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Parenting (child custody)

All families are different. When making arrangements for parenting our family lawyers, make sure the child custody arrangements are practical and in the children’s best interests.

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Why you need a family lawyer for
parenting (child custody)

Financial Assets

Guiding you through the child custody process

The child custody process can be an emotional and stressful experience for both parents and children. A family lawyer can help guide you through the process to minimise uncertainty by ensuring all parties remain well informed.

Timely Legal Services

Ensuring your child’s best interest are considered

Throughout the child custody process, the best interests of your child or children will remain at the forefront of our approach. We will help you understand your options and the potential impacts on children so you can make the decisions that will achieve the best possible outcome for each child’s future.

Dispute Resolution

Keeping the process amicable

It is important to keep discussions amicable during the child custody process to minimise the stress on all parties, including the children. A family lawyer can help you and your partner understand custody options and their impacts, and will endeavour to assist you to reach an agreement in a cordial manner.

Financial Assets

Helping you achieve the outcomes you need to move on

We want the best for you and your family, and we will strive to achieve the best possible result for all parties as quickly and painlessly as possible. We’ll work with you to achieve the result you desire to move on with your family.

Frequently asked questions

Unfortunately, sometimes agreements cannot be reached between a couple regarding the custody of their children. In this case, it is important to seek legal advice to help you move forward with proceedings through the Family Court.
The outcome of child custody matters varies depending on the circumstances of each individual case. If the court believes shared parenting is not in the child’s best interest, the court will produce parenting orders to define which parent has responsibility for the child or children.

Child custody matters are never easy, but there are some things you can do to make the process a little more bearable, including:

  • Look into a positive parenting program or a post-separation parenting program. These programs are valuable and many of them can be completed online.
  • Don't delay the process. It is important to get proceedings underway as soon as possible. The longer you delay, the more difficult it is to repair your relationship with the children.
  • Take every opportunity to spend time with the children even if it's not on your terms. Having extended periods of time away from the children also makes it more difficult to rebuild the relationship with them when arrangements are considered later down the track.
  • It is important to get help if you are struggling with child custody matters, either through counselling or reaching out to those around you.
  • Finally, you should seek legal advice to get a good understanding of the child custody process and how you can move forward.
A parenting plan is a written agreement between parties that defines parenting arrangements for the children of the relationship. A parenting plan is not filed with the court and can be done with or without legal assistance.
A consent order is a written agreement between parties that can cover parenting arrangements and financial arrangements. A consent order must be filed with the court. The court will decide if the agreement should be made into a legally binding order. Some refer to these as child court orders.
Each parent has a responsibility for their child until they turn 18 years old. This responsibility is not impacted by divorce, separation or becoming remarried. The courts make orders regarding responsibilities if parties cannot agree on arrangements for children. These are known as parenting orders.
Parenting orders detail how the responsibility of children will be allocated after the parents have separated, including where the children live, parenting responsibilities, handover arrangements, etc. The court considers what is in the child or children’s bests interest when making a parenting order.

Why choose us

We will tell you the truth at all times

We will be honest with you about your prospects of success, issues that arise or the commercial viability of your matter. The first time you come to see us, we will tell you whether you even need a lawyer.

We will respect you and your situation

Our job is not to judge anything you may have done. Our job is to guide your matter and actions moving forward to give you the best possible outcome for you, both legally and personally.

We will listen and understand your needs

We will hear not just what you want to achieve, but why you want to achieve it. We will tell you what you need to do to achieve the outcome you are after, legally, practically and emotionally.

We will stand by you all the way

Your matter doesn’t finish once a court order has been made. We will stay on your matter right up until all of the outstanding issues have been dealt with and the court orders are complied with.

We can help you through your divorce.

Forge Legal’s divorce lawyers are specialists in all areas of family law and can assist you with all legal matters in your divorce/separation.

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