Canterbury's Best Legal Aid Solicitors

Committed to client support, they ensure every client is matched with the right lawyer for their needs, providing exceptional service. Sam was appointed managing family dispute resolution practitioner in 2018. Part of her role is to oversee the supervision of our external family dispute family law canterbury resolution practitioners on the chairperson panel. She is a former youth lawyer and independent children’s lawyer, with Family Relationship Centre dispute resolution experience and significant community sector management experience. Sam has also trained in facilitation, child inclusive mediation and counselling, and restorative practice.
We can help to quickly resolve any relationship issues with our Melbourne team of expert negotiators, without the need to step inside a courtroom. It’s important that—even  if you and your partner are getting a separation or divorce—both parents continue to contribute to the financial support of any children. Some lawyers will answer questions about legal aid for free but you should always check this with them first. Always check that the lawyer you talk to does legal aid work and can be at court when you need them. For detailed family law guidance and support options beyond legal aid, check our full family law section. To search for a community legal centre, please use the search function below.

Louise Forsyth has years of experience as a lawyer who drafts prenuptial agreements as well as postnuptial contracts. If you refuse to participate in the mediation or don’t make a genuine effort, the mediator may issue a section 60I certificate stating that you did not attend or did not make a genuine effort. The mediator will also use the intake to get an understanding of your situation and the nature of your dispute. ‍Eligibility depends on meeting financial hardship, merit-based criteria, and the nature of the legal issue. Our dedicated service to help tenants in the ACT with renting laws and disputes. We can help you settle your dispute more quickly than going to court.
I would totally recommend them for any family or divorce disputes. If you need a solicitor that is professional upfront and would like to resolve long legal mattersLook no further than this firm. Legal Aid NSW (Youth Hotline) provides legal advice and information to young people under 18 years of age. If you want to bring your family law problem to the court, you must usually attend an FDR Conference beforehand.

She advises on all aspects of family law and assists clients going through a separation whether they are married, in a civil partnership or unmarried. It is important that you comply with any orders the court makes, including to attend mediation. If you don’t, your case may be delayed, and you may be ordered to pay your ex-partners legal costs. If you feel unsafe or are experiencing any violence, contact the police, a domestic violence counsellor or get legal advice.
We understand how complex cases involving family violence can be. Our number one priority is your safety and the safety of those you care about. You can apply for a divorce on your own or file jointly with your ex-partner. We can help with the application process and everything that comes after, ensuring you have the advice and support you need. If you are a private practitioner or other professional that works in the family law space (e.g. counsellor, multicultural organisation, mediator), find out how you can be part of the Family Law Pathways Network.
Victoria is home to many statutory and independent bodies that offer free or low-cost legal services. We understand that talking to someone about your experience of domestic abuse, whether it’s the first time or not, can be incredibly nerve wracking. If you have the support of a friend or family member, they are more than welcome to join you at One Stop Shop.

In 2024–25, we administered $66,819,454 to these centres on behalf of the Victorian and Commonwealth governments, as well as Victoria Legal Aid’s own funding. This funding includes baseline funding and specific purpose funding attached to specific service delivery. The Victorian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present. The agreement must not involve non-disclosure of financial information, duress, undue influence, or terms that are not in the best interests of the child. If any of these conditions apply, the Court may set aside the agreement and make orders regarding property division. Once the FVIO application has been processed and summons issued, the police will serve the respondent with a copy of the application.
Separation and divorce can be a complicated, exhausting and painful process for the entire family. The breakdown of a relationship—for whatever reason—is hard on everyone involved.We’re here to help you with your divorce or separation in any way we can. For over a decade, we have helped Melbourne families with the expert guidance and support they need during the roughest and most emotionally draining periods of their lives. During that time, we have built a strong reputation within the Melbourne legal community for our high level of ethical standards and excellent track record for client satisfaction. We have a number of ways for you to get free initial legal advice on your situation. We help people with particular kinds of serious legal problems – for example, if you have a crisis housing issue or if there are children or other vulnerable people at risk.