Getting the Right Family Law Advice

When you see a family lawyer for the first time, you might not know what to expect. Most people have never been through a separation, and many have never dealt with a lawyer at all. That makes it hard to know what good advice looks like. 

You can read a great deal online, and most clients arrive having searched terms like “Family Court property settlement”, “divorce in Australia” or “parenting arrangements in Australia”. General information has its place, but it cannot account for your situation, and no two matters are ever exactly the same. A first meeting is your chance to test whether a lawyer understands what you are actually dealing with. 

Why the right advice matters 

Value comes from an experienced family lawyer who takes your particular circumstances, applies the law to them and explains what it means for you. They set out the options for different processes and, most importantly, give you a strategy based on the law, the process and their experience. Good advice turns a mass of general information into a plan that fits your circumstances, so you understand not just the rules but what they mean for the decisions in front of you. 

Nothing is guaranteed in family law. A good lawyer works several moves ahead, like a strong chess player, and has a counter ready when the other side does something unexpected. Ask what could go wrong and how they would respond, not only what could go right. 

Five tips for getting the right advice 

• Choose a firm whose lawyers focus only on family law. That focus breeds a culture of learning and shared knowledge that you benefit from, usually at no extra cost to you. 
• Make an appointment as soon as possible after you separate, so you understand the law and the process as they apply to your case. Getting advice does not mean you will be forced to go to court. Choose a lawyer who will offer a one-off appointment so you can absorb the information without pressure to sign up. 
• Be prepared for your appointment, and bring the questions and documents that matter to your situation. 
• Ask your lawyer for their strategy for your case. If they cannot give you one, ask them why. 
• Pay for the advice. You do not have to go to the most expensive lawyer in town, but in most things you get what you pay for. The cost of good early advice is usually small next to the value of the decisions it informs, and the confidence it gives you. 

Advice worth paying for 

For business owners with complex assets, the right advice early is an investment, not a cost. A clear strategy protects your position and helps you avoid expensive mistakes later. An early view of how the law treats a company, trust or investment portfolio helps you protect your position before any step is taken. 

A first meeting should leave you with a clear understanding of the law as it applies to you, a view on the likely outcomes, and an indication of cost. If a lawyer cannot set that out clearly at the outset, that tells you something too. A clear, early strategy usually costs far less than unpicking a poor decision later, and it means you are not making choices in the dark, which is where the most expensive mistakes tend to happen. 

As the largest team of specialist family lawyers in WA, we are in your corner from start to finish. Book a free 15-minute consultation with Leach Legal to get advice built around your circumstances.