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
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Millyard Family Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Movement Legal provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Reign Legal provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+2 morePartner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements
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Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robinson McGuinness Family Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Unified Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Business & Commercial Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Rouse Hill, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arcadian Legal provides legal services in Rouse Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wingham, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adamson Lawrie provides legal services in Wingham, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Public Liability · Commercial Property & Leasing · Binding Financial Agreements · Personal Injury
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Franklin, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★2.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Infinity Legal provides legal services in Franklin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adams United Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Binding Financial Agreements, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Binding Financial Agreements+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury · Divorce & SeparationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Wyong, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Wyong, 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 · Probate & Estate Administration · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
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Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prime Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Administrative & Government Law
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Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Divorce Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Spencer Alexander Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Buying or Selling a BusinessFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SR Family Law (formerly Spencer Ryan Family Law) provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ziman & Ziman Solicitors provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Buying or Selling a Business · Binding Financial Agreements · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Family LawFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Petrie, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Petrie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Justice Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Binding Financial Agreements
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phelan Family Law provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roseville Legal Services provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Probate & Estate Administration · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Campbellfield, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nevaeh Lawyers provides legal services in Campbellfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree 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.
