What is Meant by “Family Lawyers”?
Quite simply, when you hear a law firm being referred to as “family lawyers”, it is because they specialise in family law – and not because everyone who works there is necessarily related! For this reason, you may hear us called Dr Craig Jensen lawyers, as this is one of our specialty areas (along with wills and estates, and conveyancing services). So, the obvious next question is…
What is Family Law?
Some people think that family law is just about divorce and separation, but there is more to it than that. Family lawyers such as Dr Craig Jensen might deal with any of the following issues under the legal heading of “family law”:
- Divorce and separation
- The property and other financial arrangements of a couple
- Spousal maintenance
- The living arrangements of a child or children
- The welfare and development of a child/children
- Child maintenance
- The maintenance of adult offspring
Do Family Law Matters Have to be Settled in Court?
They do not. In fact, it could be said that one of the most important roles played by Dr Craig Jensen’s family lawyers (and others) is helping parties to reach an agreement without the need to go to court. This is known as “alternative dispute resolution” and will often see a satisfactory solution formalised with a binding legal document rather than a court battle. Family lawyers such as ours can, of course, draft such a document as required.
What do Family Lawyers do?
Family lawyers can provide information on all of the seven topics mentioned in the second section above – and more. If you’re after family law legal advice, the first step should always be to make an appointment to discuss your situation with a specialist at a respected firm such as ours. We will let you know exactly what your legal rights and obligations are in your particular circumstances.
Unfortunately, sometimes advice is not enough and action must be taken. Dr Craig Jensen Lawyers can certainly guide you through all of the relevant legal processes in order to achieve the best possible outcome for yourself and those in your care.
While cases can be extremely complicated and cross over into other legal domains, as noted on the Queensland Law Society website, “[Family lawyers] have a complex set of skills that includes a thorough knowledge of state and Commonwealth law and court rulings, an understanding of commercial, taxation and property law, and the ability to conduct court matters, when necessary.”
Our own page on family law also gives examples of some specific duties we can perform, e.g. handling superannuation splits.
For Family Lawyers and Family Law…
Contact Dr Craig Jensen Lawyers, we offer the highest-quality legal assistance and advice, backed by decades of experience. You can email us at craigco@craigjensen.com.au, phone (07) 3711 6722 or fax (07) 3711 6733. Alternatively, you can submit an enquiry via the form or visit our convenient location at 485 Algester Road, Parkinson.
