Business Advice that Actually Fits How Businesses Run
Most businesses don’t need a lawyer who can write a beautiful memo. They need a lawyer who can make the problem smaller, faster, and more predictable - without breaking the deal or creating a new one.
A Dispute Is Not the End - It’s a Problem to Be Managed
Disputes feel heavy because they drain time and attention. Our role is to give you back control:
- Clarify your position,
- Identify leverage,
- Guide you to the best commercial outcome.
We’re not here to inflame conflict. We’re here to resolve it efficiently - with your business intact.
How Property Settlement Works in Australia
The courts follow a structured process to divide property, guided by the Family Law Act 1975 (FLA). The goal is to ensure the outcome is just and equitable for both parties.
Here’s how the process typically works, along with important new protections for those who have experienced family violence:
1. Family Violence Must Be Considered by Law
From 10 June 2025, it’s now a mandatory for the court to look at:
- How family violence affected a person’s ability to contribute (financially or non-financially).
- How the violence has impacted their current and future situation (like their health, safety, or ability to earn money).
This applies whether you were married or in a de facto relationship.
2. Family Violence Definition Expanded
The law now includes economic and financial abuse as types of family violence. Examples:
- Controlling your access to bank accounts or money
- Stopping you from working or sabotaging your job
- Forcing you to take on debt you didn’t agree to
Using dowry or gifts to control or threaten
3. Economic Impact Must Be Evaluated
The court must now carefully assess how financial abuse or control has hurt your ability to:
- Contribute to the relationship
- Support yourself after separation
4. Applies to New and Ongoing Cases
These new rules apply to:
- All property settlement applications filed on or after 10 June 2025
- Any ongoing cases where a final hearing hasn’t started yet
Our role in Business Advisory is to help you:
At Honest Grace Legal, we combine expertise with care to deliver tailored solutions for every client.
Here’s What Sets Us Apart:
Spot the Real Risk
Understand the Impact
Money, time, operations and relationships.
Choose a Solution
A solution that is workable in the real world.
Because in business, the “perfect” legal answer is often useless if it:
- Delays the deal,
- Burns the relationship,
- Costs more than the risk itself, or
- Can’t realistically be implemented by your team.
1. Family Violence Definition Expanded
The law now includes economic and financial abuse as types of family violence. Examples:
- Controlling your access to bank accounts or money
- Stopping you from working or sabotaging your job
- Forcing you to take on debt you didn’t agree to
- Using dowry or gifts to control or threaten
2. Family Violence Must Be Considered by Law
From 10 June 2025, it’s now a mandatory for the court to look at:
- How family violence affected a person’s ability to contribute (financially or non-financially).
- How the violence has impacted their current and future situation (like their health, safety, or ability to earn money).
This applies whether you were married or in a de facto relationship.
3. Economic Impact Must Be Evaluated
The court must now carefully assess how financial abuse or control has hurt your ability to:
- Contribute to the relationship
- Support yourself after separation
4. Applies to New and Ongoing Cases
These new rules apply to:
- All property settlement applications filed on or after 10 June 2025
- Any ongoing cases where a final hearing hasn’t started yet
Send us your contract or issue and we’ll come back with a practical next-step plan.
Debt Recovery (Commercial)
Recover payment with control - not chao
Unpaid invoices aren’t just annoying. If they’re handled poorly, they can weaken your position, waste management time, and encourage repeat behaviour.
Our role
- Assess what you can realistically recover (and how quickly)
- Recommend the most cost-effective pathway (not the most aggressive one by default)
- Apply the right pressure - firm, clear, and evidence-backed
- Secure outcomes (payment, repayment plan, or escalation readiness)
Our approach
Step 1: Positioning
We tighten the facts, documents, and messaging so you’re not negotiating from weakness.
Step 2: Resolution attempts (where sensible)
If repayment is possible, we structure it properly - clear terms, dates, and consequences.
Step 3: Escalation
If the debtor won’t engage (or it’s strategically pointless), we move to the next step with a clear plan.
Fees + values
Debt recovery shouldn’t turn into “spend $10k to chase $6k”. We prefer staged options with cost clarity, so you stay in control of the commercial decision at every point.
Common Questions About Property Settlement
What if my ex-partner hides assets?
Courts require full financial disclosure. If assets are hidden, the court may impose penalties or adjust the settlement accordingly.
Can I claim assets acquired after separation?
Yes, assets acquired post-separation but before the final settlement can be included, depending on the circumstances.
What happens to superannuation?
Superannuation is treated as property and can be split as part of the settlement.
Meet Our Family Law Team
Get to know our dedicated legal team, committed to guiding you with expertise and care.
"Winners don’t wait for the perfect moment, they create it with vision and action."
"To me, success is about continuous growth, pushing boundaries, and creating real value—both professionally and personally. In family law, success isn’t just about winning cases; it’s about guiding clients through some of the most challenging moments of their lives with clarity, empathy, and strategic thinking. It means refining legal expertise, advocating effectively, and crafting solutions that protect families’ best interests while upholding justice. True success comes from maintaining integrity, adaptability, and a reputation for precision and compassion. Ultimately, it’s about lifelong learning and ensuring that every interaction leaves a meaningful impact."
"Success is measured by achieving long-term positive outcomes for clients and the trust built with them. It’s about ensuring each step of the process is handled with precision and care, consistently striving for excellence, and making sure clients feel supported and confident in their legal journey. "
1. Family Violence Definition Expanded
The law now includes economic and financial abuse as types of family violence. Examples:
- Controlling your access to bank accounts or money
- Stopping you from working or sabotaging your job
- Forcing you to take on debt you didn’t agree to
- Using dowry or gifts to control or threaten
2. Family Violence Must Be Considered by Law
From 10 June 2025, it’s now a mandatory for the court to look at:
- How family violence affected a person’s ability to contribute (financially or non-financially).
- How the violence has impacted their current and future situation (like their health, safety, or ability to earn money).
This applies whether you were married or in a de facto relationship.
3. Economic Impact Must Be Evaluated
The court must now carefully assess how financial abuse or control has hurt your ability to:
- Contribute to the relationship
- Support yourself after separation
4. Applies to New and Ongoing Cases
These new rules apply to:
- All property settlement applications filed on or after 10 June 2025
- Any ongoing cases where a final hearing hasn’t started yet
Negotiation & Mediation
Turn risk into resolution - without dragging it out
Negotiation and mediation work best when you arrive prepared:
- Clear on the facts,
- Clear on the outcome,
- And ready with solutions.
Our role
- Strengthen your narrative (what the other side must accept)
- Guide what to reveal and when
- Help you propose outcomes that are commercially workable
- Draft settlement terms that don’t create the next dispute
1. Family Violence Definition Expanded
The law now includes economic and financial abuse as types of family violence. Examples:
- Controlling your access to bank accounts or money
- Stopping you from working or sabotaging your job
- Forcing you to take on debt you didn’t agree to
- Using dowry or gifts to control or threaten
2. Family Violence Must Be Considered by Law
From 10 June 2025, it’s now a mandatory for the court to look at:
- How family violence affected a person’s ability to contribute (financially or non-financially).
- How the violence has impacted their current and future situation (like their health, safety, or ability to earn money).
This applies whether you were married or in a de facto relationship.
3. Economic Impact Must Be Evaluated
The court must now carefully assess how financial abuse or control has hurt your ability to:
- Contribute to the relationship
- Support yourself after separation
4. Applies to New and Ongoing Cases
These new rules apply to:
- All property settlement applications filed on or after 10 June 2025
- Any ongoing cases where a final hearing hasn’t started yet
Commercial Dispute Support
When something feels “off” - we step in early
The best dispute is the one that never becomes formal.
What early support looks like
- Reviewing communications before you send them
- Building the timeline and evidence
- Advising on strategy (silence, firm reply, settlement offer, escalation)
- Identifying quick solutions that preserve leverage
1. Family Violence Definition Expanded
The law now includes economic and financial abuse as types of family violence. Examples:
- Controlling your access to bank accounts or money
- Stopping you from working or sabotaging your job
- Forcing you to take on debt you didn’t agree to
- Using dowry or gifts to control or threaten
2. Family Violence Must Be Considered by Law
From 10 June 2025, it’s now a mandatory for the court to look at:
- How family violence affected a person’s ability to contribute (financially or non-financially).
- How the violence has impacted their current and future situation (like their health, safety, or ability to earn money).
This applies whether you were married or in a de facto relationship.
3. Economic Impact Must Be Evaluated
The court must now carefully assess how financial abuse or control has hurt your ability to:
- Contribute to the relationship
- Support yourself after separation
4. Applies to New and Ongoing Cases
These new rules apply to:
- All property settlement applications filed on or after 10 June 2025
- Any ongoing cases where a final hearing hasn’t started yet
Litigation Strategy
If litigation is necessary, we make it strategic
Litigation should never be an emotional decision. It’s a business decision.
Our role is to help you:
- Assess the real prospects and the real risks
- Map the pathway (time, cost, and likely pressure points)
- Build a strategy that keeps settlement options open
- Focus on the outcome that protects the business — not “winning” for ego
Fees + values
1. Family Violence Definition Expanded
The law now includes economic and financial abuse as types of family violence. Examples:
- Controlling your access to bank accounts or money
- Stopping you from working or sabotaging your job
- Forcing you to take on debt you didn’t agree to
- Using dowry or gifts to control or threaten
2. Family Violence Must Be Considered by Law
From 10 June 2025, it’s now a mandatory for the court to look at:
- How family violence affected a person’s ability to contribute (financially or non-financially).
- How the violence has impacted their current and future situation (like their health, safety, or ability to earn money).
This applies whether you were married or in a de facto relationship.
3. Economic Impact Must Be Evaluated
The court must now carefully assess how financial abuse or control has hurt your ability to:
- Contribute to the relationship
- Support yourself after separation
4. Applies to New and Ongoing Cases
These new rules apply to:
- All property settlement applications filed on or after 10 June 2025
- Any ongoing cases where a final hearing hasn’t started yet
Request a Litigation Risk Assessment
Practical, candid, and strategy-led.