Find your feet after divorce

A divorce doesn’t have to be the end – with the right legal advice and support, it can give you an opportunity to start fresh.

If you have been separated for 12 months, we can apply for a divorce on your behalf with the Family Court of Australia. We will process, file and serve your divorce swiftly, allowing you to move forward with your life.

Good advice and support is essential if you want to move onto the next stage of your life free of financial hardship and stress.

Services

Free initial consultation

Divorce is intensely personal.

It’s crucial that you find a divorce lawyer in Melbourne who understands your needs, and who you’re comfortable confiding in.

Your initial consultation with CBD Family Lawyers is free-of-charge, and you won’t be obliged to use our services. In addition to mapping out how your matter can be resolved, this also allows you to determine whether we’re the right team for you.

Fixed-fee divorce

One of the most stressful parts of divorcing is not knowing how your financial situation will be impacted. “Will I have enough money to live on my own?”

During the divorce process, every little bit of security and reassurance can make a world of difference. That’s why we offer fixed fee divorce – at least you won’t have to worry about legal fees spiralling out of control.

Divorce lawyers you can understand

The last thing you need during a time as sensitive as a divorce is complex legal jargon muddying the waters.

Your future should be something that you’re in the driver’s seat for. And you can’t do that if you can’t understand what’s happening. Our divorce lawyers in Melbourne speak in plain English, allowing you to make the best decision for your future.

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Applying for a divorce: everything you need to know

Divorce can be a major turning point in your life, as well as the lives of all parties directly involved. If you ask us however, it shouldn’t mean big, sweeping changes for your family.

As much as possible, we focus on keeping both parties’ finances and circumstances stable following a divorce – our focus is on allowing you to regain your independence and move on with your life, while also being present to care for your children.

Unlike in the movies, the majority of those who go through a relationship breakdown do not end up in Court.

In most situations, divorce applications can be processed without ever setting foot in a courtroom, minimising stress and disruption.

You can make an application to the Family Court of Australia after you have been separated for a period of at least 12 months.

However, you will not need to wait for this period for a property settlement.

A divorce application will not deal with parenting arrangements or a property settlement. A separate process deals with these issues.

A divorce application is simply concerned with the dissolution of marriage.

It generally takes approximately 12 weeks for a divorce application to be determined once it has been filed with the Court.

Once the divorce is finalised the Court will forward a Sealed Order confirming the outcome of the application.

For your divorce application to be accepted, it must first be served to your spouse. If your spouse can’t be found, an application for substituted service or an application to dispense with service altogether will need to be made.

If granted, it is possible to serve the application for divorce through alternate channels such as email or any other appropriate means.

Are either yourself or your spouse Australian citizens? Do you regard Australia as home? Do you intend to live in Australia indefinitely, or ordinarily reside in Australia? Have you lived in Australia for 12 months prior to the application for divorce?

If so, you can apply for a divorce through Australian courts, regardless of where your marriage was first registered.

More than just divorce applications

In many cases, the dissolution of the marriage itself is straightforward – it’s what comes afterwards that causes stress

The major point of contention in divorce cases often comes afterwards, as you and your spouse decide what happens to your wealth, assets, property, and children.

The right divorce lawyer can be the difference between being present to raise your children and living independently, and leaving your marriage unhappy and without financial stability.

As trained mediators, our team can help both you and your spouse come to a solution that allows both parties to start the next chapters of their lives, without the financial strain and vitriol that often comes with litigation.

A divorce lawyer will work with you and your partner to ensure that both of you are left in positions that allow you to live a happy and independent life.

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