When a relationship ends, it can feel like everything you've worked for is suddenly uncertain. If you're worried about the children, the house or how you'll manage, please know those worries are completely understandable — and that there is a way through this. I'm Elisa Rothschild, principal at Fogarty Oliver Rothschild, and I've practised family law since 2012. I'm admitted in Victoria and to the High Court of Australia, which enables me to act in family law matters Australia-wide. Family law is federal: the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) applies in Ipswich exactly as it does in Melbourne, and Queensland de facto couples are covered by the same Act. I work with Ipswich clients by video, phone and email, and I look after every matter myself, taking the time to answer your questions properly.
Ipswich families and separation
Ipswich has changed a great deal, with young families buying in growth areas like Springfield, Ripley and Redbank Plains, often commuting into Brisbane for work. Separating with a newer home, a sizeable mortgage and young children brings real pressure, and I'll help you understand what's fair and what's possible before any big decision is made.
Ipswich is also home to RAAF Base Amberley, and Defence families face their own challenges: postings, deployments and long absences. Parenting arrangements can be designed around those realities, and Defence superannuation can be split as part of a property settlement like any other super. I'll make sure those details are handled with care.
Consent orders and Binding Financial Agreements
If you and your former partner have reached an agreement, consent orders make it final and enforceable. I draft the orders, check the financial disclosure behind them, and explain every clause before you sign. They're filed online with a $205 court fee and decided by a registrar on the papers, without anyone attending court. Property orders must be just and equitable, and parenting orders must be in the children's best interests.
A Binding Financial Agreement is the private alternative under the Family Law Act, and can be made before, during or after a relationship. Each of you needs independent legal advice before signing, so I act for one of you only.
Divorce and time limits
Once you've been separated for 12 months, you can apply for divorce, on your own or jointly, through the Commonwealth Courts Portal. The filing fee is $1,125, or $375 with a concession. Divorce doesn't divide property, and time limits apply: generally 12 months from the divorce taking effect, or two years from separation for de facto couples.
Applications are filed online, so agreed matters don't require a court visit. If a hearing is ever needed, the court allocates the registry, and I appear by video link where the court permits, or in person where required.
What it costs
My fees for Queensland clients are lower than my Victorian fees, because I'd rather you get advice early than worry about the cost. A joint divorce application is $750 and a sole application $990. Consent orders are $990 for property only or parenting only, and $1,490 for both. A straightforward BFA starts from $1,490, and complex agreements range from $2,990 to $4,950. Court fees are extra. Your fee is confirmed in writing after the free 30-minute consultation, before any work starts.
If the home is being transferred between you, Queensland generally exempts transfers made under family law orders or a BFA from transfer duty, subject to conditions — we check this before anything is finalised.
Your safety matters most
If you or your children are in danger, call 000. For confidential support, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Domestic violence protection orders are made under Queensland law by the Magistrates Court. Please tell me about any safety concerns at the very start, so we can make sure any arrangement keeps you and the children safe.
Frequently asked questions — family law in Ipswich
Can a Melbourne family lawyer act for me in Ipswich?+
Yes. Family law is federal, so the Family Law Act 1975 applies in Queensland exactly as 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 enables me to act in family law matters Australia-wide, and I work with Ipswich clients by video and phone.
My partner is in the ADF. Can their super be split?+
Yes. Defence superannuation is treated as property in family law and can be split by consent orders or a Binding Financial Agreement. The valuation rules for these schemes can be different, so it's important to get the figures right.
How do parenting arrangements work with postings or deployments?+
Parenting orders and plans can allow for periods away, make-up time and communication by phone or video while a parent is deployed. What matters most is that the arrangement works for the children.
How much does a divorce cost for Ipswich clients?+
My fixed fee for Queensland clients is $750 for a joint application and $990 for a sole one, plus the $1,125 court filing fee ($375 with a concession). Your fee is confirmed in writing before any work starts.
What happens in the free 30-minute consultation?+
You tell me about your situation and what's worrying you, and I give you an honest picture of your options, the likely next steps and roughly what it would cost. It's by video or phone, confidential, and there's no obligation.
Family law help for Ipswich, 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 Ipswich families — calmly, honestly, and always on your side.
Divorce lawyer in Ipswich
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 Ipswich
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 Ipswich
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.