Who we are

> We’re an award-winning law firm with a team of specialist family lawyers who help professionals and high net worth individuals through divorce, division of assets (property settlement), and child custody matters.

> We can provide you with advice from a Law Society Accredited Specialist.

> Our firm has a history of providing legal advice which dates to 1924. Over that time, we have run many thousands of court matters and there isn’t much that we haven’t seen or done before.

> We have expertise in collaborative law, mediation, and family dispute resolution, should you wish to settle your matter amicably, however we have a team of fierce family law litigators who excel at achieving exceptional court outcomes, should it be required.

> Our family lawyers are backed by a team of commercial law and property law specialists, meaning that unlike many family law firms, we are well equipped to deal with the division of your property or business assets.

Our commitment to our clients

> You will receive personalised, specialist advice.

> We will commit to returning your calls in a timely manner.

> We will draw upon the lessons learned throughout our firm’s 100-year history to deliver the best possible outcome for you and your circumstances.

> We will listen to your needs, act as a trusted legal advisor, and guide you through the family law process.

Thornton+King Lawyers & Solicitors

Who we work with:

> We work with professionals, business owners, and high net worth individuals.

> We work with a limited number of clients so that we are able to go above and beyond a standard divorce service by deeply understanding your circumstances, understanding and respecting your time in the family law process, and providing you with real, commercially astute advice in order to give you support and security throughout the family law process.

Probate & Estate Administration Lawyers

Family Law Matters We Help With

As we are family law specialists, there is nothing that we haven’t seen or done before. We have deep expertise in all areas of family law, including:

> Divorce or separation

> Mediation

> Division of assets (property/financial settlement)

> Child custody

> Spousal maintenance

> Pre-nuptial agreements (binding financial agreements)

Our family lawyers are also backed by a team of specialist property and business lawyers, meaning that we not only have deep expertise in family law, but we also properly understand the intricacies of dividing a property or business portfolio. We draw upon a vast pool of legal expertise and apply it to your personal circumstances to achieve the best result.

Contact Thornton+King Lawyers

Do you have a question about our services? Contact us today, and a member of our team will get back to you soon.

 

Our Family Law Services

Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage. A divorce application in itself does not deal with the division of assets or child custody. In order to get divorced, you must first be separated from your partner for at least one year.

We can assist with preparing and filing a divorce application with the courts in order to bring a legal end to your marriage.

Once a relationship has broken down, the parties to the relationship may want to reach agreement on how to divide their assets. This can be done by reaching an agreement and obtaining orders of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia court by mutual consent known as ‘consent orders’. Alternatively, this division of assets can be amicably reached by having lawyers prepare and sign off on a binding financial agreement. In addition to receiving finality as to the division of assets, there can be additional benefits to obtaining consent orders or a binding financial agreement upon the breakdown of a relationship, which may include stamp duty exemptions on the transfer of property.

If the parties are unable to reach an agreed resolution, the matter will need to be decided by the Courts, based on the considerations set out in the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). Court proceedings are costly, both mentally and financially for the parties involved, and should be seen as a last resort.

Our specialist family lawyers have decades of experience in dealing with both amicable and contested proceedings relating to the division of property and other assets.

Decisions regarding the care and control of children can be determined by informal arrangements, parenting plans, or parenting orders made by a court, which may include orders made by the mutual consent of the parties.

Part VII of the Family Law Act 1975 gives the courts power to make orders for the care and welfare of a child. Our lawyers have negotiated countless parenting arrangements on behalf of our clients, and have a deep understanding of the factors courts will consider, and the likely outcomes.

Spousal maintenance or de facto maintenance is financial support provided by a person to their former partner. The Family Law Act 1975, states that a person has a responsibility to financially assist their spouse, or former de facto partner, if that person cannot meet their own reasonable expenses from their personal income or assets. This is known as either spousal maintenance (in circumstances where the parties were married), or de facto maintenance (in circumstances where the parties were de facto partners).

There are many factors that a court considers in deciding whether to make orders regarding maintenance of a person, including the age and health of the parties, their income, property and financial resources, their ability to work and whether the relationship has affected their ability to work, and what is considered a suitable standard of living.

Meet our team of lawyers

Want to know who you’ll be dealing with? Our exceptional lawyers are industry leaders who are supported by a team of paralegals, conveyancers, and secretaries.

Karunn Shahani
Karunn Shahani
Principal Lawyer
Vanessa Caputo
Vanessa Caputo
Principal Lawyer
George Elmassian
George Elmassian
Principal Lawyer
Alan Olcayto
Alan Olcayto
Principal Lawyer
Celia Pitcher
Celia Pitcher
Principal Lawyer
Sarah Newman
Sarah Newman
Principal Lawyer
Charmian Seil
Charmian Seil
Special Counsel
Richard Harvey
Richard Harvey
Special Counsel
David Lee-Young
David Lee-Young
Special Counsel
Navneet Elfar
Navneet Elfar
Special Counsel
Amanda Chik
Amanda Chik
Senior Associate
Jill Forrester
Jill Forrester
Senior Associate
Feris Sefian
Feris Sefian
Lawyer
Andy Habib
Andy Habib
SENIOR LICENSED CONVEYANCER

FAQs

In order to apply for a divorce, the parties to the relationship must have been separated for at least one year.

Yes, there are time limits that apply, depending on the circumstances of the relationship. Typically, where the parties were married, applications for financial orders must be made within 12 months of the divorce being finalised. In the case of de facto relationships, applications for financial orders must be made within two years of the breakdown of the de facto relationship.

When making parenting orders regarding the care and custody of children, the courts will make decisions based on what is in the best interests of the child. In establishing what is in the best interests of the child, the courts will consider factors that include the developmental, psychological, emotional, and cultural needs of the child, the benefit to the child of being able to have a relationship with their parents, what would promote the safety of the child, and any views expressed by the child.

There is no set formula for dividing assets, however the Family Law Act 1975 sets out general principles that the courts will consider when deciding property settlement cases. This includes the assets and liabilities of both parties, the direct and indirect financial and non-financial contributions of each party, contributions to the welfare of the family, and the future needs of each party.

It’s important to receive specialist legal advice when considering a division of assets, as the correct legal representation can make a significant difference to the outcome of your family law property settlement.

Our offices

Balmain Lawyers Office | Thornton+King

Balmain

45 Evans St, Balmain NSW 2041
North Sydney Lawyers & Solicitors | Thornton+King Northbridge Office

Northbridge

146 Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge NSW 2063
Tea Gardens Lawyers | Law Firm in Mid-North Coast | Thornton+King

Tea Gardens

Shop 1/13 Maxwell St, Tea Gardens NSW 2324
Hornsby Lawyers & Solicitors | Thornton+King

Hornsby

Level 3, 45-47 Hunter Street, Hornsby, 2077

What our clients say…

We found the company very efficient providing straight and efficient responces when required.

Scott Howison

Professional, efficient and great communication.

Sarah MacLeod

Excellent support from Karun and his team (especially Alan). Knowledgeable team with only short waiting times to provide advice.

Usama Munir

Very professional and thorough, with clear communication and attention to detail. Highly recommended.

Rishi Sahgal

Professional,timely help from both Vanessa and Andy ,make the project way easier for us !

Connie Lee

Information Centre

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