer).

When I am not lawyering I love to travel and have already made it to 18 countries across Europe and Asia. My personal goal is to travel to every continent, including Antarctica. My favourite destination so far is Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland, where I skydived over the Swiss Alps!

My innovative approach to law has seen me, and Balance Family Law recognised with over 23 national and international awards and accolades since 2020 including the prestigious Lawyer’s Weekly Family Law Partner of the Year 2021, Australian Law Awards Sole Practitioner of the Year 2021, Australian Law Awards Boutique Law Firm of the Year 2020 and the Gold Ausmumpreneur Award for a Service Business in 2020 and 2021. I have also received consecutive Chief Minister’s Awards for Excellence for my work with families and children on the frontline during my time working in child protection. In 2022 and 2023, I was invited to be a Judge at the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards, and Partner of the Year Awards, and the National Ausmumpreneur Awards.

As one of Australia’s most respected family lawyers and a gamechanger in the lawyer space, I look forward to working with you to navigate this challenging time in your life.