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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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Emera Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hey Family Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Willetton, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Butcher Paull & Calder provides legal services in Willetton, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Tax Law · Competition & Consumer Law · Binding Financial Agreements
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Blackwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Douglas Hoskins Legal provides legal services in Blackwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+6 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Administrative & Government Law · Binding Financial Agreements
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Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Magpie Family Law provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
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Miami, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gold Coast Leasing & Mortgage provides legal services in Miami, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Commercial Property & Leasing · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Transitional Legal provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(55)Google rating from 55 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ormeau, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ormeau Legal Solicitors provides legal services in Ormeau, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
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Boronia, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Boronia, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orbell Family Lawyers Central Coast provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Smith Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(45)Google rating from 45 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Meillon & Bright Family Lawyers Fremantle provides legal services in North Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
JSLegal Law Practice provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Traffic Offences and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Parenting & Child Custody · Drug Offences · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Drink & Drug Driving
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North Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Resolve Divorce provides legal services in North Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Partner & Family Visas.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · Surrogacy & Adoption · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Noble Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robertson Hayles Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Employment Law · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law
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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Barram Family Law provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Military & Veterans Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Understand the next step
A practical guide to binding financial agreements
What to discuss at the first meeting
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.
