Byron Bay Family law

Slide Specialised, professional instruction across all types of asset protection Specialised, professional instruction across all types of asset protection

Asset Protection

What is this about?

Careful planning and knowledge of all your legal options helps safeguard your assets and provides peace of mind now and into the future.

Asset protection includes pre-nuptial financial agreements (marriage and de facto relationship), quarantining pre-relationship assets, during relationship inheritances and gifts, and taking urgent steps to prevent the non-consensual depletion of the asset pool available for division.

How We Can Help

Whether in a marriage or a de facto relationship, asset protection may be appropriate for you. Our experience and reputation in pre-relationship, during relationship and post-separation asset protection management means we understand your concerns and offer the best solutions for your situation.

We deal with assets including real estate, investments, possessions, businesses, inheritance and superannuation.

Taking steps to protect your assets can seem daunting, but our bespoke service will deliver the best outcome in even the most complex of cases.

First Steps

If you are seeking early advice about your options or looking to begin a particular process, book a free initial consultation by calling us or filling in our online form.

We’re happy to arrange whichever time and means (in person, telephone, or online) suits you best for this consultation.

Byron Bay Family Law Services

Byron Bay Family Law Services

Asset Protection

Financial Agreements (marriage and de facto relationships)
  • Pre-nuptial agreements
  • During relationship
  • Post-separation
  • Determining how inheritances and gifts received during a relationship are to be treated
  • Determining how your assets will be divided in the event of relationship breakdown
  • Enforcing or challenging your pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement
  • Terminating spousal maintenance rights
  • Urgent court proceedings to prevent depletion of relationship assets
  • Bankruptcy
  • Third parties

Slide What is this about? If you are just seeking early advice about your options, or looking to begin the processes simply book an appointment or or fill in our online form for a free initial consult. We know taking time away from work or commitments can be difficult and are happy to arrange a time in person, telephone or online to suit you. First Steps Byron Bay Family Law provides advice and representation in relation to all asset protection related Family Law matters.

Getting realistic, quality advice early and knowing where you stand can minimise stress as well as costs.

Asset protection includes ‘pre-nuptial’ financial agreements (marriage and de facto relationship), quarantining pre-relationship assets and during relationship inheritances and gifts and taking urgent steps to prevent the non-consensual depletion of the asset pool available for division.
How We Can Help  Whether in a marriage or a de facto relationship, asset protection may be appropriate for you. Our experience and reputation in pre-relationship, during relationship and post-separation asset protection management means we take the time to understand your concerns and offer the best possible solutions based on your specific situation.

Taking steps to protect your assets can be daunting. With our bespoke service, we look to deliver the best outcome even in the most complex of cases.
  • Child Support Agency change of assessment
  • Payments for children and adult children
  • Binding child support agreements
  • International child support
  • Registration and enforcement of overseas child
Mathews
Family Law
Services
  • Determining how inheritances and gifts received during a relationship are to be treated
  • Determining how your assets will be divided in the event of relationship breakdown
  • Enforcing or challenging your pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement
  • Terminating spousal maintenance rights
  • Urgent court proceedings to
  • prevent depletion of relationship assets
  • Bankruptcy
  • Third parties
Asset Protection
Financial Agreements (marriage and de factorelationships)
  • Prenuptial agreements
  • During relationship
  • Post separation

Slide What is this about? If you are seeking early advice about your options or looking to begin a particular process, book a free initial consultation by calling us or filling in our online form.
We’re happy to arrange whichever time and means (in person, telephone, or online) suits you best for this consultation.
First Steps Parenting law covers a diverse and often sensitive range of topics, including; parental responsibility, child’s best interests, same sex parenting, parenting plans, relocation and international parenting issues.
With over 60 years’ combined experience, we understand the importance of giving you options to achieve your parenting goals in a timely manner, while putting your children's best interests first.
How We Can Help  Whatever your family circumstances, Byron Bay Family Law advise and prepare you in all areas of parent and child-related family law issues. We’ll help you reach agreement about parenting arrangements and formalise these with a parenting plan or consent court orders (a written agreement approved by a court).
Alternatively, we can guide you through Family Dispute Resolution (mediation) to negotiate an agreed outcome, without having to go to court. In the event agreements cannot be reached, our experienced litigators will advocate for you and your children in court. Our Parenting Coordination service provides ongoing support with the implementation of complex court orders.
  • Determining how inheritances and gifts received during a relationship are to be treated
  • Determining how your assets will be divided in the event of
    relationship breakdown
  • Enforcing or challenging your pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement
  • Terminating spousal maintenance rights
  • Urgent court proceedings to prevent depletion of relationship assets
  • Bankruptcy
  • Third parties
Mathews
Family Law
Services
(marriage and de facto relationships) Careful planning and knowledge of
all your legal options helps safeguard
your assets and provides peace of
mind now and into the future.
Whether in a marriage or a de facto relationship, asset protection may be appropriate for you. Our experience and reputation in pre-relationship, during relationship and post-separation asset protection management means we
understand your concerns and offer the best solutions for your situation.
If you are seeking early advice about your options or looking to begin a particular process, book a free initial consultation by calling us or filling in our online form. Financial Agreements We deal with assets including real estate, investments, possessions, businesses, inheritance and superannuation. We’re happy to arrange whichever time and means (in person,
telephone, or online) suits you best for this consultation.
Asset protection includes pre-nuptial financial agreements (marriage and de facto relationship), quarantining pre-relationship assets, during relationship inheritances and gifts, and taking urgent steps to prevent the non-consensual depletion of the asset pool available for division. Asset Protection
  • Pre-nuptial agreements
  • During relationship
  • Post-separation
Taking steps to protect your assets can seem daunting, but our bespoke service will deliver the best outcome in even the most complex of cases.
Asset Protection – Financial Agreements
Who should have Financial Agreements?

Common reasons for considering a prenuptial agreement include:

  • ownership of a successful business
  • having children from a previous marriage;
  • having a high level of wealth;
  • having elderly parents;
  • anticipating a sizeable inheritance;
  • having sizeable debt;
  • pursuing a lucrative career;
  • ownership of stock, a home or retirement fund; or
  • avoiding a costly divorce.

Pre-nuptial Agreements – the basics

Financial agreements are binding and enforceable, but only if they are made in a way that follows the procedures required by the Family Law Act.

Financial agreements describe how the property and financial resources are to be divided between the parties if they separate. The agreement may provide for the maintenance of one or both parties.

The agreement must be in writing and signed by each of the parties. It is necessary for each party to have obtained independent legal advice before signing the agreement. Financial agreements can be terminated by written consent or set aside by a court.

Binding Pre-nuptial Agreements

Financial agreements are binding and enforceable, but only if they are made in a way that follows the procedures required by the Family Law Act.

Financial agreements describe how the property and financial resources are to be divided between the parties if they separate. The agreement may provide for the maintenance of one or both parties.

The agreement must be in writing and signed by each of the parties. It is necessary for each party to have obtained independent legal advice before signing the agreement. Financial agreements can be terminated by written consent or set aside by a court.

www.interventionordersmelbourne.com.au

A Family Violence Intervention Order grants the affected family member experiencing family violence immediate short-term and long-term protection.

We explain what this means and what your options and rights.

www.divorce-online.com.au

For a simple fast and cost effective divorce with minimal fuss we offer a fixed fee standard online divorce application. The fee includes an application for divorce, court filing fees and disbursements.

Unbundling breaks up the family lawyer’s role into a number of agreed limited legal services. This empowers the client to select only those legal services that they require and can limit the lawyer’s involvement to a single issue, court or mediation process including:

  • Advice only
  • Research only
  • Drafting letters or court documents
  • Reviewing client prepared letters and court documents
  • Negotiation coaching in preparation for mediation or settlement meeting
  • Negotiating on behalf of the client
  • Attendance at mediation or court appearance on behalf of the client
  • Drafting settlement agreements
  • Providing independent legal advice for financial agreements
  • This is supported by a written ‘unbundled limited scope engagement /
    ­agreement’ (costs agreement) and fixed fees by agreement.
Family law advice is expensive. To assist you, Byron Bay Family Law offers a free initial telephone consultation:

Fixed Fee Services

Intervention Order 1,950 + GST
Online Application for Divorce 895 + GST
(+disbursements)
Family Dispute Resolution and Property Mediation
Intake Meeting (per hour) 385 + GST
Joint Session  (up to 3 hours) 1,650 + GST
Unbundled Legal and Mediation Service (per hour) 385 + GST

Your initial conference with us is important. It warrants the attention of an accredited family law specialist who will apply their knowledge of the law to the special circumstances of your matter. For this reason we do not offer a ‘free half hour’ service.

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Support, Asset Divison & More

Everything You Need To Know

Your Questions  Answered

Where to Start

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Resource Hub

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Your Rights

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Where to Start

Lets Talk

Calculators

Numbers Tool

Resource Hub

Articles

Your Rights

Video/Vlog

Accredited Family Law Specialist, FDRP,
Mediator and Parenting Coordinator

Vanessa Mathews is the founder and managing director of Byron Bay Family Law & Mediation Specialists, and has the rare combination of social work qualifications and experience, combined with nearly 20 years’ experience as a lawyer and mediator; it makes her approach to resolving legal relationship issues both sensible and sensitive.

She is a fully accredited family law specialist, mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner and parenting coordinator with a commerce degree – adding a financially astute aspect to her practice.

Vanessa has extensive experience in complex issues that arise from relationship breakdown, and works in partnership with her clients,
who regularly describe her as empathetic

Vanessa is an active member of the family law profession and
a member of the:

  •  Law Institute of Victoria, Family Law Section
  •  Law Council of Australia, Family Law Section
  •  Resolution Institute
  •  Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators
  • National Mediation Accreditation System
  •  Relationships Australia Family Lawyers Panel
  • Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
  •  Relationships Australia / Federal Circuit Court ‘Access Resolve’ Mediation Service
  • Relationships Australia ‘Property Mediation’ Service

Vanessa and Byron Bay Family Law & Mediation Specialists
are regularly recognised as a ‘Leading Victorian Family
Lawyer’, ‘Recommended Family Law Mediator’ and a
‘Leading Victorian Family Law Firm’ by Doyle’s Guide to
the Australian Legal Profession.

Get Started With Vanessa

Book A Free Consult

Accredited Family Law Specialist, FDRP,
Mediator and Parenting Coordinator

Vanessa Mathews is the founder and managing director of Byron Bay Family Law & Mediation Specialists, and has the rare combination of social work qualifications and experience, combined with nearly 20 years’ experience as a lawyer and mediator; it makes her approach to resolving legal relationship issues both sensible and sensitive.

She is a fully accredited family law specialist, mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner and parenting coordinator with a commerce degree – adding a financially astute aspect to her practice.

Vanessa has extensive experience in complex issues that arise from relationship breakdown, and works in partnership with her clients,
who regularly describe her as empathetic

Vanessa is an active member of the family law profession and
a member of the:

  •  Law Institute of Victoria, Family Law Section
  •  Law Council of Australia, Family Law Section
  •  Resolution Institute
  •  Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators
  • National Mediation Accreditation System
  •  Relationships Australia Family Lawyers Panel
  • Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
  •  Relationships Australia / Federal Circuit Court ‘Access Resolve’ Mediation Service
  • Relationships Australia ‘Property Mediation’ Service

Vanessa and Byron Bay Family Law & Mediation Specialists
are regularly recognised as a ‘Leading Victorian Family
Lawyer’, ‘Recommended Family Law Mediator’ and a
‘Leading Victorian Family Law Firm’ by Doyle’s Guide to
the Australian Legal Profession.

Get Started With Vanessa

Book A Free Consult