MFL

Slide dispute resolution lawyer Expert advice to safeguard your future, from a specialist team you can trust Expert advice to safeguard your future,
from a specialist team you can trust

Our Service

Parenting

Parenting law covers a diverse and often sensitive range of topics, including: parental responsibility, child’s best interests, same sex parenting, parenting plans, relocation  and international parenting issues.

With over 60 years’ combined experience, we understand the importance of giving you options to achieve your parenting goals in a timely manner, while putting your children’s best interests first.

Property Division

Mathews Family Law provides advice and representation in relation to all property-related family law matters.

Getting realistic, quality advice early and knowing where you stand can minimise stress as well as costs.

Property division encompasses the division of assets, liabilities and superannuation and other financial resources, treatment of high net income and high value asset separation, as well as prenuptial agreements.

Maintenace

Common questions arising from relationship breakdown include how children will be supported and your eligibility or obligation for spousal maintenance.

To move forward, knowledge of your rights and obligations is vital.

We offer specialist advice in relation to all aspects of child support and maintenance, including assessment, review/appeals and private agreements as well as spousal maintenance orders and financial agreements.

Mediation and Resolution

Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) and mediation allows parties to self- determine parenting plans, spousal maintenance, child support and financial and property settlements – fairly and with respect for each other.

Vanessa Mathews is a nationally accredited FDR Practitioner and Mediator, and trained Parenting Coordinator. She assists families – at all stages of proceedings – to discuss issues in dispute and consider different options, with a focus on their children’s needs.

Asset Protection

Careful planning and knowledge of all your legal options helps safeguard your assets and provides peace of mind now and into the future.

Asset protection includes pre-nuptial financial agreements (marriage and de facto – including same-sex – relationship), quarantining pre-relationship assets, during relationship inheritances and gifts, and taking urgent steps to prevent the non-consensual depletion of the asset pool available for division.

Separation and Divorce

Separation and divorce can be a distressing process for all concerned.

At Mathews Family Law & Mediation Specialists, we will assist you to make informed choices at each stage of this difficult time.

We have the specialist knowledge, capacity and experience to guide you through the issues and intricacies arising from relationship breakdown.

www.interventionordersmelbourne.com.au

A Family Violence Intervention Order grants the affected family member experiencing family violence immediate short-term and long-term protection.

We explain what this means and what your options and rights.

www.divorce-online.com.au

For a simple fast and cost effective divorce with minimal fuss we offer a fixed fee standard online divorce application. The fee includes an application for divorce, court filing fees and disbursements.

Unbundling breaks up the family lawyer’s role into a number of agreed limited legal services. This empowers the client to select only those legal services that they require and can limit the lawyer’s involvement to a single issue, court or mediation process including:

  • Advice only
  • Research only
  • Drafting letters or court documents
  • Reviewing client prepared letters and court documents
  • Negotiation coaching in preparation for mediation or settlement meeting
  • Negotiating on behalf of the client
  • Attendance at mediation or court appearance on behalf of the client
  • Drafting settlement agreements
  • Providing independent legal advice for financial agreements
  • This is supported by a written ‘unbundled limited scope engagement /
    ­agreement’ (costs agreement) and fixed fees by agreement.
Family law advice is expensive. To assist you, Mathews Family Law offers a free initial telephone consultation:
Fixed Fee Services
Intervention Order$1,950 + GST
Online Application for Divorce$990 + GST
(+disbursements)
Family Dispute Resolution and Property Mediation 
Intake Meeting (per hour)$500 + GST
Joint Session  (up to 3.5 hours)$1,750 + GST
Unbundled Legal and Mediation Service (per hour)$385 + GST

Your initial conference with us is important. It warrants the attention of an accredited family law specialist who will apply their knowledge of the law to the special circumstances of your matter. For this reason we do not offer a ‘free half hour’ service

Where to Start

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Support, Asset Divison & More

Everything You Need To Know

Your Questions  Answered

Where to Start

Lets Talk

Calculators

Numbers Tool

Resource Hub

Articles

Your Rights

Video/Vlog

Where to Start

Lets Talk

Calculators

Numbers Tool

Resource Hub

Articles

Your Rights

Video/Vlog

Vanessa Mathews
Managing Director FDRP and Mediator
BCOMM BSW LLB

Accredited Family Law Specialist, FDRP,
Mediator and Parenting Coordinator

Vanessa Mathews is the founder and managing director of Mathews Family Law & Mediation Specialists, and has the rare combination of social work qualifications and experience, combined with nearly 20 years’ experience as a lawyer and mediator; it makes her approach to resolving legal relationship issues both sensible and sensitive.

She is a fully accredited family law specialist, mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner and parenting coordinator with a commerce degree – adding a financially astute aspect to her practice.

Vanessa has extensive experience in complex issues that arise from relationship breakdown, and works in partnership with her clients,
who regularly describe her as empathetic

Vanessa is an active member of the family law profession and
a member of the:

  •  Law Institute of Victoria, Family Law Section
  •  Law Council of Australia, Family Law Section
  •  Resolution Institute
  •  Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators
  • National Mediation Accreditation System
  •  Relationships Australia Family Lawyers Panel
  • Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
  •  Relationships Australia / Federal Circuit Court ‘Access Resolve’ Mediation Service
  • Relationships Australia ‘Property Mediation’ Service

Vanessa and Mathews Family Law & Mediation Specialists
are regularly recognised as a ‘Leading Victorian Family
Lawyer’, ‘Recommended Family Law Mediator’ and a
‘Leading Victorian Family Law Firm’ by Doyle’s Guide to
the Australian Legal Profession.

Get Started With Vanessa

Book A Free Consult

Vanessa Mathews
Managing Director FDRP and Mediator
BCOMM BSW LLB

Accredited Family Law Specialist, FDRP,
Mediator and Parenting Coordinator

Vanessa Mathews is the founder and managing director of Mathews Family Law & Mediation Specialists, and has the rare combination of social work qualifications and experience, combined with nearly 20 years’ experience as a lawyer and mediator; it makes her approach to resolving legal relationship issues both sensible and sensitive.

She is a fully accredited family law specialist, mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner and parenting coordinator with a commerce degree – adding a financially astute aspect to her practice.

Vanessa has extensive experience in complex issues that arise from relationship breakdown, and works in partnership with her clients,
who regularly describe her as empathetic

Vanessa is an active member of the family law profession and
a member of the:

  •  Law Institute of Victoria, Family Law Section
  •  Law Council of Australia, Family Law Section
  •  Resolution Institute
  •  Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators
  • National Mediation Accreditation System
  •  Relationships Australia Family Lawyers Panel
  • Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
  •  Relationships Australia / Federal Circuit Court ‘Access Resolve’ Mediation Service
  • Relationships Australia ‘Property Mediation’ Service

Vanessa and Mathews Family Law & Mediation Specialists
are regularly recognised as a ‘Leading Victorian Family
Lawyer’, ‘Recommended Family Law Mediator’ and a
‘Leading Victorian Family Law Firm’ by Doyle’s Guide to
the Australian Legal Profession.

Get Started With Vanessa

Book A Free Consult