Family Law
Family Law
Separation is rarely simple, and service life adds its own complications. Veterans First Legal acts for veterans and their families going through separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and the division of assets at the end of a relationship.
Our job is to make the process easier with advice you can rely on and representation that holds up when it counts. We consider every avenue available to you, from mediation and negotiation to litigation, and we recommend the path that genuinely suits your circumstances.
Once you understand your rights and your obligations, the decisions ahead become much clearer. We'll explain where you stand and work with you towards a workable resolution on divorce, separation, parenting arrangements, property division, spousal maintenance, financial agreements, mediation and litigation.
What We Help With
Divorce and separation
Preparing your application for divorce, filing the application with the Court, arranging service of the application on your former spouse and appearing in Court on your behalf.
Parenting and children
Assisting with the drafting of parenting plans and parenting orders and applying to the Court for parenting orders when consent from the other parent cannot be obtained. Where necessary, applying to the Court for urgent applications, child recovery orders, and injunctions.
Property settlements
Acting for you in obtaining orders for the division of assets including financial disclosure, valuation of assets, negotiating orders and applying to the Court where consent cannot be obtained.
Spousal maintenance
Assessing whether a claim for spousal maintenance is realistic, negotiating agreements and consent orders. Applying to the Court for spousal maintenance orders where consent cannot be obtained. Responding to a claim against you, varying or discharging existing orders, and enforcement where payments aren't made.
Binding financial agreements
Preparing financial agreements before, during or after a relationship, independent advice where your partner's lawyer has prepared one, reviewing existing agreements for enforceability and acting in applications to set aside, and defending them.
Dispute Resolution
Advising whether proceedings are the right step and when they aren't, pre-action procedures, disclosure and genuine steps correspondence, preparing and filing applications and affidavit material with the Court, briefing counsel and representing your interests in Court.
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Military-Specific Considerations
Military superannuation
DFRDB, MSBS and ADF Super don't behave like ordinary accumulation funds. Splitting orders have to be drafted so the trustee can act on them. An undervalued interest or a defective order is expensive to revisit later.
DVA payments and compensation
Pensions, compensation payments and lump sums each raise different questions in a family law matter — how they're characterised, whether they form part of the asset pool, and how they affect the assessment of future needs.
Postings and deployment
A posting cycle makes fixed fortnightly parenting arrangements hard to sustain, and deployment means periods of absence that need planning for rather than litigating over. Parenting arrangements should be built to survive both. Relocation following a posting raises separate legal questions.
Relocation disputes
Acting for veterans in parenting matters involving relocation especially when one party is required to move for work and consent from the other party is hard to obtain.
Dependent child compensation
Veterans assessed at 80 or more impairment points may be entitled to receive additional compensation for each dependent child. After separation, whether that payment follows the child — and how it's counted for child support, property and maintenance — needs proper advice.
Serving Veterans Across Australia
Veterans First Legal acts for current and former ADF membersand their families, and we understand the context you're dealing with.
We provide family law services across Australia, excluding Western Australia, and appear in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Most matters resolve without a final hearing. Where court is unavoidable, you'll have someone who can explain what happens next and why.
Ready to Discuss Your Situation?
Our team is here to help you understand your options.