Jonson Leo

Family law decisions are some of the most consequential a person will ever make. They determine where your children grow up, how your financial future looks, and what your life resembles on the other side of a separation. Getting those decisions right is not just a matter of knowing the law. It is a matter of experience, judgement and the kind of honest advice that tells you what you actually need to know, not what you want to hear.

Just Family Law has been working exclusively in family law for over 40 years combined. Every member of our team focuses entirely on this area of law. We serve clients throughout Murrumbeena and the broader inner southeast, and we bring the same depth of preparation and the same commitment to a clear outcome to every matter we take on.

What family court proceedings actually involve

The family court system is not simply a place where judges decide things. It is a structured process that is specifically designed to help parties reach agreement at every stage, with court-imposed decisions reserved for matters that genuinely cannot be resolved any other way.

Most family law matters, even those where proceedings have been formally issued, settle before a final hearing. What matters is that you arrive at each stage of the process properly prepared, with a realistic understanding of your position and a strategy that reflects it. That is what we provide for Murrumbeena clients at every step.

Divorce and separation

The period immediately following separation is where the most important legal work takes place. Property, finances, parenting, superannuation, maintenance all of these need to be addressed, and the agreements or orders put in place during this time shape the years that follow.

Divorce itself is a separate process. It is the court’s formal declaration that the marriage has ended, and it requires twelve months of separation before an application can be made. Once the order is granted and takes effect, a twelve month window opens for commencing any property proceedings through the court. Missing that window means needing permission to proceed, which is not automatic. We plan for this deadline from day one.

Property and financial settlement

No two property settlements are the same. The legal framework requires the court to consider what each party contributed over the course of the relationship, financially and in other ways, and what each party is likely to need going forward. The name on a title or account is not the determining factor.

The matters we handle for Murrumbeena clients range from relatively straightforward asset splits to significantly more complex situations. We have deep experience with:

• High-value asset pools involving investment properties, businesses or substantial superannuation
• Situations where one party has been less than transparent about the full extent of assets
• Inheritances received during the relationship and how they are treated
• Family contributions made by parents of one spouse, including loans, gifts or unpaid labour
• Assets structured through trusts, companies or entities in third party names
• Cases where the other side is determined to make the process as difficult as possible

Before a matter proceeds to a final hearing, the court requires both parties to attempt mediation. We prepare clients thoroughly for that process, and we are equally ready to proceed to court if it does not resolve things.

Children and parenting arrangements

Parenting matters tend to be the most emotionally charged part of any family law proceeding, and often the most important. The law asks a single central question: what arrangement is genuinely in the best interests of this child? Everything else follows from that.

We help Murrumbeena parents put forward proposals that are well grounded in what the law values, child focused in their framing, and practical enough to actually work day to day. For matters involving relocation, safety concerns, family violence or a parent who is determined to obstruct, we bring the same thorough preparation and the same commitment to a well-built case.

What sets Just Family Law apart

We hold an Accredited Specialist designation in family law, awarded independently by the Law Institute of Victoria. This is not a self-declared credential. It reflects demonstrated expertise assessed against an external standard, and it is held by a small number of Victorian practitioners.

Beyond that, every solicitor at Just Family Law works exclusively in family law. There is no divided attention, no generalist approach, no other area of law competing for our focus. That single-minded dedication to one area of law is what allows us to give advice that is genuinely specific, genuinely informed and genuinely useful to the people who need it.

Talk to a family court lawyer in Murrumbeena

Whatever your family law matter involves, the right starting point is a clear and honest conversation about your situation. We offer a free initial consultation and we use it to give you real, specific guidance you can act on.

Call us on 03 9793 7888 to book yours today.