Lawyers prepare binding financial agreements, often called prenups, that set how property will be divided if a relationship ends.
firms
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regions
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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.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dorter Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · International Family Law & Hague AbductionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(43)Google rating from 43 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tiyce & Lawyers provides legal services in Darlinghurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Schetzer Constantinou provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Angela Ferdinandy provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Family Property Settlement and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co 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 · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Thomson Family Lawyers provides legal services in Stirling, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Child Protection & Care Matters · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Amanpreet Kaur provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McPhee Kelshaw provides legal services in Springwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Planning & Environment.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Butcher Paull & Calder provides legal services in Perth, 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
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Davey Law provides legal services in Eatons Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Family Property Settlement · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Henry Family Lawyers provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Aussizz Legal provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Davies & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Nedlands, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gale Family Law provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Balaclava, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Advance Family Law provides legal services in Loganholme, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Manly, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Family Law Professionals Toowoomba provides legal services in South Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Skilled & Business Visas
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Dawson & Associates provides legal services in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Planning & Environment · Binding Financial Agreements
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Buderim, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Chapman & Smyth Family Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution 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.
