Expert Melbourne Family Lawyers
Separating is hard.
Doing it without a plan is harder.
The costliest mistakes in a separation happen early, before anyone gets advice. A text sent in anger. A verbal deal made to keep the peace. An agreement signed just to make it stop. One short call with a senior family lawyer can be the difference between a fair outcome and an expensive regret.
Free 15-minute call with a senior family lawyer. Out-of-hours appointments available.
- 20+ Years Experience
- Rated Excellent, 30+ Google reviews
- JustFund Accredited
- Free 15-Min Call with a Senior Lawyer
A Note From Our Principal
Separation is hard enough without a legal process that makes it harder
Family law is all we do. No conveyancing, no commercial work on the side. Just separation, property, parenting and the practical decisions that need to be made when a relationship ends.
Our approach is simple: focused, clear, practical. We tell you where you stand, what your options are and what each one will cost, then we get on with it. Some matters settle across a table, and others need to go to court. We do both, and we do both well.
You don’t have to have it all worked out before you call. That’s our job.
Eve Smith, Managing Partner & Founder, Umbrella Family Law
What We Handle
Whatever you’re facing, we’ve guided someone through it.
Divorce & Separation
Every stage, from the first hard conversation to final orders. You move forward with a plan instead of a panic.
Property Settlement
A fair division of what you built together: house, super, business, debts. Nothing missed, nothing signed away.
Parenting Arrangements
Practical plans that protect your children’s stability and your relationship with them. The arrangements you agree to now tend to become the pattern later, so we get them right early.
Binding Financial Agreements
What happens to property if you separate, settled before it’s ever in question.
Family Violence
Sensitive, experienced guidance that recognises every form it takes. Protection first, paperwork second.
Pet Custody
We’re Australia’s first firm with every lawyer formally trained in pet custody. No member of the family gets left out of the plan.
"What seemed impossible became a reality."
George came to us as a father in a high-conflict separation, facing false accusations and what he called a hopeless legal battle. In his words, posted publicly on Google: “What seemed impossible, 50/50 custody, became a reality… [Umbrella] sees the human behind the file.”
He’s one of 30+ families who’ve rated us Excellent on Google.
Why Umbrella?
Why Melbourne families choose us…
Strong in negotiation. Strong in court.
Some matters settle across a table. Others need to be fought. We have deep experience in both: negotiating and mediating resolutions, and running litigation through the Federal Circuit and Family Court when that’s what it takes.
Results, not run-around
From your free call, you’ll know exactly where you stand and what your options look like, in plain language, from day one.
Cost certainty
A free 15-minute first call, fixed fees available on most matters, and JustFund accreditation, giving you access to a line of credit for legal fees, repaid only when your matter resolves and only from the proceeds.
Flexibility
Not everyone works 9 to 5. Out-of-hours appointments are no problem, and you can meet us by video, phone or in person.
Deep specialist experience
A senior team with more than 20 years’ family law experience, including dual England/Australia qualification, across the Federal Circuit and Family Court system from first filing to final orders.
UK connections handled
Dual-qualified in England and Australia, we act in matters with a UK connection. UK citizens living here, or property and parenting matters that span both countries.
Meet Our Family Law Team
Senior family lawyers who understand that every case is personal, not just legal. Book your free call and one of them picks up. Behind every lawyer sits dedicated support staff, so your questions get answered and your matter keeps moving.
Eve Smith
Managing Partner & Founder
Luke Parsons
Senior Associate
Kate Barlow
Senior Associate
Chimene Vaughan
Senior Associate
Ryan Burky
Paralegal
Ana Maria Oreskovic
Practice Manager
Jayde Isgro
Accounts Manager
Mariah Darcy
Senior Personal Assistant
Sarah Mason
Senior Personal Assistant
Jess Hogan
Personal Assistant
Matin Atmaca
Personal Assistant
Babette Michael
Administration Assistant
Your First Appointment
Free, 15 minutes, and you leave with clarity.
Most firms offer a free chat that puts you through to whoever picks up the phone, and tells you little more than “come in and we’ll talk fees.”
We do it differently. Your free call is 15 minutes with a senior family lawyer, not a call centre, not a paralegal, total confidentiality. You tell us what’s happening. Then, in plain language, we tell you:
- Whether what you’re facing is urgent, and what to do first
- What kind of path fits your situation: negotiation, mediation or court
- What a full consultation would cover, and roughly what it’s likely to cost
Some people have everything they need after 15 minutes. Others book a full consultation to go deeper on their legal position and next steps. Either way, you leave with clarity, whether or not you ever engage us.
Book your free 15-minute call with a senior family lawyer
What Happens After You Book?
Step 1
Your Discovery Call
15 minutes, free, with a senior lawyer. You tell us what’s happening and we tell you where you stand and what’s next.
Step 2
Your Strategy
If it’s a fit, we book you in for a full consultation and build the plan together: priorities, process, timeline, and a fee structure agreed up front. No surprises.
Step 3
Your Resolution
We aim to settle out of court through negotiation or mediation, and represent you fully if court becomes necessary. You stay informed and make every decision with clear advice beside you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a family lawyer cost?
Your initial consultation is free for 15 minutes with a senior lawyer. Beyond that, we offer fixed fees on most matters, agreed before we start. If cost is a concern, we’re also JustFund accredited: a line of credit for legal fees, repayable only once your matter resolves.
How long does a divorce or separation take?
A straightforward, uncontested matter can resolve in a few months. Complex property or parenting disputes take longer, particularly if court is involved. We’ll give you a realistic timeline once we understand your situation.
Do I need a lawyer if my separation is amicable?
Even amicable separations benefit from formalising agreements through consent orders, so both of you are protected if circumstances change later. We can do this simply and cost-effectively.
What if my ex-partner already has a lawyer?
That’s common, and it doesn’t put you at a disadvantage. It does mean the other side is already getting advice, so it’s worth getting yours promptly.
Will I have to go to court?
Some matters resolve through negotiation or mediation; others proceed to court. We’re experienced in both, and in your first consultation we’ll give you a realistic view of which path your matter is likely to take, and what each would cost.
What happens in the first consultation?
You talk, we listen, then we set out your position and a realistic plan in plain language. It’s real advice from day one, not a sales call.
Can you handle matters outside Melbourne?
Yes. We’re based in South Melbourne and act for clients across Bayside, the northern suburbs and Greater Melbourne, with online consultations for regional Victoria and interstate.
In family law, waiting has a cost
The arrangements you accept this month, for the children, the house, the accounts, tend to become the pattern a court later preserves. And if the other side already has advice, every week you wait is a week they’re planning and you’re not.
The sooner you have a clear picture of your position, the more options you keep.
Book your free call this week. 15 minutes, no cost, and you walk out with clarity.
Umbrella Family Law, South Melbourne. Family law is all we do.
Location
142-144 Albert Road
South Melbourne VIC 3205
Call 03 9279 6800
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Free 15 Minute Discovery Call