Trusted Divorce Representation and Support Across Sydney
Separation is one of the hardest things you can go through, but you do not have to handle the legal side alone. Our team of experienced divorce lawyers handles every stage of the process, from the initial application through to complex property settlements and parenting arrangements. We give honest, practical advice to help you reach a fair outcome without unnecessary conflict.
Getting the right advice early gives you the clarity you need to plan your next steps with confidence. We take the time to understand your situation, explain your legal options in plain language, and represent your interests across all NSW family law matters with absolute professionalism.
What People Say After Working With Our Divorce Lawyer
Expert Divorce Services to Protect Your Assets and Your Family
Our team handles the complex legal details of your separation so you can focus on moving forward with financial certainty.
Separation Under One Roof
You can be legally separated while still living in the same home. While the court allows this arrangement, you must provide detailed affidavit evidence proving that your domestic relationship has genuinely ended through separate finances, independent sleeping arrangements, and a clear division of household duties.
Our team handles this complex process by carefully preparing your affidavits to ensure your evidence meets the court’s strict standards. We make sure every detail is precise, clearly proving your separation date so your divorce can proceed without unnecessary delays or complications.
Divorce & Applications
We prepare and file divorce applications through the Commonwealth Courts Portal for both sole and joint applicants. A joint application avoids the need to serve the other party.
A sole application requires service at least 28 days before the hearing (42 days if your spouse is overseas). The current filing fee from 1 July 2026 is $1,125, reduced to $375 for eligible concession card holders.
We handle the paperwork correctly the first time and avoid the delays that come from incomplete applications.
Short Marriages and Counselling Certificates
If you have been married for less than two years, the court generally requires you to attend counselling and file a certificate showing you attempted reconciliation before you can apply for a divorce. If attending counselling is not possible due to extreme hardship, safety risks, or an inability to locate your spouse, you must apply for a specific court exemption.
Our team guides you to organize the necessary counselling or preparing the strong affidavit evidence needed to secure a hardship exemption. We ensure your application is legally sound so you can move forward with your divorce without unnecessary complications.
Property Settlement After Divorce
Divorce and property settlement are separate legal processes, but the timing is critical. Once your divorce order takes effect, a strict 12-month countdown begins to resolve your property settlement. Missing this deadline means you must ask the court for special permission to apply, which adds significant delay, cost, and legal uncertainty.
Our team works proactively to handle your property settlement alongside or immediately after your divorce application. By resolving both issues together, we protect your assets and ensure no loose ends are left to threaten your financial future.
Parenting Orders and Children's Arrangements
If you have children under 18, the court checks that satisfactory arrangements are in place before granting the divorce. Parenting orders, which set out where children live, who they spend time with, and how major decisions are made, are handled separately from the divorce but often run alongside it.
We manage both matters together where needed so you are not left navigating two separate processes alone.
De Facto Separation
De facto couples do not apply for divorce. Separation ends the relationship, but property and parenting rights under the Family Law Act apply if you separated on or after 1 March 2009. A two-year time limit applies to commence property proceedings.
We advise de facto couples on their rights and time limits from the first consultation.
Spousal Maintenance
One party may be entitled to financial support from the other after separation, either by agreement or by court order. Spousal maintenance is separate from child support and depends on whether one party cannot meet their own reasonable needs and the other has the capacity to pay.
We advise on whether you have a maintenance entitlement, or whether you may be liable to pay, and formalise any agreement reached.
Binding Financial Agreements
A binding financial agreement, sometimes called a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement, sets out how property will be divided if the relationship ends. It is a private contract that does not require court approval, but must meet strict requirements under the Family Law Act including independent legal advice for both parties. An agreement that does not comply can be set aside entirely.
We draft and advise on binding financial agreements that are properly structured and enforceable.
Need clear answers about your separation or divorce right now?
Timing is everything when protecting your assets and your future. Call our team today and we will book you in quickly so you can stop worrying and start moving forward with a clear legal plan.
Meet Our Team
Practice Director
Ishraque Ahmad
Paralegal
Simran Ghimire
Knowledge Manager
Yuri Kazak
Legal Associate
Claudia
Legal Associate
Sumaia Islam
Lawyer
Jonathan Greete
Sales & Marketing Associate
Thunh Mai Le
Sales & Marketing Manager
Eduardo Mora
Operational Manager
Safat Ul Azam
Why Choose Us to Represent You in Your Divorce
A dedicated team providing clear legal strategies and strong advocacy to protect your assets and secure your future.
Our team of dual-qualified solicitors and barristers handles your matter seamlessly from your initial consultation all the way to the courtroom.
We navigate difficult divorce scenarios, including couples separated under one roof or married less than two years. Our precise affidavit preparation ensures the court accepts your separation terms on the first attempt.
We provide clear, upfront cost structures so you can plan your finances without fearing hidden expenses. This predictable pricing helps you make critical life decisions with complete peace of mind.
We don't hide behind legal jargon or endless email chains. You get straight, honest advice on where you stand from day one, so you can make smart decisions and put the dispute behind you.
How We Manage Your Divorce Application
Step 1 - Personalised Consultation
You contact us and explain your situation. We give you a clear, honest picture of where your claim stands, what the realistic options are, and what the process involves. No pressure, no obligation.
Step 2 - Review The Evidence
Once you engage us, we look at your full circumstances, including any property, superannuation and parenting matters connected to your separation. We identify what needs to be dealt with alongside the divorce itself.
Step 3 - Build Your Strategy
We advise you on the best path forward, whether that is a straightforward divorce application, a negotiated property settlement, or consent orders for parenting arrangements.
What Sets us Apart
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You are not legally required to have a lawyer to file for divorce, and many straightforward applications can be lodged without one. A lawyer becomes more valuable once property, superannuation or children are involved, since those matters are separate from the divorce order and carry their own strict time limits.
Once your application is filed and served, the court generally lists a hearing around four to six weeks later, and the divorce order takes effect one month after that. Property and parenting matters that are contested take considerably longer, often 12 to 24 months if they proceed to a court hearing.
Yes. You do not need your spouse's agreement to apply for divorce. You can file a sole application, and the court can still grant the divorce as long as the 12 month separation requirement is met and your spouse has been properly served.
No. A divorce order only ends the marriage. It does not divide property, superannuation or debts. Property settlement is a separate legal process, and you have a strict time limit to start it once your divorce order takes effect.
Other Services We Provide in Sydney
Do not wait until separation becomes more complicated than it needs to be.
The earlier you get proper legal advice, the more options you have and the stronger your bail application will be.
CIA Lawyers in Sydney handles divorce matters at every stage, from the initial application through to property settlement and parenting arrangements. We are here to protect your rights and guide you toward the best possible outcome.
Senior Lawyer Direct Access
Your matter is managed directly by experienced divorce law specialists, not handed off to junior clerks. This ensures you receive strategic, precise legal advice and direct communication from senior counsel at every stage of your divorce. Most firms win your business with seniors but run your file with juniors; we guarantee the lawyer you meet is the lawyer who actually does the work.