Children Matters: Child Custody Lawyers

We’re child custody lawyers supporting Ipswich parents. Making arrangements for children following divorce or separation can be extremely complex and a highly stressful time for both parents involved, as well as the children. Whether you’re looking for advice, family mediation, parenting plans, or a consent order, our child custody lawyers can help.

Children Matters & Custody Law

Following divorce or separation, the children of the relationship will be within the jurisdiction of the Family Law Act. The Family Law Act will stipulate who can spend time with the children, as well as when and how. The court will take a range of factors into consideration, and the law works to act in the best interest of the children. Any issues that may affect the child or put the child into danger or harm will be considered heavily before a decision is made.

It’s important to seek professional advice around child custody and children matters as the legal considerations and arrangements can be highly complex. These arrangements can be made outside of court through Consent Orders or Parenting Plans. This is something we highly recommend, it offers a simpler process and relieves some of the stress that comes with taking matters to court — it also keeps costs lower. We also believe it offers the child a better experience.

Book a Consultation

Our $150 in-depth consultation is an initial consultation where we will discuss your situation in detail and provide thorough advice on the next steps you should take to resolve your matter.

10 Minute Free Telephone Consultation

Or, you can get a free 10 minute phone consultation to find if our services suit your specific needs

Our Child Custody Lawyers

We’re highly experienced child custody lawyers with a strong background in family law and children matters. We care for our clients and their families, so we’ll always work to keep costs down for you where possible. We believe in keeping family matters out of court where we can, so we can offer a better and more cost-effective experience to you. We’re lucky to have a very experienced team on-hand to support you. When you partner with our firm, you’ll always speak directly to your lawyer, not an assistant or junior lawyer.

Family Mediation Ipswich

Successful family mediation is always more cost-effective than taking matters to court. It also prevents a lot of stress for the family. It is smart to take matters into mediation before taking matters to court. Taking matters to court in the early stages can incur high fees and find both parties to become ‘stuck’ in their positions and may be less willing to negotiate.

Family mediators will be impartial and will not side with either party. In issues regarding children and family matters, it’s always best if both parties can come to an agreement they both respect. Family mediation is also ideal because the arrangements can be more flexible, which is more convenient for both parents moving forward. A court can only speak for what the law and cases specifically dictates. In a family mediated agreement, you can come to more flexible agreements that will benefit both parties. If family mediation is tried but it does not work out, you may still take matters to court.

Parenting Plans

A parenting plan is a voluntary agreement between two parents (or grandparents/guardians) that specifies how parents will care for a child. It covers the basics: who the child will live with, how communication between parents and the child will take place (phone call, FaceTime), arrangements for special days (holidays, birthdays), and anything related to decisions around the child and how they will be raised. All the items the parenting plan covers will be individual to the family and shaped to the child and family. Parenting plans may be changed at any time as long as both parties agree. Child support or maintenance may be included in a parenting plan but it is a slightly more complex issue.

Consent Orders

Consent orders are written agreements approved by a court. A consent order may cover parenting arrangements for the child or children. It may cover financial agreements, including property and maintenance. Consent orders are very similar to a parenting plan as they’re created by and agreed on by the parents, however these are made binding by the court, meaning they’re not as flexible. The Family Law Act dictates that the court must still take the child’s safety and best interests into consideration. Consent orders have the same legal standing as if a judicial officer has ordered it following a court hearing.

Book a Consultation

Our $150 in-depth consultation is an initial consultation where we will discuss your situation in detail and provide thorough advice on the next steps you should take to resolve your matter.

10 Minute Free Telephone Consultation

Or, you can get a free 10 minute phone consultation to find if our services suit your specific needs

Children Matters Questions

Consent orders are binding agreements made final by the Family Law Court and court timeframes will vary. However, you should expect a consent order to be processed in somewhere between four and six weeks from the date you file.

In Australia, both parents have equal responsibility to their children under 18 years of age. It means that there are no pre-existing rules about the arrangements made for the child following divorce or separation. The Family Law Act works in the best interest of the child, meaning that if two parents cannot come to an agreement for the child, the law will place the child with the most suitable parent for their safety and wellbeing.

Mediation is used as a way to solve disputes between two people in conflict. So in a child custody situation, two parents may need to go to mediation to have a neutral party help them resolve issues. In Australia, divorced or separated parents are encouraged to seek mediation before taking children’s matters to the Family Court.

Having legal custody of a child means you have the right to make decisions about the child’s upbringing and arrangements. Joint legal custody of a child means that both parents or parties will be entitled to share these decisions. If a parent neglects the child custody arrangements they may be taken back to court to revisit the agreement.

 

Child custody is ordered by the Family Court and is legally mandated. Decisions surrounding child custody will take the child’s safety and wellbeing into consideration, as well as how fit each parent is both mentally and physically to raise the child.

Our Family Law Firm

Our highly professional and knowledgeable child custody lawyers offer cost effective legal solutions to Ipswich families. We always attempt to keep matters out of court and keep our costs down for our clients. Your lawyer will prioritise you in every case and we’ll always communicate openly and honestly using plain language and no legal jargon.

You’ll be communicated with throughout the whole process, so you’ll know what to expect and what your lawyer is doing throughout each stage. We know how stressful child custody cases can be and we’ll work to keep the stress down for you, as well as working to create a comfortable legal experience for you.

Book a Consultation

Our $150 in-depth consultation is an initial consultation where we will discuss your situation in detail and provide thorough advice on the next steps you should take to resolve your matter.

10 Minute Free Telephone Consultation

Or, you can get a free 10 minute phone consultation to find if our services suit your specific needs