Family lawyer for Liverpool and South West Sydney

Liverpool and the suburbs around it are home to a lot of young families, many of them stretching to buy in newer estates like Edmondson Park, Austral and Leppington. When a couple separates with a large mortgage on a newly built home, the questions come quickly: can one of us keep it, should it be sold, what happens to what we've each put in? I'll help you understand your real options before anything is decided.

It's also a community of many cultures and languages. Some families have relatives overseas, married outside Australia, or hold property in another country. You can generally divorce in Australia even if you married overseas, provided at least one of you is an Australian citizen, lives here and regards Australia as home, or has ordinarily lived here for the 12 months before filing — and overseas assets can be part of an Australian property settlement. If you'd find it easier to speak with an interpreter, just tell me.

If you and your former partner have reached an agreement about property, the children or both, consent orders make it binding and enforceable. I draft the application and orders, check that the financial disclosure supports them, and explain every clause before you sign. They're filed online with the Federal Circuit and Family Court for a $205 fee and decided on the papers — no court appearance.

Some couples prefer a Binding Financial Agreement, a private contract under the Family Law Act that doesn't need a court's approval. It's only binding if each of you gets independent legal advice before signing, so I would act for one of you and your former partner would need their own lawyer.

After 12 months of separation you can apply for divorce, on your own or together, through the Commonwealth Courts Portal. The filing fee is $1,125, or $375 with a concession. Property is a separate step, and there are time limits: generally 12 months after a divorce takes effect, or two years after separating for de facto couples.

Applications are filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal, so for agreed matters nobody needs to go anywhere. 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.

I keep my fees for NSW clients lower than my Victorian fees, because I'd much rather you get good advice early than try to struggle through alone. As a guide: $750 for a joint divorce application and $990 for a sole application; $990 for consent orders covering property only or parenting only, $1,490 for both; and a straightforward BFA from $1,490, with complex agreements from $2,990 to $4,950. Court fees are on top. We confirm your fee in writing after the free 30-minute consultation, before any work starts.

If you or your children are in danger, call 000. For confidential support at any hour, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Apprehended domestic violence orders are made by the NSW Local Court under NSW law, and I can help you understand what needs to happen locally. Please tell me about any safety worries early, so we can make sure any agreement properly protects you and the children.