You and your partner may come to an understanding as to terms and conditions of child support agreements that removes the necessity of having the child support agency involved in your arrangements. For Binding Child Support Agreements each party needs to get independent legal advice and a legal certificate for the agreement to be binding. You may, however, also make a “Limited Child Support Agreement” that is less formal but with further considerations to take into account.

The Child Support legislation also provides a government administered child support assessment option for those who do not want to negotiate an Agreement. In these cases, an assessment is made by the Department of Human Service and there are processes available to object to these decisions or appeal.

The advantage of an agreement is that the parents can determine what child support arrangement is best for the family. Once Parents have arrived at an enforceable agreement accepted by the Child Support Registrar, it can be enforced by the Court.

These are just some aspects we will guide you through to make the child support process as uncomplicated as possible while ensuring that your children receive appropriate financial support.

Parents living in Australia must pay child support – whether they were married or not – until a child reaches 18 years or until they reach the end of the school year if they turn 18 before completing school. We consider your circumstances, the background information and nuances involved, which is why we request that you complete and return our initial attendance instruction sheet before our first meeting. We aim to give you accurate legal advice to ensure an amicable post-separation in Brisbane relationship free of further expense, litigation, and acrimony.

For parenting matters, we can help you obtain or change an Order in some circumstances that affects children’s rights and parental responsibilities. We have the experience necessary regarding child custody and parenting orders in the Court, which has broad discretion concerning your children’s best interests. We handle family dispute resolution and mediation, paternity testing, grandparents’ rights, child and parental relocation rights, child abduction law, child location and recovery orders, consent orders, and child support payments.

Our family lawyers will help you understand the family law system and how it affects your parenting and custody concerns. We can steer and formulate a parenting regime in the best interests of the child and the extended family or take the matter to court if required. Contact us via our online form, send us an email or give us a call.