Blackwood Family Lawyers is a specialist family law firm in Melbourne, with a client focused approach.
Our skilled and caring team of family lawyers provide high quality legal advice, guidance and legal representation in all aspects of family law, including separations, divorce, parenting arrangements and property and financial settlements.
We understand the stress of a relationship breakdown. We'll help you move forward by providing you with clear advice about your legal rights and entitlements and by assisting you to identify your goals and priorities. We'll empower you to make informed decisions about your future, and use our experience to ensure you obtain the best possible outcome.
Our team of dedicated family lawyers includes 8 Accredited Family Law Specialists.
As expert problem solvers, we’ll work to resolve your family law issues in a straightforward and practical way, even where those issues are very complex.
We want a great future for you, and if you have children, for them too. This means that in most instances we can help you reach a fair and just outcome with your former partner by agreement, and if you are amicable, achieve this in a way that minimises conflict and maintains a respectful relationship between you.
If an agreement with your former partner isn’t possible, and Court proceedings are necessary, our experienced and tenacious family lawyers will advocate strongly for you in Court. What sets us apart from other family lawyers? Well, we are proactive, not reactive, anticipating issues before they arise and heading them off when we can. We are direct and honest. We take the time to listen to you and understand your priorities. We will tell you what is achievable and what is not, so you can focus your energy, time and money on what really matters – you and your family.
We communicate clearly and directly, in plain language without all the usual legal jargon. We provide practical guidance and realistic advice – even when that is sometimes hard to hear. We are commercial and upfront and clear about legal costs. And above all else, we genuinely care.
But don’t just take our word for it - read the Google reviews below from our wonderful clients and their experience with us.
Our experienced family lawyers can assist with matters across all areas of family law including:
Our team of dedicated and professional family lawyers in Melbourne includes 8 Accredited Family Law
Specialists.
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Unsure where to start?
You're not alone — and the right advice starts here. Our FAQs answer the most common questions we hear from people taking their first steps in family law.
You're not legally required to have a family lawyer if you're separating - but it's sensible to do so.
Separation often involves significant emotional and financial decisions. Getting advice from an experienced family lawyer can help you avoid costly mistakes and position you for the best possible outcome, legally, financially and emotionally.
At Blackwood Family Lawyers, we guide you through your legal options — whether you're dealing with divorce, separation, parenting arrangements, property and financial settlement or a combination of these — always with a focus on practical solutions and your and your family's wellbeing.
We're known for being among the best family lawyers in Melbourne, and we take pride in giving clear, strategic advice — tailored to your situation.
Even a one-off consultation can make a big difference - helping you understand your options and giving you the clarity and direction you need to make informed decisions.
Your first meeting with one of our family lawyers is a chance to get clear, practical advice tailored to your situation.
In contrast to what some other family lawyers offer, our first appointments are not just a meet and greet. In most cases, we can give you clear advice about your entitlements and the realistic outcome you can expect. We'll also set out a pathway to resolve matters in a way that is most likely to give you the best result and least likely to lead to ongoing conflict.
You don't need to have everything figured out before you meet with us — just bring any relevant documents and your questions. We'll talk you through your legal options, explain your rights and responsibilities, and help you understand what comes next.
For most people, this is their first experience with family law. It's natural to search for information on the internet - and there is a lot of it. General information can be helpful, but it's important to get expert advice and guidance relevant to your circumstances. We'll advise what is best for you based on our in-depth knowledge and practical experience from many family law cases.
We recommend you get advice as early as possible, even if it seems difficult. In general, the earlier you obtain advice, the more control you'll have over what comes next. Ideally, it's best to see us before you separate or as soon as you can after you separate. If you've already been separated some time, it's not too late to see us for the best family law advice.
After their first meeting with us, many of our clients say we provided them with clarity, direction, and a sense of control — and our 5-star Google reviews reflect that experience.
At Blackwood Family Lawyers, we're upfront and clear about costs. We don't offer Legal Aid or free first consultations, but we do focus on value and results.
If you're looking for a trusted, approachable family lawyer in Melbourne, we're here to help you take the first step with confidence.
Australian family law recognises that couples can be separated even if they're still living under the same roof. This is common, especially when there are financial pressures or a lack of alternative housing options.
What matters is that at least one person has made it clear to the other that the relationship has ended and has acted on that communication in some way. You don't need to move out to be legally separated — but separation does need to be more than just a feeling.
The date of separation isn't always critical, but it can affect things like:
If you're unsure what to do next, we're here to help.
Our Melbourne-based family lawyers can advise you on your rights and responsibilities while you're still living together — and how to position yourself to obtain the best outcome in negotiations or court proceedings about parenting arrangements or property division.
If you've recently separated, working out where your children live and how they spend time with each parent is one of the most important - and often most sensitive - issues to resolve.
At Blackwood Family Lawyers, we work hard to keep things respectful and constructive. We're focused on finding solutions, not fuelling conflict.
Whether your matter is resolved through negotiation or requires court proceedings, we bring a calm, child-focused approach.
Most of our clients reach agreement about parenting matters, either through direct discussions with their partners or with our assistance, without going to Court.
If you and your partner can agree, we can help you document the agreement, so everyone is clear on the arrangements. This can be done as a Parenting Plan or a legally binding Court Order made by consent, depending on which is most appropriate for your situation.
If your matter does go to court, the way your case is prepared and presented to the Court can have a real impact on the outcome. We ensure your position is properly articulated, well-supported by evidence, and aligned with what the Court is required to consider: the best interests of your child.
Throughout the Court process, we'll guide and represent you every step of the way. Our focus is always on resolution, not escalation, and on what will work long term for you and your family, once the court proceedings are behind you.
There's no fixed formula for dividing property after separation. Instead, the law aims for a division of assets, debts and superannuation that's just and equitable — or in plain terms, fair.
When deciding how property should be divided, the Court follows a structured 4-step process:
If you and your former partner already agree on how to divide your assets, we can help formalise that agreement with Consent Orders or a Binding Financial Agreement.
If you and your partner don't agree, we'll assist you through negotiation, mediation, or court — whatever's needed to reach the best outcome for you.
Our clients consistently leave outstanding reviews for the support and results we deliver which is part of why Blackwood Family Lawyers is considered one of the leading family law firms in Melbourne.
You can apply for divorce once you have been separated for 12 months. But you don't need to wait that long to sort out parenting arrangements or divide property.
Divorce is the legal step that ends your marriage, but it's just one part of the broader separation process. In some situations, it might be best to delay the divorce application, for example if certain financial matters are still being resolved. We can advise you on whether that applies to your situation.
The divorce process is handled online through the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. It's usually straightforward, and many people complete the application themselves. That said, we're always here to help - especially if your situation is more complex, or you'd rather not deal with the paperwork. If you're still living under one roof, you'll need to provide extra evidence of separation, including affidavits - and we can assist with that too.
Serving a divorce application is technical and can be complicated if your former partner is not co-operating. We can make sure service of your divorce application is done properly so your divorce is granted.
As well as helping with the divorce application itself, our expert Melbourne based family lawyers can also support you through the more complex issues that often come with separation, like negotiating a property settlement or developing a workable parenting plan.
Have a problem? We can help.
