Livingstone Brown are one of the country's leading providers of family law services. From straightforward parental rights agreements to high-value divorce actions, they have helped thousands of clients to sort out their difficulties. Stuart Munro is regularly asked by the courts to prepare independent reports in parental rights cases. Four of the partners are curators: lawyers appointed by the courts to safeguard the rights of children in child protection cases. Julia Donnelly, who heads up the Civil Department at the firm's Carlton Place office, is trained as a lawyer-mediator. Add to that the skill, dedication and commitment of several other family lawyers working for the firm, and you have a team which is ideally placed to meet the needs of clients, whatever their particular situation.
Livingstone Brown offer a high quality service to all clients, whether the case is legally aided or privately funded. Clients can be assured of complete confidentiality and discretion. In addition to representing its own clients, the firm also offers a bespoke service to other firms of solicitors who wish to ensure that their clients receive the best possible service when faced with a family law problem.
Getting good legal advice, at an early stage, is essential. If you have separated from your partner, it can make all the difference to know exactly what your rights are before you enter into any discussions. What level of contact are you entitled to expect? Is child maintenance dependent upon contact? Are pensions taken into account? What happens to the matrimonial home? By getting answers to these (and many more) questions, you can ensure that a fair resolution is arrived at. Not getting advice can mean that you end up in a much worse situation, or involved in a long-running court action. Sometimes strict time limits (such as the limit which applies in cases where a cohabitant is seeking a financial order) can mean you lose your rights if you don’t see someone quickly.
At Livingstone Brown, , we appreciate that potential clients are worried about the costs involved in seeking legal advice. That's why we try to set things out as clearly as possible. Sometimes you can't predict exactly how much legal work will cost - a bitterly contested action will usually take longer, and cost more, than one where agreement is swiftly reached. However, a monthly payment plan, with regular standing orders, interim billing, and account updates will put your mind at rest. At all stages you remain in control. Alternatively, payments can be made by credit or debit card.
Livingstone Brown are also the country's largest providers of legal aid. We'll do an eligibility test for you free of charge, and over the phone if necessary. As experts in legal aid work, you can be assured that we will make full use of the system where available.
