Please note our office will be closed from 5:15pm, Thursday 19 December 2024. We will reopen on Wednesday 8 January 2025 at 8:45am.

Family Lawyers Melbourne

Our Melbourne family lawyers deliver results with integrity.

Located near Melbourne, our law firm consists of a dedicated team of Family Lawyers that collaborate with you to achieve favourable results across a range of Family Law matters.

Expert Guidance​

You can always rely on the quality and integrity of our advice, and know that we will always prioritise your best interests.

Supportive & Compassionate

Our team of family lawyers take a holistic, compassionate approach to supporting you through your family law matters.

Fair Negotiations

We firmly believe in reaching fair outcomes, using collaborative law and mediation to reach agreements wherever possible.

Our Melbourne family lawyers will support you, even in the most difficult moments.

We know that navigating family law matters isn’t easy. If you are experiencing a family or relationship breakdown, emotions and stress can take a toll.

You’d probably prefer not to deal with legal matters and lawyers during times that are already hard enough, we understand that. We focus on supporting you and your family to achieve best-case scenario outcomes, whenever possible.

You’ll find our team supportive, compassionate, and committed to achieving the most amicable and affordable solutions for you. We aim to avoid the court process wherever we can by successfully negotiating fair agreements that allow you to move forward with your life.

How can a family lawyer help me in resolving family disputes?

Laws can be complex and sometimes near impossible to understand. Having a good family lawyer to help interpret the laws and help guide you through your family dispute will provide you with more options that give you a significant advantage.

Family lawyers will assist with negotiations on your behalf, organise mediation, use collaborative law approaches to resolve the matters and give you peace of mind knowing that you are making informed decisions that are in your best interest.

Our family lawyers work to ensure your needs and opinions are heard and that a fair outcome is reached.

Family & Relationships

Tonkin Law are family law experts. If you’re looking for quality legal advice from experienced family lawyers, contact the Tonkin Legal Group today.

Wills & Estate Planning

Everyone should consult an estate lawyer prior to writing a will. Tonkin Law are experts in wills and estate planning. Contact us today to find out more.

Property & Conveyancing

Get expert advice and support when buying property from the property and conveyancing team at Tonkin Law with our comprehensive conveyancing service

What is family law, and what areas does it cover?

Getting married, separating, and divorce are all times that you may need to engage family law services. These scenarios may include:

We also work with couples and families when they are buying or selling propertydrawing up wills or have received an inheritance.

A formal long-term financial plan in a relationship can create clarity and can avoid potentially costly or upsetting legal matters later on.

If you’re considering a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement (a Financial Agreement), our team will ensure you have proper guidance and advice.

We’ll see that all important factors are covered, including inheritances, future needs of your children, family businesses, spousal maintenance, property and existing debt arrangements.

Many significant and long-term partnerships are de facto or domestic relationships, and both have specific laws and unique considerations that apply to them.

Our team can help you to navigate any legal matters arising during a de facto or domestic relationship, as well as those that occur after a partnership ends, including financial agreements, custody matters, and family or personal violence issues.

Navigating parenting arrangements, disputes and organising child custody arrangements can be an emotionally charged experience.

Our team takes a compassionate and fair approach to negotiate outcomes that reflect your family’s best interests, aiming to avoid court whenever possible.

Most parenting disputes can be resolved successfully with good guidance, clear communication and mediation, but we will provide excellent legal representation if there isn’t another option.

If you are negotiating child support matters or spousal maintenance, our team of family lawyers can assist you in determining a fair arrangement, which can then be drawn up into a Binding Child Support Agreement.

We can also help you to determine child support payable and your child support assessment if you are using the government child support scheme. If there are disputes over amounts owed or amounts received, we can assist you in legally addressing this.

Negotiating property and financial settlements can be complex. We can help you to achieve a fair and equitable outcome whilst minimising legal costs and avoiding court where reasonably possible, expertly guiding you through settlement.

Our team can help you to fairly divide superannuation, and self-managed superannuation funds too, drawing up financial agreements after negotiations. We can also support you through the court process if a property settlement can’t be reached in mediation.

Family violence still happens all too often and has a devastating effect on everyone involved. It can take on multiple forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse, coercion, harassment or stalking. We have extensive experience in this area and will handle your matter with sensitivity with confidentiality assured. We can support you through the process of Family Violence Intervention Orders, Personal Safety Orders, and children’s matters related to abuse or violence.

Going to court can be a highly stressful and drawn-out process. We seek to resolve matters out of court wherever possible, using several methods, including mediation and collaborative law.

We believe most family law disputes can be resolved without attending court. When you engage our team to work with you, we’ll inform you of a range of options to address your matters without attending court.

Children may come into contact with the court system through divorce or separation cases, instances of family violence, and involvement with the Victorian Child Protection Service’s child protection procedures.

Our committed team understands the significant influence that court proceedings and child protection actions can have on families, especially the children and youth entangled in family law issues.

International family law cases can be challenging due to the complexities and variances between laws in different jurisdictions. We have extensive experience assisting clients to resolve international matters, including divorce, child support and child custody.

If you are facing an urgent issue, such as a child custody matter that involves a partner or ex-partner who is planning to leave Australia or is no longer in the country, it’s imperative to seek legal assistance as soon as possible.

Wills and estates are a critical consideration when it comes to the long-term planning of your family. Having a will in place allows you to make your wishes clear about what you want to happen in the event of you dying or being ill or incapacitated. If you have children, you can provide instructions for guardianship, care and other matters, such as inheritances. Our team can also help you execute a will, contest a will, or with any other matters related to estate planning.

If you are in a same-sex relationship or marriage, laws relevant to heterosexual relationships and marriages will apply to your relationship in Victoria. This applies to de facto relationships and marriages, and similar laws apply to domestic relationships. Parenting and custody matters are treated accordingly, as are child support and other financial agreements.

Our family lawyers can help you to navigate legal matters during your relationship or during a relationship breakdown.

What is a family lawyer?

Family lawyers provide guidance and support in areas such as divorce, separation, child custody, property settlement, domestic violence and wills & estates. They can help you understand your legal rights, protect your interests, and resolve disputes efficiently.

How do you choose the right family lawyer for your case?

It’s important to select a lawyer with experience in the area you need assistance in and who takes an approach you are comfortable with.

It’s worth researching, asking around to see if anyone can recommend someone, and taking time to read reviews and get a feel for who you will be working with.

Seeking a lawyer who is an accredited family law specialist can also be wise when dealing with complex or high-conflict matters.

Our family lawyers are dedicated in achieving a fair outcome for relationships that are near or past the point of breakdown.

At Tonkin Law, our team are genuinely committed to creating positive outcomes for you. We pride ourselves on acting with integrity, providing the necessary support to you and your family at all stages that we work with you.

To speak with one of our Family Lawyers in Melbourne today, Book an Appointment or call us on (03) 9435 9044.

What Our Family Law Clients Say

Good morning Charlie, I'd like to thank you and your team for your continued support and professional approach during what amounts to be a tough time.

Robert

Lymington (Tasmania)

Thank you so much Ruby for your support. I have had no problem with recommending you and the firm to others during our time together and will continue to do so in the future.

Stephen

Heidelberg

Just wanted to say big thank for everything over the last few months. Your support has been fantastic, I’ve felt heard and respected through the entire process. So relieved to finally be able to close that chapter.

Brianna

Thornbury

Ruby was fantastic, she made the whole process easy with no stress.

Ron

Viewbank

Great timely service and everything explained clearly.

Sara

Doreen

Shelley was very easy to deal with, and always had the answer for any questions or queries we had.

Daniel & Kiera

Whittlesea

Ruby was courteous and professional during the entire will process. Ruby took the time to understand our life situation and have a few laughs during the process. We thoroughly enjoyed Ruby’s approach of being professional but not stale and dull.

Grant & Robyn

Maribyrnong

Everything was done efficiently. Staff were all very friendly and helpful.

Kerri

Montmorency

Suzanna was extremely helpful and patient under difficult circumstances.

Leigh

Lower Plenty

Thanks Charlie. Your friendly manner, responsiveness and professionalism was much appreciated.

Rose

Rosanna

Thank you again for your very compassionate and professional handling of the signing. It's not easy by any means but you are making it so much better for us.

Noah

Watsonia

“Thank you St John for your great work and professionalism in finalising my divorce. It was great and after so many years it has taken to get to this place, it is still quite unbelievable that it has now been finished.”

Ava

Heidelberg

Everything gets sorted so quickly and everyone is so friendly.”

Pauline

Toorak

Suzanna and Shelley, acknowledged and thank you sincerely for all you have done, not only over the last few months for settlement, but also over the past two years….Your professionalism, thoroughness and exceptional communication has been deeply appreciated especially given I have been overseas for 80% of this process. Wishing you continued success in your business. I’m proud to say my lawyers and conveyancers are Tonkin Legal Group.

Mark

Fitzroy North

Hi Charlie, a word of thanks for the assistance and guidance provided by Tonkin Legal and in particular by yourself in settling my mother’s estate, throughout drawn out [to me] processes over the past two years. Your commitment and persistence in working through those processes on our behalf is truly appreciated.

Lindsay

Melbourne

Our Family Lawyers

PARTNER – ACCREDITED SPECIALIST IN FAMILY LAW

St John Heath is a Partner at Tonkin Legal Group and a leading Family Lawyer in Victoria.

FAMILY LAWYER

Cassandra is a member of our Family Law Team.

PARTNER

Charlie Robinson is a Partner at Tonkin Legal Group.

PARTNER

Ruby Heath is a Partner at Tonkin Legal Group.

LAWYER
Ash is currently working as a Lawyer in our Wills and Estates & Family Law teams.

Our Family Law Services

As experienced divorce lawyers, we offer our clients pre-separation advice to help protect the best interests of everyone involved. Find out more online
Visit Fixed fee pre-separation advice
Tonkin Law has team of experienced divorce lawyers who can help couples in the process of negotiating separation while protecting everyone’s best interests
Visit Negotiating separation
Tonkin Law can help you in the process of finalising your divorce. Call us today to speak with one of our experienced divorce lawyers, confidentially.
Visit Finalising your divorce
We help anyone experiencing family violence & have a supportive family law team to provide you with the advice you need to protect yourself and your family
Visit Dealing with family violence
Our team of family lawyers can help people who have been served with an intervention order and offer advice and information to improve understanding.
Visit Defending an Intervention Order
Get your pre-nuptial agreement drafted by Tonkin Law. This is a very important document and you should seek experts in pre-nuptial agreement law to draft it
Visit Pre-nuptial agreements

Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment

Contact us today for compassionate, skilled guidance in your family law matters. We’re here to listen, support, and help you through this challenging time with care and understanding.

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