Parenting & Child Custody
Lawyers Sydney
We support parents through child custody arrangements, parenting plans, and court orders with your child’s best interests at the centre.
Protecting Your Child’s Best Interests While Working Towards the Best Outcome for Your Family
We’ll help you put your kids first
A relationship breakdown is already difficult. Not only are you working through the upset of the end of the relationship, but you’re also having to consider new living arrangements and how to divide your assets and property. And on top of this, if you have children, you also need to be thinking about child custody and looking after the best interests of your children. To help you through these difficult times, you need a family lawyer in Sydney that is well versed in parenting and children matters. This is especially critical if both parents cannot seem to arrive at a single agreement.
That’s where we come in. We are Sydney lawyers specialising in Child Custody with plenty of experience in handling all types of child custody matters. Our child custody lawyers can help you to understand what is reasonable under the law and what your choices are for you and your children. Through our honest communication, practical support, and expert family law advice we can help you achieve the best outcome for you and your children.
What you can expect from our Child Custody Lawyers
When you engage us as your child custody lawyers, we’ll aim to:
- Understand your circumstances and what matters to you
- Prioritise your children’s needs
- Anticipate any issues or concerns
- Give practical advice and strategies
- Communicate with you regularly and clearly
Our professional duties are crucial to ensuring the best possible outcome for you and your children. We will honour those duties by:
- Respecting your confidentiality
- Acting in your best interests
- Representing you with skill and expertise
- Acting with honesty and integrity
- Giving you written information about our costs
Free first consultation
Finding the right family lawyer is a personal choice. Just because your friend recommended a lawyer doesn’t mean they’re a good fit for you. It may not be anything you can pinpoint; perhaps it’s simply a lack of connection.Why?
Because not all personalities are compatible. Not everyone gets along.
Yet, you need to trust your lawyer completely. You need to feel like they’re listening to you and that they’ve understood your circumstances and concerns. You want them to focus on what’s important to you and be honest about what’s achievable. And their advice should be practical and considered.
For these reasons, we offer a no-obligation, free first consultation to all new clients. It’s an opportunity to meet your lawyer and assess whether they’re a good fit for you before making a financial commitment.
Want to know more?
Best Child Custody Lawyers in Sydney
With a close-knit team of expert lawyers and outstanding support staff, we deliver leading child custody legal services to our clients in Sydney and New South Wales. We know that our services are most effective when you feel:
- Supported
- Believed
- Empowered
- Heard
- Valued
- Informed
So, we strive to ensure you experience all these things with every communication. That’s why we’ll always aim to be known as the best child custody lawyers in Sydney and New South Wales. Even better, we have lawyers fluent in Arabic, Mandarin, Lebanese, Vietnamese, and Spanish. This is just one example of our commitment to excellent communication. Need more proof? We’ve been rated in the Top Three Best Family Lawyers in Sydney for 8 consecutive years.
Our Child Custody Law Services
Typically, our services include:
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Meet Our Leading
Sydney Child Custody Lawyers
600+
5 Star Reviews and Thousands of Lives Transformed
At Unified Lawyers, results matter because they matter to you. We’ve helped more than 8000+ clients across Australia resolve their family law matters with care and expertise.
SOHAIL H
The team at Unified Lawyers has been amazing from start to finish. Everyone I dealt with, from the accounts team and customer service staff to the lawyers, was professional, friendly, and genuinely helpful. My lawyer, Santino Romanella, supported me through one of the most difficult and complex legal battles of my life. My case involved significant challenges, including interference from third parties, issues involving the misuse of AI, and modern issues of gender-based violence, but he remained calm, focused, and committed throughout the entire process. To me, Santino was like a soldier. He stood his ground, never gave up, and worked tirelessly to protect my rights at every step. No matter what came up, he handled everything with integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment. One piece of advice he often reminded me of was to “be still” and “have composure,” which really helped me stay grounded during such a stressful time.
Adam Piotrowski
Jessica Adamovich was outstanding to work with throughout my family law matter. From the very beginning, she listened carefully, understood my concerns, and provided invaluable guidance during what was a very challenging time. Her advice helped me approach each step with a calm, steady mindset, always focused on achieving the best possible outcome. Jessica built a strong professional relationship with me, which made it easy to ask questions and discuss any concerns I had along the way. I always felt supported, informed, and confident knowing she was in my corner. I would happily recommend Jessica Adamovich to anyone navigating the family law system. Her professionalism, knowledge, compassion, and dedication made a difficult process much easier to manage. Thank you Jessica
Adam H-Anderson
With Anushkas assistance, and overall hard work, my family matter has progressed with very positive results. I am very happy with how things have progressed, noting that these matters do take time as there is a process to follow, however, Anushka was very reassuring throughout the entire process, providing guidance and clarity for ease of understanding for all of the steps along the way. Donna was also instrumental in assisting with both family and other matters, which overall helped to maintain a positive outlook throughout a challenging period of time. I highly recommend the lawyers at Unified to anyone that is looking for assistance in working towards a positive, balanced and as fair as possible outcome for a given family matter. As my family matter had progressed to a final hearing, Jessica B. was instrumental in providing professional advice, while displaying genuine care for the matter, which further aided in achieving a positive result for my family. Jessica is exceptional in her role as a Senior Associate and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the advice and guidance I received through a very challenging period of time. Thank you very much Jessica and thank you to everyone at Unified, I genuinely appreciate all of your work and would recommend Unified Lawyers to anyone that needed genuine high quality legal assistance.
Jeshurun Henshaw
The customer service and professionalism from Unified Lawyers was outstanding. From the initial consultation to the actual work – this was executed in a professional manner. Working with Jordyn enabled me to have the confidence that my particular matter was going to be dealt with efficiently and professionally from a person with exceptional knowledge in family law. I thoroughly recommend Unified Lawyers.
Andrea Gartmann
Jordyn was outstanding to work with from start to finish. She was professional, knowledgeable, and made a complex process feel simple and manageable. At every stage, she explained things clearly and kept us fully informed, which gave us real confidence and peace of mind. Her communication was always prompt and friendly, and she genuinely took the time to understand our situation and what we needed. We always felt supported and like we were in very capable hands. We thank her from the bottom of our hearts. We’re extremely grateful for her hard work and would highly recommend Jordyn to anyone looking for a reliable, thorough, and trustworthy solicitor.
Caleb Thompson
I was extremely happy with Unified Lawyers (Jordyn Nicholson) especially when nobody else was able to help me with my case, Jordyn would however and she did help me a lot in a short space as well as short notice. Very professional and easy to converse with, she stands with great defence on your behalf.
5 Stars
Thank you Jordyn.
Thank you Unified Lawyers.
SOHAIL H
The team at Unified Lawyers has been amazing from start to finish. Everyone I dealt with, from the accounts team and customer service staff to the lawyers, was professional, friendly, and genuinely helpful. My lawyer, Santino Romanella, supported me through one of the most difficult and complex legal battles of my life. My case involved significant challenges, including interference from third parties, issues involving the misuse of AI, and modern issues of gender-based violence, but he remained calm, focused, and committed throughout the entire process. To me, Santino was like a soldier. He stood his ground, never gave up, and worked tirelessly to protect my rights at every step. No matter what came up, he handled everything with integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment. One piece of advice he often reminded me of was to “be still” and “have composure,” which really helped me stay grounded during such a stressful time.
Adam Piotrowski
Jessica Adamovich was outstanding to work with throughout my family law matter. From the very beginning, she listened carefully, understood my concerns, and provided invaluable guidance during what was a very challenging time. Her advice helped me approach each step with a calm, steady mindset, always focused on achieving the best possible outcome. Jessica built a strong professional relationship with me, which made it easy to ask questions and discuss any concerns I had along the way. I always felt supported, informed, and confident knowing she was in my corner. I would happily recommend Jessica Adamovich to anyone navigating the family law system. Her professionalism, knowledge, compassion, and dedication made a difficult process much easier to manage. Thank you Jessica
Adam H-Anderson
With Anushkas assistance, and overall hard work, my family matter has progressed with very positive results. I am very happy with how things have progressed, noting that these matters do take time as there is a process to follow, however, Anushka was very reassuring throughout the entire process, providing guidance and clarity for ease of understanding for all of the steps along the way. Donna was also instrumental in assisting with both family and other matters, which overall helped to maintain a positive outlook throughout a challenging period of time. I highly recommend the lawyers at Unified to anyone that is looking for assistance in working towards a positive, balanced and as fair as possible outcome for a given family matter. As my family matter had progressed to a final hearing, Jessica B. was instrumental in providing professional advice, while displaying genuine care for the matter, which further aided in achieving a positive result for my family. Jessica is exceptional in her role as a Senior Associate and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the advice and guidance I received through a very challenging period of time. Thank you very much Jessica and thank you to everyone at Unified, I genuinely appreciate all of your work and would recommend Unified Lawyers to anyone that needed genuine high quality legal assistance.
Jeshurun Henshaw
The customer service and professionalism from Unified Lawyers was outstanding. From the initial consultation to the actual work – this was executed in a professional manner. Working with Jordyn enabled me to have the confidence that my particular matter was going to be dealt with efficiently and professionally from a person with exceptional knowledge in family law. I thoroughly recommend Unified Lawyers.
Andrea Gartmann
Jordyn was outstanding to work with from start to finish. She was professional, knowledgeable, and made a complex process feel simple and manageable. At every stage, she explained things clearly and kept us fully informed, which gave us real confidence and peace of mind. Her communication was always prompt and friendly, and she genuinely took the time to understand our situation and what we needed. We always felt supported and like we were in very capable hands. We thank her from the bottom of our hearts. We’re extremely grateful for her hard work and would highly recommend Jordyn to anyone looking for a reliable, thorough, and trustworthy solicitor.
Caleb Thompson
I was extremely happy with Unified Lawyers (Jordyn Nicholson) especially when nobody else was able to help me with my case, Jordyn would however and she did help me a lot in a short space as well as short notice. Very professional and easy to converse with, she stands with great defence on your behalf.
5 Stars
Thank you Jordyn.
Thank you Unified Lawyers.
Affordable child custody lawyers in Sydney
Parenting decisions significantly impact your children, so it’s important to find legal assistance to help make arrangements that can work in your circumstances. When managed with skill, legal assistance can help improve your kids’ wellbeing and make your family’s future feel more certain. Of course, not all lawyers will be the right fit, so you must find a family lawyer with expertise in child custody. However, if money is tight, we understand that instructing a lawyer can be an enormous financial commitment.
There are some key questions to consider when it comes to legal expenses. For example, what exactly will be billed? What is your lawyer’s hourly rate? Can your lawyer estimate their legal fees? To help you feel more confident about engaging our services, we use billing methods different from other law firms. For example, we won’t bill you for:
- Short phone calls
- Faxes
- Printing
- Postage
We’ve created our billing system to fit each matter, and for further flexibility, we’ve designed various billing models:
1
Event billing
We bill you whenever there’s a specific event, which we identify in our costs agreement with you. You’ll have upfront knowledge of our fees and the events or milestones that will prompt us to send you a bill.
2
Time interval billing
We calculate costs on time spent, which is usually an hourly rate. You’ll have advance notice of our hourly rates, and we will give you a cost estimate.
3
Fixed-rate fees
We’ll give you an up-front quote before we start working on a task, and we’ll charge that amount regardless of the amount of time it takes us to complete the work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody Sydney
What are the differences between child custody, contact, and parenting arrangements?
Child custody and contact are terms that were used in the past. They described how children would divide their time between their parents who had separated or divorced, usually referring to living and visiting arrangements. Now, the term parenting arrangements is used. It describes children’s living and visiting arrangements and agreements.
However, on this page, we continue to use the term child custody because we have found that most people generally understand it.
To learn more, see our information about access to children and parenting arrangements.
What is the meaning of "the best interests of the child?"
In any family law matters concerning children, the most crucial consideration is that all decisions are made in their best interests. It means that parents are expected to focus on their children’s wellbeing rather than on the issues that have led to the breakdown of their relationship.
The concept of children’s best interests is based on the need to protect their rights and promote their welfare, allowing them to reach their full potential. In family law, these two key considerations are often expressed as:
1.The children’s right to have meaningful relationships with both parents
2.The children’s right to be protected from harm, including abuse, neglect, or violence
When working out children’s best interests, Australian family laws require that a court must consider a range of factors, including:
· The children’s wishes
· The nature of their relationship with both parents and other significant people
· How a change of circumstances will impact the children
· Each parent’s ability to meet the children’s needs
· The age, lifestyle, culture, and traditions of the children
· The risk of harm to the children
What are the other basic principles behind child custody (parenting) arrangements?
As a starting point, Australian family law says that there are three basic principles when making parenting arrangements:
1.The parents should share the parenting responsibilities equally
2.The parents should try and make parenting arrangements without going to court
3.The parents are both responsible for the child until the child is 18 years old
However, many factors may influence whether these principles can be applied in particular circumstances, for example, the child’s safety, whether there’s family violence and what’s in the child’s best interests.
What is a parenting plan?
A parenting plan is a written agreement you make with your former partner about parenting arrangements for your children. It’s up to you and your former partner to decide what should be included, for example:
· Where the children will live
· How the children will divide their time
· Where they will go to school
· Who will pay for what
· Arrangements for occasions such as birthdays
· Medical care
The parenting plan isn’t legally enforceable unless you ask a court to make orders based on the plan (consent orders). However, it’s a valuable record of your agreement with the other parent.
For more information about parenting plans, see our article on Access to Children and Parenting Agreements.
What is considered when making child custody (parenting) arrangements?
When making parenting arrangements, what is taken into account will depend on your circumstances, for example:
· Location of your children’s school
· Your children’s activities, including out-of-school activities
· Care requirements
· Medical treatment requirements
· How you share the financial responsibility with the other parent
· How you communicate with the other parent
· The children’s wishes (if they are older)
Get in touch to learn more about parenting arrangements.
How will a child custody dispute affect me?
If you and your former partner can’t agree on parenting arrangements, you may need to apply to a court to make parenting orders. If there’s a dispute about what orders the court should make, there will be a hearing (known as a trial) at which both parties can provide evidence. Evidence can include testimony from witnesses and various documents (including expert reports, emails, photographs, text messages and social media activity).
If you’re thinking about taking legal action, we recommend that you consider the following:
- It takes a long time for a custody issue to get to trial. In some cases, it can take years. While waiting for your trial date, the court may hold several minor hearings to check progress. If you have lawyers, they usually attend these hearings on your behalf. Your lawyers will also put much time and effort into preparing for the trial. It means that custody cases can be expensive – often costing each party tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees – so you need to consider the time and financial cost of going to trial
- When you start a child custody legal action, you may have to produce all documents or other evidence relevant to your case. Also, you may be required to answer questions or give reasons for your decisions, even if they don’t help your case
- Court cases are often stressful, which can impact you and your children
- Taking legal action means the court is asked to decide what happens to your children. You won’t have control over the decision, and in most cases, you will have to accept the outcome
- Depending on the ages of your children, you may have to deal with the other parent for many more years. Maintaining a good long-term relationship is often easier if you can reach an agreement without going to court
For more information, see our Australian Parenting Orders Guide.