Village Family Lawyers provides a wide range of family law services, including divorce and separation, property settlements, parenting arrangements, family violence matters, mediation, and assistance with de facto relationships and intervention orders.

We have two office locations:

• Mornington Peninsula & Bayside Office: Unit 1 / 24A Ranelagh Drive, Mount Eliza, Victoria, 3930
• Melbourne Office: 49-51 Station Street, Malvern, 3144

From our Mornington Peninsula & Bayside office, we service suburbs including Mornington, Mount Eliza, Frankston, Red Hill, Blairgowrie, Rye, and Sorrento. From our Malvern office, we cover areas like Malvern, Toorak, South Yarra, Richmond, Armadale and Hawthorn.

We offer a 90-minute initial consultation for a fixed fee of $440 (incl. GST). During this session, we discuss your legal situation, provide guidance on your options, and answer any questions you may have.

Yes, we offer a fixed-fee Pre-Mediation Conference package for $750 (incl. GST). This includes a comprehensive consultation where we help you prepare for mediation, followed by a written letter of advice specific to your situation.

Our Lawyer-Led Mediation Service provides both preparation and representation during mediation sessions, ensuring you are fully supported and guided throughout the process. This service is ideal for clients who want to resolve matters without going to court but need legal representation during negotiations.

Our firm has two Nationally Accredited Mediators, Lauren Wilson and Maria Stipic, both of whom are experienced family lawyers. Lawyer-led mediation combines legal expertise with mediation skills, allowing Lauren and Maria to guide clients through complex disputes with a deep understanding of the legal framework and emotional dynamics. This approach leads to more efficient outcomes, helping clients avoid the stress and costs of lengthy court battles.

Our Pre-Mediation Conference is a fixed-fee $750, 90-minute consultation where we help you prepare for mediation with advice on your specific situations and a follow-up written summary. We provide advice specific to your case and ensure you understand the mediation process. This service is highly recommended if you’re planning to mediate property or parenting disputes.

No, during mediation, the mediator—whether a lawyer or not—must remain neutral and cannot provide legal advice to either party. However, it is common for each party to seek independent legal advice outside of mediation sessions to understand their rights and the legal implications of any potential agreements.

We handle a variety of family law disputes through mediation, including parenting arrangements, property settlements, and financial matters. Mediation offers a collaborative and less adversarial approach to resolving these issues.

In Australia, you need to be separated for at least 12 months before applying for a divorce. You can still be considered “separated” if you’re living under the same roof but are living separate lives.

Not necessarily. If both parties agree on the terms of the divorce, you may not need to go to court. However, if there are unresolved issues regarding property or children, court proceedings may be necessary.

Yes, we offer legal services for de facto relationship separations, including property settlements, parenting arrangements, and mediation services.

Yes, we can assist in creating parenting plans, whether through negotiation or mediation. These plans are designed to ensure the well-being of your children and establish clear guidelines for parenting arrangements.

Property settlements are based on what is fair and equitable. Factors like the length of the relationship, financial contributions, and non-financial contributions (such as child-rearing) are considered.

Whether or not you need to sell the family home depends on your specific circumstances, including your financial situation and any agreements reached during the property settlement process.

Superannuation is treated like property and can be split between both parties as part of a property settlement. It’s important to seek legal advice to understand how superannuation is divided.

Yes, parenting arrangements can be changed if circumstances have shifted significantly since the original agreement was made. We can help you renegotiate your arrangement or take the necessary legal steps to modify court orders.

You can contact us through our website’s Contact Page, by phone at 1300 413 997, or visit one of our offices in Mount Eliza or Doncaster East. We are available to discuss your case and provide guidance on your next steps.

Yes, we assist clients with family violence matters, including obtaining intervention orders to protect the safety of individuals and children. Our team is experienced in providing support and guidance in these sensitive situations.

Yes, we provide legal advice and services for same-sex and de facto relationship separations, ensuring that our clients receive the same comprehensive support as in any other family law matter.

Yes, while we aim to resolve most matters through negotiation and mediation, we also provide robust legal representation in court when necessary, particularly for disputes over parenting arrangements, property settlements, or family violence matters.

During your initial consultation, we will review your situation, provide advice on your legal options, and outline potential next steps. We focus on ensuring that you leave the consultation with a clear understanding of your rights and a roadmap for moving forward.

Yes, we can assist in preparing consent orders to formalise agreements about property settlements, parenting arrangements, and financial support. These orders make your agreements legally binding without the need for a court hearing.