If you're in Parramatta and your relationship has ended, I'm sorry — it's one of the hardest things anyone goes through. Most people who contact me are worried about the same things: the children, the house, and whether they'll be all right financially. You don't need to have it all worked out before you call. 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 Parramatta exactly as it does in Melbourne, de facto couples are covered by the same Act as married couples, and applications are filed online with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. I work with Parramatta clients by video, phone and email, and I handle every matter myself.
Separating in Parramatta and Western Sydney
Parramatta is a place a lot of people have built their lives around — close to work in the CBD or at Westmead, with family nearby and children settled at local schools. When a relationship ends, those connections often matter as much as the money: who stays in the home, how the children keep their routines, and how both parents stay part of their lives.
Many families in the area have bought apartments or homes in a rising market, sometimes with help from parents, and some have extended family living with them or relatives overseas. Those are all things the law can take into account, and I'll take the time to understand your family's situation properly rather than treating it as a template.
Consent orders and Binding Financial Agreements
If you and your former partner can agree, even on most things, consent orders are usually the calmest way to finish. I draft the Application for Consent Orders and the proposed orders, check the financial disclosure behind them, and go through every clause with you before you sign. They're filed online with a $205 court fee and decided on the papers, so neither of you has to go to 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: a contract under the Family Law Act that divides property and superannuation without court approval. It can be made before you marry or move in together, during the relationship, or after separating. Each of you needs independent legal advice, so I act for one of you only.
Divorce, time limits and the Parramatta registry
You can apply for divorce once you've been separated for 12 months, either on your own or jointly, through the Commonwealth Courts Portal. The court filing fee is $1,125, or $375 if you're eligible for the concession. Divorce doesn't divide property, so that's a separate step — and the time limits matter: generally 12 months from the divorce taking effect if you were married, or two years from separating if you were in a de facto relationship.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court has a registry in Parramatta. Agreed matters rarely need anyone to attend, but if a hearing is needed I appear by video link where the court permits, or in person where the matter requires it, and brief local counsel if that's ever needed so you're not juggling two sets of lawyers.
What it costs
I know separation can put enormous pressure on a household budget, and I don't want cost to be the thing that stops you getting proper advice. That's why my fees for NSW clients are lower than my Victorian fees: $750 for a joint divorce application and $990 for a sole one; $990 for consent orders covering property only or parenting only, and $1,490 for both; and a straightforward BFA from $1,490 (more complex agreements $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 you don't feel safe
Your safety and your children's safety come first. In an emergency call 000, and for confidential support call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Apprehended domestic violence orders (ADVOs) are made by the NSW Local Court under NSW law. Please tell me about any safety concerns at the start, because they change what belongs in any parenting arrangement, and I'll help you work out what needs to happen locally.
Frequently asked questions — family law in Parramatta
Can a Melbourne family lawyer act for me in Parramatta?+
Yes. Family law is federal, so the Family Law Act 1975 applies in NSW 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 Parramatta clients by video and phone.
Will I have to go to the court in Parramatta?+
For an agreed outcome, almost certainly not. Divorce and consent order applications are filed online and decided on the papers. If a contested hearing is ever needed, I appear by video link where the court permits, or in person where required.
How much does a divorce cost for Parramatta clients?+
My fixed fee for NSW clients is $750 for a joint application and $990 for a sole application, plus the court filing fee of $1,125 ($375 with a concession). Your fee is confirmed in writing after the free consultation and before any work starts.
My parents helped us buy our home. Does that matter?+
It can. Money from family may be treated as a gift or a loan, and how it's treated can affect the property settlement. It depends on the evidence and the circumstances, so it's worth talking through in the free consultation before you agree to anything.
We were never married. Does family law still apply to us?+
Yes. De facto couples in NSW are covered by the federal Family Law Act for property and parenting matters. The main difference is the time limit for property: generally two years from separating, rather than 12 months from a divorce.
What happens in the free 30-minute consultation?+
You tell me what's happening and what worries you most, and I listen. Then 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 Parramatta, 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 Parramatta families — calmly, honestly, and always on your side.
Divorce lawyer in Parramatta
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 Parramatta
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 Parramatta
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.