PARENTING PLANS
Edwards Family Lawyers can help you reach a parenting plan to secure your child’s well being during or after a separation.
Parenting and Children
COUNSELLING AND MEDIATION
The best interests of the children is the paramount consideration when determining the most appropriate and suitable arrangements for the children after a separation. At Edwards Family Lawyers, we encourage our clients to participate in the counselling or mediation services available to assist them to reach an agreement with their spouse/former partner about suitable parenting arrangements for their children, and to minimise the effect of the separation on the children. You can find details of counselling services on our webpage entitled Links.
Family Dispute Resolution
The Family Law Act requires that separated couples engage in Family Dispute Resolution as a prerequisite to making an application to the Court for parenting orders (except in certain limited or urgent circumstances). Prior to filing an application with the Family Court or Federal Circuit Court seeking parenting orders, the Court will require you to obtain a Certificate from a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner certifying your attendance (or non-attendance) at the Family Dispute Resolution session.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
In the absence of any orders or agreement to the contrary, after a separation, both parents retain equal shared parental responsibility and must consult each other when making decisions regarding major long term issues, such as education, health and religion which may affect their children.
Equal shared parental responsibility must not be confused with equal time, or what is often referred to as “50/50” arrangements.
PARENTING ORDERS
If you cannot agree on the parenting arrangements for your children, the Court can make orders regarding the following matters:
- The time a child is to spend with each parent
- Whether one or both parents are to be responsible for the day-to-day decisions for a child
- Whether one or both parents are to be responsible for decisions regarding the long term issues concerning a child
where a child will go to school - mechanisms for the parents to consult each other before taking a child to a doctor or undergo medical procedures
whether a child can travel overseas or interstate - relocation
- In making Parenting Orders, the paramount consideration for the Court will always be ” the best interests of the child”.
Generally speaking, the Court will consider the following objectives in determining the most suitable orders:
- The need to protect a child from violence
- The right of a child to know and be cared for by both parents
- The right of a child to spend time and communicate with both parents
- The desirability of both parents sharing the duties and responsibilities concerning a child
If the parenting dispute is about how much time a child is to spend with each parent, the Court must consider whether an equal shared (or “50/50”) arrangement is in the best interests of the child. If it is not, then the Court must consider whether it is best for the child to live with one parent, and spend substantial and significant time with the other “non-resident” parent (previously called the “non-custodial” parent). This may include the child spending time with the non-resident parent on weekends, or a combination of weekends and some weekdays, and on holidays and other special occasions, so that a meaningful relationship may be maintained by that parent having involvement in the child’s day to day routine, as well as during special occasions.
At Edwards Family Lawyers, our experienced Family Lawyers will advise as to the most suitable parenting arrangements for your children, and will provide advice as to the possible range of orders that could be made by the Court depending on the circumstances of the family.
Contact us for more information concerning these issues.
Family Law Sydney, Family Lawyer Sydney, Family Lawyers Sydney

Accredited Family Law Specialist
Members of our senior legal team are accredited Family Law Specialists. In the legal profession an Accredited Specialist is a practising solicitor who has demonstrated specialised competence in a particular area of law and has been conferred Specialist Accreditation by the Law Society under its Specialist Accreditation Scheme. Edwards Family Lawyers is a highly experienced specialist family law firm that has 3 accredited specialists working out of our offices in Sydney CBD and North Sydney.
Our Services

Divorce & Separation
Expert divorce lawyers
When married couples separate, there is only one ground for the grant of a Divorce Order, and that is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This is established by the parties being separated for a minimum of 12 months. In some circumstances, parties can be living under the same roof and still be able to establish this ground.

Property Settlement
Expert property settlement lawyers
Edwards Family Lawyers can assist you and your spouse/partner to come to an agreement in relation to all financial matters and issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship, including the division of all assets and liabilities, spouse maintenance payments, superannuation splitting orders and child support departure Orders.

Negotiation & Resolution
Expert negotiation and resolution lawyers
Opportunities for negotiation and settlement exist not only before proceedings are commenced, but also after proceedings have been commenced and right up until the time that the Court finally hears and determines the matter. Parties can settle a matter at any time.

Parenting & Children
Parenting and Children Family Lawyers
The best interests of the children is the paramount consideration when determining the most appropriate and suitable arrangements for the children after a separation. At Edwards Family Lawyers, we encourage our clients to participate in the counselling or mediation services available to assist them to reach an agreement with their spouse/former partner

Mediation Services
Mediation Lawyers
Edwards Family Lawyers offer Mediation Services to assist parties to engage in effective dispute resolution. Our Principal, Frances Edwards, has extensive experience in negotiating settlements in both parenting and property matters, and is a National Accredited Mediator and member of LEADR and IAMA.

De Facto
De Facto Lawyers
De Facto couples (including same sex couples) who separate after 1 March 2009 have the same rights as married couples. The rights and obligations of couples upon the breakdown of a Marriage or De Facto relationship are now all governed by the Family Law Act 1975. De Facto couples who separated prior to 1 March 2009 are still covered by the old State legislation
Our Family Lawyers are here to help
We navigate legal issues for our clients with empathy and a deep understanding of the associated stresses and implications. We can help you, like we have helped many clients in Sydney.
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Edwards Family Lawyers is committed to providing expert advice on all areas of Family Law following the breakdown of your marriage or de facto relationship, including same-sex relationships.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

We acknowledge the Cammeraygal and Gadigal people being the traditional owners of the land on which we work and their elders past and present.
