Lawyers prepare binding financial agreements, often called prenups, that set how property will be divided if a relationship ends.
firms
195
regions
16
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A financial agreement can be made before, during or after a marriage or de facto relationship. To be binding, each party must receive independent legal advice and a lawyer must sign a certificate. Poorly drafted agreements can be set aside, so these are worth doing properly.
Why binding financial agreements matters
A well-drafted agreement gives certainty and can protect family wealth, a business or inheritance. A poorly drafted one may be set aside when it matters most.
The Australian context
Financial agreements are made under Part VIIIA (married) or Part VIIIAB (de facto) of the Family Law Act. Each party must receive independent legal advice and signed certificates, and courts will set aside agreements for fraud, unconscionable conduct or material changes involving children.
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Augustine Heights, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(324)Google rating from 324 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brookwater Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Augustine Heights, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(230)Google rating from 230 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(164)Google rating from 164 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
MJ Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Skilled & Business Visas · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Binding Financial Agreements
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(154)Google rating from 154 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nolan Family Lawyers & Mediation provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Glenroy, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(152)Google rating from 152 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Glenroy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements7 languages
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(143)Google rating from 143 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(141)Google rating from 141 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Berry Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Property Settlement
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(128)Google rating from 128 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sage Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(120)Google rating from 120 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Belperio Connell Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(119)Google rating from 119 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
NSW Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+6 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law
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Springfield Central, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(100)Google rating from 100 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Stanford Legal provides legal services in Springfield Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(95)Google rating from 95 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Anchorage Legal provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(94)Google rating from 94 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Carew Counsel Solicitors provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(80)Google rating from 80 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Honest Grace Legal provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Immigration & Visas · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
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Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(79)Google rating from 79 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marcou & Associates Family Lawyers provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rayner Song Family Lawyers provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(77)Google rating from 77 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hebblewhite Family Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(76)Google rating from 76 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Explain whether an agreement is being proposed before, during or after a relationship and whether you are drafting or reviewing it. Independent advice should address the particular document and financial circumstances.
Ask what is included in the advice, negotiation and signing process rather than treating an agreement as a standard form.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of work
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Questions to ask a binding financial agreements adviser
Whose interests are you advising on?
What assumptions and future changes should the agreement address?
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Are prenups binding in Australia?
Yes, if the strict requirements are met, including independent legal advice for each party.
Can a financial agreement be overturned?
Yes, for reasons such as fraud, unconscionable conduct or a material change in circumstances relating to children.
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
