FAMILY LAW

Parenting Arrangements Lawyers Wangaratta

Working out where the children live, and how both parents stay part of their lives, is the hardest part of any separation. We help North East families settle it with as little conflict as possible.

The children come first, in law and in practice

Australian family law starts from one principle: the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration. That covers the benefit of a meaningful relationship with both parents, protection from harm, and practical matters like school, health and the child's own views as they mature. Everything else, including what either parent wants, comes second. The arrangements that work are the ones built around the children, and those are also the ones courts will approve.

Three ways to settle parenting arrangements

Parenting plan. A written agreement between parents covering living arrangements, time with each parent, school, holidays and communication. Quick and flexible, but not legally enforceable. Suits parents who communicate well.
Consent orders. The agreement filed with the Federal Circuit and Family Court and made into enforceable court orders, without anyone attending a hearing. For most separated families this is the destination we recommend: the cooperation of a parenting plan with the certainty of orders.
Parenting orders. Where agreement cannot be reached, the Court decides. Before filing, most parents must attempt family dispute resolution and obtain a section 60I certificate. We prepare your case thoroughly and represent you throughout, while keeping the door to settlement open at every stage.

The situations we help with most

Reaching first arrangements immediately after separation
Formalising an informal arrangement that has been working
Changing arrangements as children grow or circumstances change
Relocation, where one parent wants to move with the children
Grandparents and other significant people seeking time with children
Urgent matters involving family violence or child safety, including intervention orders

Local matters, heard locally

Living regionally changes the practicalities: distances between households, school catchments, and where matters are heard. We appear regularly in the registries and circuits that serve the North East, and we build arrangements that actually work across country distances rather than city assumptions. With offices in Wangaratta, Myrtleford and Wodonga, the advice is local too.

Parenting and property together

Parenting arrangements and the division of property are separate legal processes, but for most families they are settled around the same table. See our property settlement in Wangaratta page for how the financial side works, and our divorce lawyers Wangaratta page for the divorce application itself.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

In most cases, no. If the divorce is uncontested and paperwork is correct, it can be granted without either party attending. We handle the entire process for you.

The court considers each party's financial and non-financial contributions, future needs, and the overall fairness of the proposed split. We help negotiate a fair outcome.

Parenting arrangements can be agreed between parties or ordered by the court. The primary consideration is always the best interests of the children.

Consent orders are legally binding orders made by the Family Court that formalise an agreement between separating partners regarding property or parenting. They provide certainty without the cost of a contested hearing.

You can apply to the court for disclosure orders requiring your ex to produce financial records. If they fail to disclose, the court can draw adverse inferences. We can guide you through this process.

Next step

A confidential conversation costs nothing and settles most of the uncertainty. See our broader family law services, meet our team, or contact us to arrange a time at our Wangaratta, Myrtleford or Wodonga office.