Melbourne Family Lawyers
We advise on separation, divorce, property settlements, arrangements for children and spousal maintenance, so you understand your rights and obligations. We prepare financial agreements, parenting plans and court documents before, during and after a marriage or de facto relationship.
Justin Chua is a nationally accredited mediator (AMDRAS), a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and a family law arbitrator. Where appropriate, mediation or arbitration can help you reach agreement and save the time and cost of court.
Family law is national and many hearings are held online, so we act for clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin and overseas.
Our family law services
Divorce and separation
If you have separated or are considering separating, we will provide you with practical and expert advice on your legal rights in Australian family law.
Children and parenting
Every family is different. Whether it is about parenting arrangements (child custody, living arrangements, parent access and contact), planning a move, concerns about the risk of harm to your children, or specific issues about schools, our family lawyers will provide you with advice and support tailored to your situation.
Property and financial settlement
Your property division may be simple or complex, involving businesses, trusts, and pension funds. In either case, we can be of service to you. It is important to get professional legal advice before deciding anything.
Spousal maintenance
Spousal support and maintenance usually require urgent court applications. Depending on your particular situation, we will advise you on whether a claim for spousal support may be filed or whether a claim for spousal support may need to be defended.
Divorce Application
Filing for divorce triggers a number of legal time constraints, which may affect your claim for property division and spousal support. We will explain all the procedures and how they relate to each other.
Child support and child support payments
Child support can be confusing. Our family lawyers will help you understand how much child support you should be paying and which payment options are available to you, including whether you should enter into a binding child support agreement and change the amount of child support assessed by the government that you should be paying.
Family Violence Intervention Orders and Domestic Violence
Our attorneys understand the complexities of family law matters when they involve domestic violence. If you are applying for or defending a Domestic Violence Intervention Order, we will represent you, support you, and explain how these issues impact in the family law system affecting your custody application and financial settlement.
Financial Agreements/Prenuptial Agreements
We have experienced family law solicitors who will draw up pre-cohabitation, post-cohabitation, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial property agreements to organise your financial affairs in accordance with your wishes.
We are committed to reducing the legal and time costs associated with family disputes for our clients.
Our lawyers have extensive litigation experience and can represent clients in the Federal Circuit and Family Court.
Our family law services include:
- Financial Agreements/Prenuptial Agreements
- Divorce Application
- Property settlement
- Child living and contact arrangements
- Child support
- Maintenance matters
- Consent orders applications
- Family Violence
- Mediation and Negotiation
- International family law
Cross-border family law
Many of our clients have a marriage, assets or children connected with another country. We regularly help with:
- Divorcing in Australia after marrying in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or elsewhere
- Including overseas property, company shares and savings in an Australian property settlement
- Notarising, legalising and translating overseas documents, and serving documents on a spouse overseas
- Relocating children overseas, and child return applications under the Hague Convention
- Enforcing Australian agreements and court orders overseas
- Binding financial agreements before or during a relationship to protect family assets
Family law guides
Separation guide | Divorce application guide | Spousal and de facto maintenance guide
Why Chua Tan Associates?
Since 1990 we have helped Chinese families in Melbourne and across Australia with family law matters, with clear advice and a steady strategy through a difficult time.
Experienced
Founded in 1990, Chua Tan Associates is one of Melbourne's longest-established Chinese law firms.
History of great results
Our lawyers are qualified in mediation, family dispute resolution and arbitration, and also act in litigation in the Federal Circuit and Family Court.
We act in your best interest
We explain our fees up front, work to the timeframe we agree, and communicate in Mandarin, Cantonese or English.
Frequently asked questions
Usually, yes. You can apply if either of you is an Australian citizen, is domiciled in Australia or has lived in Australia for 12 months, and you have been separated for at least 12 months. An overseas marriage certificate needs a certified English translation.
Yes. The Australian court looks at both parties' assets and liabilities worldwide, including overseas property, company shares and savings.
Married couples generally must apply within 12 months after the divorce order takes effect, and de facto couples within 2 years of separating. After that, you need the court's permission.
Not necessarily. Many matters are resolved by negotiation, mediation or arbitration and then formalised in consent orders or a financial agreement. In parenting matters you generally need to attempt family dispute resolution first.
Yes. Our lawyers work in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
Client Reviews
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Our expert lawyers provide online legal consultation.
We understand how stressful family disputes can be. Meet our family lawyers at our Melbourne CBD office or by video.
Contact us
If you have a legal question, get in touch – we'll come back to you promptly and talk you through your options.
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