Family Matters
Walk into mediationprepared.
One private place for your lawyer, your documents, every step.Donna does the reading, so you know where you stand.Never alone.
Finding a family lawyer
The right family lawyer. One who’s handled this before.
Tell Donna about your matter. Donna briefs three family-law firms with the details and brings back how each one would handle it, their experience with matters like yours, and a first call.
Brief sent to 3 firms
Family Law · Property + ParentingTwo kids (8, 5) · Family home in Greensborough · Mediation-led
Hartley Family Law
Mediation-led family law
$650 / hr
Est. $8–15K mediated · $25–60K contested
David Hartley · Principal
Replies within a day
In scope
- Property settlement
- Parenting arrangements
- FDR mediation
- Consent orders
Their note
“Property settlement. The heaviest piece in your matter, and where we'd want to start the conversation.”
Available Next week
Marigold & Drew
Children-focused, collaborative
$580 / hr
Est. $6–12K parenting plan · $30–80K Family Court
Eleanor Marigold · Principal
Replies within a day
In scope
- Parenting plan
- Collaborative practice
- Child-inclusive mediation
- Property settlement
Their note
“Parenting arrangements. The heart of how we work, and the first conversation we'd want with you.”
Available Next week
Brennan Family Lawyers
High-net-worth property + trusts
$750 / hr
Est. $20–60K · Trusts and overseas assets
Aisha Brennan · Senior Partner
Replies same day
In scope
- Property settlement
- Trust + entity disclosure
- Forensic disclosure review
- Binding Financial Agreements
Their note
“Trust and entity disclosure. The first conversation we'd want, given how the asset pool sits.”
Available This week
Donna
Hartley fits best. Mediation-led, two kids in their wheelhouse, and their angle on property settlement matches where matters like yours usually unlock first.
Forensic disclosure, by Donna
Find what wasn’t disclosed.
Hundreds of pages of statements, payslips and tax returns. Donna reads every one and finds the patterns no single statement shows: a transfer that repeats, deposits that don’t match the income declared. Each one cited to the exact line. Your lawyer walks into mediation with the receipts.
Forensic disclosure
Donna WorkflowK v M · Sample matter
- High
$34,200 in cash deposits to ING Savings. Undisclosed.
Account not listed in sworn Financial Statement.
- High
Sportsbet account undisclosed
$18,640 in deposits and $4,210 winnings to a second CBA account also undisclosed.
- High
$22,000 transferred to brother as “loan repayment”
No loan agreement, no prior incoming transfer on record.
- Medium
HOSTPLUS super understated
Declared $61,400. Latest member statement shows $74,920.
- MediumDrilled
$14,300 cash income not declared on tax returns
Xero invoices match deposits at CBA #7239 within 3 days. Not on FY24 or FY25 returns.
4 more findings (Medium, Low)
Every line traces back to the document it came from.
Medium
Cash income not declared on tax returns
Xero invoices say
Matched to deposits at CBA #7239 within 3 days of each invoice date.
Tax return says
ATO Notice of Assessment for both financial years.
$14,300 of invoiced work appears as cash deposits but not on either tax return.
Cited from Xero invoice list · CBA #7239 · ATO NoA FY24, FY25
Plain English, every clause
Consent orders, BFAs, parenting plans. Explained before you sign.
Drop in any document. Donna explains every clause in clear, kind English, with the source clause right next to it. You walk into mediation knowing exactly what you're being asked to agree to.
You
Parenting Agreement Draft · cl. 5.2
“The parties shall exercise joint parental responsibility for all major long-term decisions relating to the child's education, health and welfare, and religious upbringing.”
What does this mean for me?
Donna
Private by design
Your matter, in one quiet place.
Mediation, drafting, consent orders, every step of your matter in one private place. Encrypted, and visible only to the people you choose. Your lawyer's strategy stays with your lawyer, where it belongs.
Your private space
Chen Family · Parenting + Property
In your space
Parenting Agreement, draft 3. Read this before Tuesday.
Document
Mediation. Tue 14 May, 10:00 am. Maroochydore.
Calendar
Settle the kids’ schedule first. Property second. Don’t open with the cash-income piece.
Internal note
Your lawyer’s private notes stay private.
Where you are
Mediation
Feb
Agreed on the school holidays split.
Draft Agreement
Mar
David sent through draft 2.
Your review
Apr
Read draft 3 and tell David what to change.
Consent Orders
May
Reply here. David sees it the moment you send it.