Family Lawyers Wollongong & Illawarra

As every family law matter can be very different, it can be difficult to give a definitive estimate of what your legal fees will be. The complexity of your personal circumstances and the willingness of the other party to engage in meaningful negotiations can have a big impact on the work needed to resolve your matter and your overall legal costs. But rest assured, our experienced team will work tirelessly to find the best possible outcome for you and your family. We’ll issue you with a Costs Agreement that sets out ranges of estimates for different stages in your matter. Plus, we’ll regularly keep you updated about your fees, so that you always know where you stand. 

Additionally, we’ll explain how and why your legal fees may change over the duration of your family law matter. We’ll communicate your options to you throughout, while ensuring that no corners are cut and that any settlement is in your best interests. 

We’re able to offer payment on settlement arrangements in certain matters using litigation lending options, including a Plenti or Just Fund loan. Call us for more information about these options. 

Family law matters are generally listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) in Wollongong. The Wollongong FCFCOA is located at the Commonwealth Government Centre, Level 1/43 Burelli Street, Wollongong. Complex matters may be transferred to the Sydney Registry.

Post COVID-19 lockdowns many Court matters remain listed via video link and some via telephone. There are also instances where the Court requires an in-person appearance. We will represent you at Court and will explain the processes to you.

With a national team of family lawyers, we are experienced at representing our clients in Courts across Australia.

As some of the best-rated family lawyers based in Wollongong and the wider Illawarra, we deal with a wide variety of circumstances in family law, from simple matters to complex matters.

Jessica Koot says “The Illawarra is a diverse region with a variety of family situations, there are many stay at home parents, work from home parents, parents working in the Illawarra region and parents who travel outside of our region for work, including to Sydney, the Shoalhaven, and further afield, with fly-in and fly-out arrangements.

It’s a diverse population and we support all types of circumstances in the realm of family law, no matter what aspect our clients need professional guidance in. As the Practice Leader in Wollongong, regardless of the financial circumstances of our clients, they generally are wanting the best outcome for their children and the ability to move forward following the relationship or marriage breakdown, both emotionally and financially. Furthermore, most of our matters settle through negotiations or other alternative dispute resolution, including mediation. Many clients are wanting certainty around parenting arrangements and representation in their property settlement matters to ensure they are best placed financially into the future. We also regularly represent clients in complex family law matters, which at times are before the Court, including parenting matters involving mental health challenges, risk and safety problems, substance abuse issues and where there has been a history of family and domestic violence, and property matters with complex asset pools including businesses and trusts.”

Jessica Koot and the Watts McCray Lawyers Wollongong, Illawarra team are skilled in a wide range of matters relating to family law. For more information about what our Wollongong family law team can help with, please see our legal services page.