Before any work begins, you'll have a clear written agreement setting out our fees and what to expect.
You'll receive a detailed invoice every month so you can track your costs in real time.
Before every court appearance, we'll give you a clear picture of the likely costs involved.
Have a question about your bill? We'll always take the time to explain it clearly.
How We Charge
We are committed to being upfront with every client about costs from the very first conversation. Legal fees can feel daunting — our job is to make them understandable, predictable, and fair.
Every client who engages us receives a written Costs Agreement before any substantive work begins. This document sets out our terms and conditions, our fee structure, and an honest estimate of the likely total cost of your matter — so you know exactly what you’re committing to.
We primarily charge on a time-cost basis, meaning our fees reflect the actual time spent on your matter by our team. We work efficiently and strategically to keep costs as low as possible while still achieving the best outcome for you.In appropriate cases — such as court appearances or clearly defined stages of work — we may offer fixed fee arrangements and are happy to discuss these with you upfront.
If at any point you have questions about your costs or want to understand what’s been done on your file, we encourage you to ask. Transparency is not just a policy for us — it’s how we work.
Your first consultation is an opportunity to tell us about your situation, understand your options, and get a clear picture of likely costs before committing to anything. You are under no obligation to proceed after this meeting.
If you decide to proceed, we provide you with a written Costs Agreement outlining our fee structure and an estimate of total costs. This is signed before any work commences — no surprises, no ambiguity.
Each month, we send you a detailed itemised invoice showing exactly what work has been done and what it cost. This keeps you informed and in control of your budget throughout your matter.
Prior to each court date, we provide a costs notification setting out the likely costs for that appearance through to the conclusion of your matter — so you can make informed decisions at every stage.
At the conclusion of your matter, we provide a final itemised account. We'll walk you through it and make sure everything is clear before closing your file.
Time spent in telephone or video conferences with you, the other party's lawyers, mediators, barristers, or the court — all itemised clearly on your invoice with the date, duration, and purpose.
Drafting, reviewing, and sending letters and emails on your behalf. We communicate efficiently — and because we've found email to be extremely cost-effective for clients, we use it wherever possible.
Drafting affidavits, applications, consent orders, financial agreements, parenting plans, and any other documents required for your matter — prepared carefully and reviewed with you before filing.
Every matter benefits from careful planning. We take time to understand your situation fully, map out the best path forward, and ensure we're always working toward the outcome that matters most to you — efficiently and with clear purpose.
Attending court on your behalf, including preparation time, travel, and the appearance itself. Where appropriate, we may also brief a barrister — this will always be discussed with you in advance.
Out-of-pocket expenses such as court filing fees, process server fees, property valuations, barrister fees, and expert reports. These are always outlined in advance and itemised separately on your invoice.
We understand that legal representation can feel financially daunting — especially during separation when money is already under pressure. While we do not offer Victoria Legal Aid or Legal Aid services, we work with every client to find an approach that fits their budget. We provide clear upfront costs, flexible payment arrangements, and access to JustFund legal financing for eligible clients with property matters. No one should go without proper representation because of cost — and we'll do everything we can to help you find a way forward.
We bill monthly, which means you're not required to pay a large lump sum upfront. Each month you receive an itemised invoice for the work done during that period — giving you time to manage your cashflow while your matter progresses. We can discuss payment terms that work for your situation.
In some circumstances, we can arrange a payment plan to help spread the cost of your legal fees over time. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis — speak with our team at your initial consultation and we'll be honest about what may be available for your matter.
In certain property matters, it may be possible to defer some or all legal fees until your matter is resolved. Through our partnership with JustFund, eligible clients can access a line of credit to cover legal fees — repaid only from their property settlement at the end of the matter.
We offer appointments by phone, Zoom, FaceTime, and video call — meaning you don't need to take time off work or arrange childcare to meet with us. We also communicate readily by email, which we find extremely efficient and cost-effective for our clients.
Flexible Legal Funding
Clients who are financially dependent on a partner, experiencing family violence, managing a mortgage during separation, or facing a well-resourced opponent.
Property and financial settlements — or matters involving both parenting arrangements and property simultaneously. Parenting-only matters are not currently covered.
As an accredited JustFund partner, our team works directly with JustFund to set up your funding quickly — so your representation continues without interruption.
Apply online at justfund.com.au, call 1300 644 980, or ask our team to refer you directly. We'll work with JustFund on your behalf.
JustFund assesses your eligibility within one week. They look at the nature of your matter — not your income or credit history.
If approved, JustFund advances funds directly to cover your legal fees and disbursements as they arise throughout your matter.
Repay only when your property matter is resolved — and only from what you receive in your settlement. No repayments while ongoing.
No. We bill monthly, which means you pay for work as it’s completed rather than as a large lump sum upfront. We can also discuss flexible payment arrangements and, for eligible clients with property matters, JustFund financing allows you to defer all legal fees until your matter is settled.
Client Voices
