Eight questions. You’ll get a complexity assessment, an indicative cost and timeframe range, the typical legal pathway for matters with your profile, the questions to ask the lawyer, and a match with the right specialist in your state.
This tool provides general information based on patterns in published Australian family law data. It is not legal advice. Only an admitted lawyer can advise on your specific matter. We never publish what you enter.
Step 1 of 8
What stage are you at?
This shapes the pathway. The same set of facts looks different at different stages.
Net asset pool size?
All assets minus all liabilities, in today’s figures. Includes both parties’ assets regardless of whose name they’re in — super, property, business interests, joint and individual debts. A rough estimate is fine.
$1.5m
drag to adjust
$0$500k$1m$2m$5m$10m+
Roughly what does the pool look like? Tick anything that applies. You can skip this.
Children involved?
Children under 18 (or older with care needs) materially affect the property settlement and pathway, even if parenting arrangements aren’t in dispute.
Pre-relationship contributions?
Did either party bring significant assets into the relationship? This is a key factor at step 2 of the s79 process.
How long was the relationship?
Includes time living together before marriage (s4AA Family Law Act). Long relationships generally lead to closer-to-equal contribution findings; short ones preserve more of what each party brought in.
Future needs differential?
Step 3 of the s79 process. The court considers age, health, earning capacity, and care responsibilities going forward. Pick the option closest to your situation.
Anything that changes the pathway?
Tick anything that applies. These factors can substantially shift the strategy.
What’s your timeframe?
Last question. This shapes whether to push for consent orders, court application, or something in between.
Choose an option to continue.
Your matter assessment · Family law
Indicative assessment for matters with your profile.
Complexity
Medium
Likely pathway
Consent orders
Cost range (combined)
$8k - $25k
This is a crisis matter — act immediately.
If you or your children are at risk, contact the police on 000, or call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24-hour support.
For urgent legal protection, an apprehended violence order (NSW), intervention order (VIC), or equivalent in your state can be applied for the same day and does not prejudice your property or parenting position. We can match you with a family lawyer who handles urgent applications.
Your matter looks like this.
Medium
SimpleModerateComplexHighly complex
The legal framework that applies.
Australian property matters are decided under the four-step process in section 79 of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), applied by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The High Court’s decision in Stanford v Stanford [2012] HCA 52 requires the court to first decide whether altering existing property interests is just and equitable.
Step 1 — Identify the net asset pool. Today’s figures, all assets and liabilities, both parties.
Step 2 — Assess contributions. Financial, non-financial, and as homemaker and parent. Both initial and during-relationship.
Step 3 — Assess future needs. 19 factors under s75(2), including income, age, health, and care responsibilities.
Step 4 — Just and equitable. A final sanity check on the overall percentage produced.
Indicative outcome range — for matters of your profile.
This is not a prediction for your matter. It is a range observed in published case data for matters with broadly similar facts. Your matter will turn on facts not captured in this tool. Use this only as a starting point for a conversation with a lawyer.
Indicative outcome range
55% – 65% to one side
In matters with this profile (long marriage, similar contributions, moderate future-needs differential), settlements typically resolve in this range when negotiated. Court outcomes can differ.
The pathways available to you.
Most family law matters resolve without a final hearing. Approximately 70% settle via consent orders, mediation, or negotiation (AIFS 2024). The pathway that fits your matter depends on cooperation, urgency, and complexity.
Cost & time ranges — matters of this complexity.
Combined legal costs (both parties’ fees together). Drawn from our 2026 practitioner survey and published Family Court cost data.
Combined cost range
$15,000 – $45,000
Most matters of this complexity settle in this range. Costs at the lower end if both parties cooperate; higher end if mediation fails and an application is filed.
Typical timeframe
6 – 14 months
From engagement of a lawyer to final orders or settlement. Faster on the consent orders pathway; slower if disclosure or mediation is delayed.
The lawyer to look for.
Questions to ask in the first consultation.
Most family lawyers offer a free or low-cost first consultation. Use these questions to assess fit and confirm the lawyer’s experience with matters like yours.
Now match me with the right lawyer.
We’ll match you with verified family lawyers in your state who fit your matter profile. Free for you. Lawyers pay a published flat fee per accepted enquiry.
This tool provides general information. It is not legal advice. It cannot account for facts you haven’t entered, the relative credibility of evidence, or how a particular court might exercise its discretion. The percentages, costs, and timeframes shown are drawn from patterns in published case data and our 2026 practitioner survey — not predictions for your specific matter.
Only an admitted lawyer with a current practising certificate can give you advice on what to do. Our role is to give you enough context to have a productive first conversation with the right lawyer, and to match you with that lawyer.
