Family law is unique. Disputes over family matters are usually emotionally charged, complex, and difficult to resolve without spending considerable amounts of time and money.
Our team at Wynyard Wood understand both the importance and the complexity of these issues. We will draw on our collective experience as legal representatives in family disputes, to achieve the best possible outcome for your situation. If your case requires work in other legal matters, we can also provide this through the experience and knowledge of our other specialised legal teams.
Many of our clients come to see us at a crisis in their lives, for example, when their relationship has broken down and their former partner is proposing to move out of town or to another country with their children. Other situations can arise when a spouse or partner has major health or behavioural problems, (mental or physical), or ill health through a drug, gambling or alcohol dependency. It can even happen when a relative has died and the client has been cut out of the will.
However Legal advice isn’t only sought when things are going badly. Many clients approach us when things are going well, to get advice on merging families, writing wills, or any matter where the parties involved may want to know where they stand legally. It’s a way of taking proactive steps for the future.
Another developing area is that concerning globalisation and immigration. The separation of parents and children across countries has created a need for those involved to be informed of their respective rights and duties.
Whatever the circumstances for your family, we can assist.
We make sure we are fully up to date with the latest legal developments, along with the appropriate family law responses to them (a recent example being same-sex marriages). We have the hands-on knowledge and experience that comes from dealing with family law issues and getting results on a daily basis. Our expertise includes the following areas:
- Adoption
- Child custody (care, parenting orders, relocation)
- Divorce, dissolution of marriage, civil union or personal relationship
- Death (wills and relationship property claims)
- Domestic violence (physical and mental)
- Estate administration
- Estate claims
- Estate dispute resolution (wills and family protection)
- Elder law (retirement homes, residential and hospital care)
- Enduring powers of attorney
- Guardianship of children
- Maintenance of spouses and child support
- Protection of Personal Property Rights
- Paternity
- Relationship property (pre-nuptial, existing relationship and blended families)
- Relocation
- Trusts
- Wills
- Welfare guardians or property managers for the mentally or physically infirm
We are committed to providing prompt and efficient advice in all matters of family law, ensuring that you have an objective view of your position. Wherever possible, we try to obtain a swift resolution and we encourage our clients to explore alternative, cost-effective methods of settlement, where appropriate. Throughout the process, we advise our clients in full of their options, enabling them to select the method that best suits their needs. Where negotiation proves impossible or is not the right tactical approach, we have the benefit of many years of experience in conducting court cases and obtaining the best results for clients in litigation. We understand that litigation can be a stressful process and our lawyers will guide you through this, keeping you informed and ensuring you are well prepared throughout the duration of the case.
