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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phillips Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Family Property Settlement
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Newtown, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Trapski Family Law provides legal services in Newtown, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Building & Construction
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Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Trapski Family Law provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Building & Construction
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Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O'Sullivan Davies Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family Visas
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Broadmeadow, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(27)Google rating from 27 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Broadmeadow, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Litigation
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Joondalup, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Benn Hill provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mediation & Dispute Resolution+6 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Binding Financial Agreements
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Newstead, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Colwell Wright Solicitors provides legal services in Newstead, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Binding Financial Agreements.
Business & Commercial Law+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing
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Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wood Marshall Williams provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Planning & Environment
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Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wallen Family Law provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Charlestown, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Charlestown Law Firm provides legal services in Charlestown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration
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Nowra, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family First Lawyers provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family Law Partners provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family Lawyers Mackay provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legato Law provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Binding Financial Agreements and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Building & Construction
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Kenmore, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Melrose Keys Lawyers provides legal services in Kenmore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Binding Financial Agreements.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Watson St Claire Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hyde Park, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Judith Jordan Family and Collaborative Lawyer provides legal services in Hyde Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Partner & Family Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Seacliff Family Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · International Family Law & Hague AbductionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Cleveland, 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 ResolutionFree 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.
