Nicholes Family Lawyers is a boutique specialist family law firm.
We are committed to the provision of the highest-quality legal advice in all aspects of family law, together with an empathetic concern for our clients and their families.
Our lawyers are extremely experienced in litigation and the best use of the Court system to meet client’s needs. If it is in our client's best interest we avoid court wherever possible and use alternative methods to achieve a resolution.
At Nicholes Family Lawyers, we aim to resolve matters expeditiously and in a cost effective manner.
The firm offers assistance in the following financial matters:
• separation and divorce
• succession/estate planning
• pre-nuptial agreements
• marital property and financial settlements
• spousal/de facto partner maintenance
• de facto cohabitation agreements (same-sex and heterosexual couples)
• de facto property and financial settlements (same-sex and heterosexual couples)
Nicholes Family Lawyers offer expertise in these areas and in other children's matters:
• child support and maintenance
• parenting arrangements
• inter-country adoption
• child abduction
• relocation matters
• multi-party disputes, including grandparents or third parties
• special medical procedure applications for children.
Nicholes Family Lawyers has the experience to assist in this area in matters concerning:
• children's matters
• property matters
• donor agreements
• mediation
• binding financial agreements
• registration of your relationship
As relocation overseas is becoming a more common scenario for Australian families, family and relationships law often extends beyond Australian borders. Our team frequently advises ex-pat clients who need assistance with Australian family law. We also act in many relocation matters which involve international aspects.
In particular, we have experience with the following:
•Financial agreements for married, heterosexual and same-sex domestic couples. This includes drawing up financial agreements to record any agreement reached by a couple about how their property and financial assets will be settled if they should separate.
•Property settlement and the re-structure of family assets: advising on property settlement and the re-structure of family assets following separation, including assets located both in Australia and overseas.
•Arrangements for children: advising on appropriate arrangements for children following separation, including where one party wishes to relocate with the children, or return to Australia with the children.
•Matters involving international child abduction.
•Child support: advising on appropriate child support arrangements and documenting these by way of binding child support agreements.
•Registration of overseas orders: including child support and maintenance orders and judgments.
•Obtaining a divorce in Australia: where one or more of the parties to the marriage is an Australian citizen.
Mediation is an informal dispute settlement process which is managed by a trained third party, called a mediator.
The intention of mediation is to facilitate discussions surrounding issues of dispute, and, where possible, encourage parties to resolve their issues and reach agreement.
The discussions that take place during mediation are confidential and cannot be used against either party in litigation unless there are exceptional circumstances.
During a mediation, each party will present their point of view on the issue in dispute, and the mediator will work with each party to attempt to work out a settlement. A mediator cannot impose a decision on the parties; however at the end of the mediation they may present their findings and present a potential solution to the issue that is acceptable to both parties.
As mediation is a cost effective means of resolving disputes, it should be considered as early as possible after a dispute has arisen.
Mediation can be implemented prior to or in conjunction with litigation or court proceedings generally.
At Nicholes Family Lawyers, we are committed to using mediation as an effective means to resolve both property and children's matters without litigation where appropriate. We often refer clients to community based mediation centres, and also employ trained mediators (including experienced Family Law Barristers) particularly in more complex matters.