Resolve your parenting and property matters around a table, not in a courtroom. Guided by specialists, at a pace you set, with the costs known before every step.
Most people who choose collaboration say the same three things.
You and your former partner are not enemies. With structure and support, you could sit at the same table and work through what matters.
Whatever happens between the two of you, you will be co-parents for life. How you separate shapes the family your children grow up in.
Court can take years and cost more than money. You want a fair outcome, a known price, and a finish line measured in months.
Not sure if that's you? Take the three minute Start Here journey and find out what path fits.
Most families resolve in three to five joint meetings, typically over three to six months.
A conversation about your situation and whether collaboration suits you. Come alone, or together with your former partner. You leave understanding exactly how it works before committing to anything.
Each of you engages your own collaborative lawyer, and together we assemble what your family needs: a collaborative coach, and where useful a financial neutral or child specialist. Everyone signs the Participation Agreement, the shared commitment to resolve without court.
Full financial and parenting disclosure exchanged, the property pool clarified, communication coaching so joint sessions are productive, and your goals made explicit.
The heart of the process. With an agreed agenda for every session, you work through parenting, property and support. Your coach keeps discussions future-focused; your lawyers advise and advocate respectfully.
Once you reach agreement we make it real: a Parenting Plan, Consent Orders filed with the Court, or a Binding Financial Agreement, with clear written advice before you sign anything.
We finalise your file, reconcile your trust account and return unused funds. You finish with an outcome you both built, and a co-parenting relationship intact.
If the process ends without agreement, both collaborative lawyers must withdraw. Everyone at the table, including the lawyers, is invested in reaching agreement. You never pay for steps that were not commenced.
The table, not the courtroom.
Separation is emotional, financial and legal all at once. Your team covers all three, and scales to what your family actually needs.
A specialist family lawyer from Orbell Family Lawyers who advises you privately and advocates for what matters to you at the table.
A collaboratively trained lawyer supporting your former partner the same way, committed to the same process and rules.
A neutral specialist who manages the emotional side, keeps meetings respectful and future-focused, and is often the role families value most.
One jointly engaged expert giving the whole table numbers everyone can trust, instead of duelling experts.
Where parenting is involved, brings your children's perspective into the room safely and age-appropriately.
"Separation is hard. Getting good help shouldn't be. If you are wondering whether collaboration could work for your family, come and ask. The conversation costs an hour, and it might change how this chapter of your life goes."
Answer seven short questions, privately and in confidence. In about three minutes you will have a clear sense of whether collaboration fits your family, and the right first step to take.
Each step has a defined scope and a known price before it starts. All fees include GST. Steps you never need are never billed.
The fees below are our standard fixed fees and a guide to what your matter may involve. We confirm the exact fees for your situation in writing before each step begins, so you always know the cost before you commit to it.
A 90 minute consultation with a specialist family lawyer: explore the issues, understand the process, develop your strategy.
A letter to your former partner introducing the process, confirmation you both agree to proceed, advice on alternatives if they decline.
Additional correspondence rounds $690 each.
Participation and cost agreements finalised, your team assembled, disclosure gathered, the property pool prepared, first session organised.
The team meet and greet and first working session: up to three hours, with minutes and a written summary afterwards.
Full preparation, attendance up to three hours, minutes and outcome summary. Most matters resolve in three to five meetings.
Shorter sessions of up to 90 minutes to review valuations, expert feedback or settlement options.
Searches, drafting, one amendment round, filing with the Court, and your sealed orders explained. Court filing fee included.
Additional amendment rounds or requisition response $995 each.
Your parenting agreement drafted clearly, reviewed with you, finalised with your former partner's lawyer.
Procedural fairness to the trustee and all implementation documentation. Self managed funds $1,485 including adviser liaison.
Spousal maintenance BFA prepared or reviewed with comprehensive written advice before you sign. Property BFAs quoted separately.
Additional amendment rounds $995 each.
Property or asset valuation $989. Business or entity valuation $5,995. Expert fees are separate, quoted first, and usually shared.
Making a proposal $1,995. Receiving and advising $1,495. Further proposals $1,495 each.
60 minute strategy session $579. Correspondence outside a fixed fee step $749 per communication.
All fees include GST. Later stages are only charged if and when you instruct us to begin them, and we confirm each fee with you first. Fixed fees apply as set out in your cost agreement.
Yes. We welcome you both to attend an initial joint information session where we explain how collaborative practice works, what to expect, who may be involved, and the likely costs. It is not a meeting where legal advice is provided to either of you. If you both decide to proceed, each of you engages your own collaboratively trained lawyer: one of you may choose Orbell Family Lawyers, while the other engages a lawyer from another firm, and we can recommend experienced practitioners we regularly work alongside.
A neutral communication specialist who supports you both through the emotional side of separation and keeps joint meetings productive. Not compulsory, but most collaborative matters include one, and families consistently tell us it is the role they value most.
Most matters resolve within three to five joint meetings, typically over three to six months. You and your former partner set the pace, not a court timetable.
Collaboration needs both of you at the table. If your former partner declines, we will advise you on the alternatives, including mediation and negotiated settlement, and recommend the best pathway forward.
The only court involvement in a successful collaboration is administrative: filing your Consent Orders for approval. Neither of you attends, and there is no hearing.
The Participation Agreement requires both collaborative lawyers to withdraw, and we follow a structured handover: a complete file transfer pack and costs summary, referral to experienced litigation representation, and a full trust account reconciliation. You never pay for steps that were not commenced.
Usually, substantially. But the bigger difference is certainty and control: you know each cost before it is incurred, you spend money on resolution rather than conflict, and you finish in months rather than years.
Tell us a little about your situation and we will be in touch within one business day. There is no obligation, and your enquiry is confidential.
Call us during business hours, or email and we will call you back at a time that suits.
(02) 4314 6080info@orbellfamilylawyers.com.au
Offices in Newcastle, the Central Coast, Northern Beaches and North Shore Sydney.
