Family Law

Expert Guidance, Discreet Resolution

Our goal is to secure your future discreetly and effectively, minimising both financial damage and emotional strain.
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Guiding Families through Life Changes

At Cheney Suthers Lawyers, we understand that separation and relationship breakdowns are an intensely personal and emotionally disruptive time. It can also be a time of great financial risk, especially if complex assets, businesses or intergenerational wealth are involved. Our goal is to secure your future discreetly and effectively, minimising both financial damage and emotional strain.

Led by Accredited Specialist in Family Law, Alice Byrnes, our team guides you with certainty during uncertain times, with proven, high-level expertise. Whether you require a Binding Financial Agreement to protect your farm inheritance, are navigating complex property settlements involving trusts and companies, or need mediation for parenting and child custody arrangements, we focus on confidential, non-confrontational solutions.

We serve clients across the Central West and beyond, offering the discretion and objective distance many Sydney metro clients prefer.

Start your confidential conversation with our Family Lawyers today.

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How We Protect Your Future and Family

Protecting Business & Financial Legacy

We are leaders in complex property settlements for regional business owners and high-net-worth individuals, specifically handling trusts, self-managed super funds, and business valuations to ensure equitable and tax-effective division.

The Advantage of an Accredited Specialist

Our Family Law team is led by Director Alice Byrnes, an Accredited Specialist in Family Law. Even the most intricate legal challenges are handled with the highest standard of knowledge and expertise.

Flexible Payment Solutions

We proudly partner with JustFund to ensure you can access the legal services you need without prohibitive financial stresses. Ask us about the JustFund flexible payment solutions.

Focus on Out-of-Court Resolution

We prioritise peaceful, practical outcomes through mediation, aiming to negotiate and draft robust agreements that save you time, money, and stress. Our team is trained in Collaborative Practice. Read more about our focus in this field.

Holistic Support Network

We actively develop our network of professional contacts, including accountants, agents, bankers and more, to assist you with the full commercial and personal impact of your separation.

Our Core Family Law Services

Complex Property & Financial Settlements

Includes assisting with spousal maintenance, asset protection, and tax-effective division of businesses and family wealth.

Parenting & Spend Time With (known as Child Custody) Arrangements

Includes negotiating Consent Orders, Parenting Plans, and resolving disputes regarding parental responsibility, living arrangements, and relocation.

Binding Financial Agreements (BFAs)

For wealth protection and clear financial arrangements, both before and after separation.

Family Law Mediation & Collaborative Practice

Focused on out-of-court resolution for faster, less adversarial outcomes.

Divorce Applications

Handling the legal requirements for formalising your divorce after separation.

Child Support Agreements

Negotiating and drafting Binding Child Support Agreements.

Family Law Litigation

Expert representation for matters that require resolution in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Family Law FAQs: Guiding Families through Life Changes
A BFA (often called a ‘prenup’ or a ‘postnup’) is a legal document that sets out how your assets will be divided if your relationship ends. It is essential for protecting pre-existing wealth, business interests, and farm inheritance. BFAs can be instated before, during or after a relationship.
Yes. The Application for Divorce (which requires 12 months separation) occurs on the papers and are filed with the Court but you do not usually have to attend. For property and financial settlements, we aim for resolution via negotiation, mediation, or consent orders filed with the Court. Again, you generally do not have to attend Court if the matter is by consent. This helps you avoid costly and adversarial litigation.
When a business, farm, or family trust is involved, the process is significantly more complex. We assess the assets and liabilities, as well as non-financial contributions (such as farming input) to ensure a just and equitable property settlement that aims to minimise disruption to the commercial enterprise.
An Accredited Specialist has demonstrated a superior level of technical knowledge and experience in that area of law. In choosing an Accredited Specialist like Alice Byrnes, you can have confidence that your complex matter will be handled efficiently and expertly, saving time and costs in the long run.

Speak to a Family Law Accredited Specialist today

Secure a confidential, compassionate, and highly-skilled legal team who are focused on protecting your future.

Our Family Law Team

Alice Byrnes – Acc. Spec. (Family)

Director

Alice Byrnes – Acc. Spec. (Family)

Director

Dannielle Ford

Director

Dannielle Ford

Director

Ellen Jones

Senior Associate Solicitor

Ellen Jones

Senior Associate Solicitor

Cathie Aldrich

Office Manager/Legal Assistant

Cathie Aldrich

Office Manager/Legal Assistant

Meagan Kay

Paralegal

Meagan Kay

Paralegal

Sally Kent

Paralegal

Sally Kent

Paralegal

Katelan Philpott

Solicitor

Katelan Philpott

Solicitor

Cameron Winnell

Legal Assistant/Client Services Officer

Cameron Winnell

Legal Assistant/Client Services Officer