Family law · Melbourne, VIC
Verified Australian family lawyers practising in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. Practising certificates checked against the VIC register. Fees published. Methodology transparent.
Family law in Australia is governed by the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), administered by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The same federal framework applies in every state — but how it’s resolved in practice varies significantly by registry, with different waitlists, court culture, and local Family Dispute Resolution capacity.
Melbourne is the second-largest legal market in Australia with substantial commercial and equity practices. The Supreme Court of Victoria, Federal Court (Melbourne Registry), and Federal Circuit and Family Court (Melbourne Registry) all sit here. The Law Institute of Victoria regulates solicitors; the Victorian Bar regulates barristers.
Regulators: Law Institute of Victoria (liv.asn.au) and the Victorian Bar (vicbar.com.au)
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia — Melbourne Registry (305 William Street). Second-largest family-law registry. Strong Family Dispute Resolution infrastructure through Relationships Australia and accredited FDR practitioners.
Indicative fees drawn from our 2026 practitioner survey and published cost data. Confirm in writing with any firm before engaging — written costs disclosure is mandatory under the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
| Pathway / matter type | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consent orders (uncontested) | $1,500–$3,000 combined | Sealed by FCFCOA Melbourne Registry |
| Negotiated property settlement | $7,000–$20,000 combined | Strong FDR culture in VIC reduces costs |
| Contested final hearing | $45,000–$130,000+ combined | County/Supreme Court if jurisdictional |
For the full family law cost breakdown across Australia, see our Family law cost guide.
Matter types we see most often in our intake from Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.
The four-step process under s79 — identifying the asset pool, assessing contributions, assessing future needs, and applying the just-and-equitable test. Most matters resolve through consent orders or mediation; only ~30% reach a contested hearing (AIFS 2024).
Live-with, spend-time and parental-responsibility arrangements. The 2024 amendments removed the equal-shared-parental-responsibility presumption — the court now decides on the child’s best interests with no statutory starting point.
Pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and separation BFAs under Part VIIIA. Used to provide certainty without court involvement, though both parties must take independent advice and the agreement can be set aside in narrow circumstances.
Filed after 12 months of separation. Sole or joint application, $1,060 filing fee (concession $355). Usually a 1–3 month process and rarely requires personal court attendance.
Spousal maintenance under Part VIII; child support administered separately through Services Australia. Property and parenting orders frequently include maintenance terms.
Apprehended Violence Orders, Intervention Orders and equivalent state-based protective orders. Often run concurrently with parenting and property matters.
Five questions that determine whether the lawyer in front of you is the right fit for your matter.
1 verified family lawyers matched to Melbourne. Updated weekly. Editorial rankings are independent; sponsored placements are labelled.
Victorian Bar (independent barrister)
Mary Agresta is a barrister practising at the Victorian Bar in Melbourne. This profile lists publicly available information about Ms Agresta and surfaces third-party reviews with their sources attributed.
Same practice · other cities
Other practice areas in Melbourne
Take the Family law matter assessment — 6 questions, 4 minutes. Get an indicative cost and pathway, then match with the right specialist in Melbourne.
Start matter assessment →