Our Melbourne family violence lawyers provide clear, sensitive and confidential advice on protection and legal options, helping you understand your rights and take practical steps to safeguard your position.
Experiencing family violence is deeply distressing. It can affect your safety, your sense of stability, and your ability to make clear decisions. Where children are involved, the impact can be even more significant, shaping routines, relationships, and their overall wellbeing during an already difficult time.
We provide clear, structured guidance on intervention orders, parenting arrangements, and property matters where domestic violence, coercion, control or financial abuse may be relevant. This includes helping you understand your options, formalise safe arrangements, and address any impact on property settlement outcomes in a legally recognised way.
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Practical, clear advice across all areas of family law, from first questions to final resolution.
Clear guidance through separation, protecting your rights and helping you plan your next chapter.
Strategic advice to secure a fair division of assets and protect what matters most to you.
Practical solutions focused on your children’s best interests while reducing conflict.
Advice on financial support obligations so you understand your entitlements clearly.
Compassionate legal support to keep you and your family safe, with urgent intervention orders when you need them most.
Understanding your rights in a de facto relationship, whether separating or protecting what you’ve built together.
20+ years combined family law experience. You speak to senior lawyers from your very first call.
Why choose us
We’re not transactional lawyers — we aim to be another branch of your support network.
Exclusive focus on family law means better outcomes — no generalists here.
Clear advice, honest costs, no surprises — from your very first call.
59 Koornang Road — a real local office for Melbourne's south-east families.
We aim to get you out of the legal system as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Getting started
Three simple steps to getting expert family lawyers on your side.
01
Meet our Carnegie team, discuss your situation and explore your options — no obligation, no jargon.
02
We match you with the right lawyer and build a tailored plan around your goals and circumstances.
03
We guide you to a fair outcome so you can move ahead with clarity and confidence.
Our Melbourne family violence lawyers provide practical guidance and considered pathways to safely finalise property and parenting arrangements.
Family violence includes behaviour that is threatening, controlling, or causes a person to feel unsafe. It can affect anyone in the family, including children, whether they experience it directly or are exposed to it indirectly.
Under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), the Court treats safety as a priority. Family violence can impact parenting arrangements and a person’s ability to participate in legal proceedings, with particular concern for its short and long-term effects on children.
Family violence is defined in section 4AB of the Family Law Act 1975 as behaviour that is violent, threatening, or that coerces or controls a family member, or causes them to feel fear.
It is not limited to physical violence. The law recognises a wide range of conduct, including:
Family violence can also include patterns of coercive control, such as financial abuse, isolating someone from support networks, or monitoring their communications or movements.
In some situations, family violence may also be addressed under state-based laws, such as the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, particularly where protection orders are required.
The courts take family violence seriously, particularly where children are involved. A child can be affected even if they do not directly witness the behaviour. Exposure to family violence, including hearing or being aware of it, is recognised as harm.
When determining parenting arrangements, the court places significant weight on the safety of children and caregivers. Allegations or findings of family violence can directly impact parenting outcomes.
Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour used to dominate or control another person, such as isolating them, monitoring movements, or making threats. Under the Family Law Act 1975, it may be recognised as family violence, especially where it affects safety or decision-making.
Financial abuse involves controlling or restricting a person’s access to money or financial resources. This can include withholding funds, forcing financial decisions, or incurring debts in their name. It is recognised as family violence and can impact property settlement outcomes.
Orange Door – The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children.
Safe Steps – Safe Steps provide specialist support services for anyone in Victoria who is experiencing or afraid of family violence.” For a 24/7 Family Violence Hotline, click here. For help with safety planning, please click here.
Berry Street – Berry Street provides programs to more than 35,000 children, young people, and families each year, including but not limited to youth engagement programs, therapeutic services for children and young people, out-of-home care, trauma services, and advocacy. For more information, please click here.
Victorian Government Family Violence Statewide Support Service – To find a range of other service providers including the Kids Helpline, Child Protection Services, Rainbow Door, and many more, please go to the Victorian Governments Family Violence Statewide Support Service by clicking here.
For any family violence emergencies, please contact 000.
Based in Carnegie. We see clients in person or online, whichever suits you.
