If you've found your way here, you may be in the middle of one of the hardest things a person can go through. When a relationship ends, so much feels uncertain at once — where you'll live, how the money will work, what this means for your children — and it's normal to feel exhausted by it all. I'm Elisa Rothschild, principal of Fogarty Oliver Rothschild, and I've practised family law since 2012. I'm based in St Kilda, Melbourne, but I'm admitted in Victoria and to the High Court of Australia, which allows me to act in family law matters anywhere in the country. Canberra is a city of busy working lives, and I know that finding time for a lawyer in the middle of a working week can feel like one more impossible task, so I work with Canberra clients by video, phone and email, at times that suit you. I handle every matter myself, so the person you speak to first is the person who sees it through.
The law in Canberra is the same federal law
Family law in Australia is federal. The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) applies in the ACT exactly as it does in Victoria, and it covers de facto couples as well as married couples. Divorce applications and consent orders are filed online with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and if a matter ever needs a court hearing, ACT cases are dealt with through the court's Canberra registry. I appear by video link where the court allows it, or in person where a matter requires it.
Many people who think of Canberra as home actually live over the border in Queanbeyan, Googong or Jerrabomberra, in New South Wales. That doesn't change anything for your family law matter — the same federal Act and the same court apply on both sides of the border. Things that are run under state or territory law, such as family violence orders and duty on property transfers, can differ, and I'll explain how they apply to you.
Superannuation, public service careers and property
A lot of Canberra households have built up much of their wealth in superannuation, often through Commonwealth schemes, and sometimes through defence or university schemes too. Super can be split between separating partners, but the older defined benefit schemes have to be valued in a particular way, and getting that wrong can make a real difference to what each of you ends up with. I'll take the time to understand your situation and explain, in plain language, how your super fits into the overall picture.
Property settlement looks at everything — the home, savings, super, vehicles, debts — together with what each of you contributed and what each of you will need in the future. If you and your former partner can agree, consent orders make that agreement final and binding. My fixed fee for Canberra clients is $990 for consent orders dealing with property only or parenting only, and $1,490 for both, plus the $205 court filing fee. A straightforward Binding Financial Agreement starts from $1,490, and more complex agreements range from $2,990 to $4,950.
Divorce for Canberra clients
You can apply for divorce once you've been separated for 12 months. It can be a joint application, or you can apply on your own. The court filing fee is $1,125, or $375 if you're eligible for the concession rate. My fixed fee for Canberra clients is $750 for a joint application and $990 for a sole application, and I'll walk you through every step so you always know what's happening and why.
Divorce ends the marriage, but it doesn't divide your property. That's a separate step, and there's a time limit: married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce takes effect to apply for property orders, and de facto couples generally have two years from separation. Please don't let those dates slip by while you're getting through everything else — even a short conversation early on can protect your position.
Why my fees for Canberra clients are lower
My fees for ACT clients are lower than my Victorian fees, and that's deliberate. Separation often arrives at the same time as real financial strain — two households to run on the income that used to support one — and I don't want cost to be the reason you go without proper advice. Your fee is confirmed in writing after our free 30-minute consultation, before any work starts, so there are no surprises.
If you're worried about your safety, please reach out for help first. In an emergency call 000, or call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for confidential support at any hour. Family violence orders in the ACT are made by the ACT Magistrates Court under ACT law, and I can help you understand where they fit alongside your family law matter.
Frequently asked questions — family law in Canberra
Can a Melbourne family lawyer really help me in Canberra?+
Yes. Family law is federal, so the Family Law Act 1975 applies in the ACT just as it does in Victoria, and applications are filed online with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. I'm admitted in Victoria and to the High Court of Australia, which allows me to act in family law matters Australia-wide, and I work with Canberra clients by video, phone and email.
I live in Queanbeyan but work in Canberra. Does that change anything?+
Not for the family law itself — the same federal Act and the same court apply in NSW and the ACT. Some things that sit under state or territory law, like family violence orders and duty on property transfers, depend on where you live or where the property is, and I'll explain how those apply to you.
Can my Commonwealth super be split in a property settlement?+
Yes. Superannuation, including Commonwealth public sector schemes, can be split by consent orders, a Binding Financial Agreement or a court order. Some older defined benefit schemes need to be valued in a specific way, so it's worth getting advice before you agree to any figure.
How much does a divorce cost for Canberra clients?+
The court filing fee is $1,125, or $375 at the concession rate. My fixed fee for Canberra clients is $750 for a joint application and $990 for a sole application — lower than my Victorian fees. Your fee is confirmed in writing after a free 30-minute consultation, before any work starts.
Will I have to go to court in Canberra?+
If you and your former partner agree, usually not. Divorce applications and consent orders are filed online and decided on the papers. If a hearing is ever needed, ACT matters go through the Canberra registry, and I appear by video link where the court allows, or in person where required.
What happens in the free 30-minute consultation?+
You tell me what's happening and what's worrying you most, and I listen. Then I give you an honest picture of your options, the likely next steps, what it could cost, and whether you need a lawyer at all for what comes next. It's by video or phone, confidential, and there's no obligation.
Family law help for Canberra, whatever you're facing
Whatever stage you're at, you don't have to work it out on your own. Here's how I help Canberra families — calmly, honestly, and always on your side.
Divorce lawyer in Canberra
From the divorce application itself through to dividing property and sorting arrangements for the children — handled one calm step at a time, in plain English. See how I help with divorce →
Child custody & parenting lawyer in Canberra
Where the children live, time with each parent, and how the big decisions get made — always guided by what's genuinely best for them, never point-scoring. Parenting & children's issues →
Property settlement lawyer in Canberra
Dividing the home, superannuation, savings and debts fairly, with as little conflict as possible. How property settlement works → · What a family lawyer costs →
Reviewed by Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB — Principal Lawyer, Fogarty Oliver Rothschild. Last reviewed 2026-05-28.