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Sorting out a family matter

A change in a relationship or a family arrangement, and the agreements and documents that come with it.

See where this can lead

Most people with a family matter would not call it family law. A relationship is changing, or something about the children needs writing down, and the question is what to put on paper and who needs to agree to it. The same change usually reaches a will, a home or a move as well.

What this can involve

What it can involve

Does one of these sound like yours?

You don’t need to know the legal term for it. Start with what actually happened.

  1. Before or during a marriageAgreeing in advance, or in the middle of a marriage, how money and property are to be treated.
  2. Living together without marryingSetting out how a shared home, shared costs and the relationship itself are to be treated.
  3. SeparatingWriting down what has been agreed about money, property and arrangements when people go their separate ways.
  4. ChildrenPermission, care and travel arrangements for a child, in writing, so everyone knows where they stand.
  5. A change of nameChanging the name you use after a marriage, a separation or for personal reasons.
  6. A disagreement inside the familyWhen people in a family cannot agree and want to talk it through before anything else.

None of these quite right? You don’t have to pick one.

More than one area

One situation, more than one area of law.

Sorting out a family matter rarely sits in a single category. These are the areas it most often reaches, and why. You don’t have to pick one — the matter decides, not you.

Each one is a real page you can read before deciding anything.

Most oftenFamily LawThe relationship and the arrangements that follow from it.

And often also

Documents

You may also need a document.

Family agreements and documents about children are in the ready-to-use catalogue. They are a starting point for a conversation, not a replacement for one.

Ready-to-Use Documents

Browse all family and personal documents

  • Marriage & Separation

    Prenuptial agreements

    Agree before marriage how property and finances are handled.

    View document

  • Marriage & Separation

    Separation agreements

    Set the terms when a couple separates.

    View document

  • Cohabitation & Family Agreements

    Cohabitation Agreement

    Set out how a couple living together shares property and costs.

    View document

  • Children & Parenting

    Child Travel Consent

    Authorize a child to travel without a parent.

    View document

Not sure where to start

Still not sure this is your situation?

Then don't pick one. Describe what's happening in your own words and we'll work out what it involves — and which areas of law it reaches.

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Other situations

Is one of these closer?

Questions

Questions people ask at this point.

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Tell us what’s happening. We’ll take it from there.

You don't need to know which area of law it is, or what the next step should be. Describe the situation and we'll work out what it involves.

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