Are you considering filing for divorce or are you in the process of trying to do so? Look no further because in this article we will be giving you contact details for the best divorce lawyers in Auckland.
Divorces can be a stressful time for you and your whole family but unfortunately sometimes that is just the way that the cookie crumbles.
By hiring one of our highly experienced divorce lawyers from below the process will be made as easy as it can be from start to finish for you and your family.
These divorce lawyers know how to get you the best outcome for your separation when it comes to assets and finances involved during the divorce.
These divorce lawyers will do their utmost best to leave you walking away with a fair and satisfying outcome. Read on below to see which lawyers can help you.
Best Divorce Lawyers Auckland
1. Alex McDonald
If your property is in dispute due to a divorce or separation, Alex McDonald is the perfect lawyer to seek out in Auckland.
With over 25 years experience as a family lawyer, Alex has handled issues including property, estates, wills, elder law and trusts, creating a solid reputation based on effective communication, problem solving and dedication.
Alex’s clients benefit from her negotiation skills in representing them for compensation for disparity issues, maintenance issues and trusts.
She also works to provide a highly individualised and honest service, whereby costs are weighed up against benefits in the best interest of her clients.
Customer Review
A client left this testimonial:
“I cannot recommend Alex highly enough, her calm demeanor combined with her in-depth legal knowledge and wise advice helped me through a very difficult time.”
Address: Level 11, 59-67 High Street, Auckland
Phone: 09 361 5665
Services: Relationship and property disputes, estate and trust litigation, elder law, intellectual property law
2. Jeremy Sutton
If you’re concerned about the impact a divorce or separation may have on your financial situation, Jeremy Sutton’s extensive experience in complex, high net worth separations makes him an ideal option for representation in Auckland.
When a business or trust is involved in the assets to be split through a divorce, Jeremy’s focus on this niche and in investment portfolios more broadly means choosing him will leave your livelihood in reputable and trusted hands.
So, whether in a meeting or in mediation, Jeremy’s reassuring representation should put you at ease in this already tumultuous time.
Customer Review
Kirri G left this Google review:
“Jeremy is calm, pragmatic and straight to the point, easy to deal with and cares also, which is important. Although most want to resolve issues out of court, my advice if done again would be go to court as this is where Jeremy excels.”
Address: Bastion chambers, level 3, Shortland chambers, 70 Shortland Street
Phone: 09 309 4647
Services: Relationship and property, investment, business, care of children and disputed wills
3. Family Law Results
If you don’t want to go to court but would like to resolve any issues surrounding inequitable divorce, Family Law Results has a great team of lawyers specialising in this area.
Whether your primary concern is access or ownership of property, asset division, parenting of children or spousal maintenance, the lawyers at Family Law Results have extensive experience in gaining fair and equitable solutions across each of these areas.
Some of their lawyers boast almost two decades of experience specialising in various areas of family law, so you can feel reassured that you’re in good hands with them.
Customer Review
A client dealing with property issues left this testimonial:
“May I take this opportunity to thank yourself and your team for your help during this long and difficult process. Your work is much appreciated by myself and my family. I am now able to move forward in a way I thought would never come.”
Address: 20/26 Broadway, Papakura
Phone: 0800 529 737
Services: Divorce and separation, relationship and property, parenting and custody, guardianship
4. Quadrant Chambers
Quadrant Chambers is another highly regarded legal practice with a team of five experienced, specialised family lawyers residing in Auckland.
Their team works independently and through collaboration, with particular attention paid to making their services affordable for a range of families in need.
If dealing with issues surrounding divorce and familial separation, Patrick Kannemeyer is the lawyer best suited at Quadrant Chambers. As one of his specialty areas is relationships, consider dealing with Patrick for resolutions out of court.
Because of the diverse skill-sets of the team, a range of varied issues related to divorce and separation including spousal maintenance, property disputes and guardianship can all be resolved with Quadrant Chambers.
So, for a collaborative group of highly-skilled and experienced family lawyers whose expertise spans across all issues related to the dissolution of marriage, consider using Quadrant Chambers to represent you.
Customer Review
A client who had a good experience with quadrant chambers left the following testimonial:
I found the entire team at quadrant chambers friendly and easy to deal with, their prices were reasonable and they have a variety of different professional lawyers who work as a team to get you the best possible outcome"
Address:
Level 2, Boehringer Ingelheim Building, Cnr Osterley & Putney Way, Manukau
Phone: 09 260 4166
Services: Care and protection/guardianship for children, relationship and divorce, spousal maintenance, property disputes
5. Schumacher Law
Schumacher Law is a practice specialising in childcare arrangements and property disputes arising from divorce and terminated relationships, with a promise to keep your matters dealt with in a discrete and empathetic manner.
Their team of experienced family lawyers can help to devise and negotiate separation agreements and navigate the division of property.
Without this kind of specialist help, these are issues that can create undue turmoil and angst in already difficult times.
Natalie and Ange are their family lawyers specialising in this area, who carefully consider mortgage payments, asset and property division and custody and care of children throughout and following the divorce process.
So, for skillful lawyers whose extensive, specified experience in the area of family law can help create the most equitable solution for you, consider Schumacher Law in Auckland.
Customer Review
Rachael left this testimonial:
“I now have much confidence in my understanding of how the “system” works. Natalie not only showed great expertise, but she also displayed common sense and empathy – wonderful attributes in her line of work!”
Address: Unit C, 75 Corinthian Drive, Albany
Phone: 09 912 0488
Services: Children’s care, divorce and separation and family issues
6. Turner Hopkins
For a group of lawyers who care about your wellbeing during the difficult process of divorce or separation, Turner Hopkins in Auckland are among the best practices to consider.
Whether you’re looking for a prenuptial agreement, childcare arrangements or spousal maintenance, their compassionate and personalised approach can help to make the process less daunting.
One of the family lawyers, whether it be Michael Robinson, Sharon Chandra or Faiza Iqbal, can help you in understanding whether your situation warrants or meets the criteria for a marriage dissolution or divorce, and the separation agreement and subsequent childcare and property arrangements to follow.
So, given a choice between skilled and experienced family lawyers at Turner Hopkins, this practice is a great option to consider in Auckland.
Customer Review
Lisa John left this Google review:
“When you need a result this is the place to go to. The best lawyers by far anywhere to deal with, absolutely amazing and worth every penny!”
Address: 400 Lake Road, Takapuna
Phone: 09 801 0772
Services: Divorce and separation agreements, prenuptial agreements, property division, childcare arrangements
How to get a divorce in New Zealand?
You can't split up with your spouse and apply for divorce straight away in New Zealand. You need to have been separated for at least 2 years.
You can be living together for a maximum of 3 months during these 2 years.
You can then apply for the Family Court for a dissolution order which incurs a fee (see below). You will need to prove you've been separated for this length of time such as a separation agreement signed by both parties with an official date of separation.
You can then apply for a divorce however at least one party much be domiciled in New Zealand, even if both of you are now living overseas. To make an application one person must be domiciled in New Zealand so this may require you to return to NZ to complete the process.
There's then two steps, a single sided approach when one person requests and the other refuses or doesn't comply, or a joint divorce where both parties agree and complete the process.
If you both comply, and don't wish to appear in court then this can be arranged if the forms and requirements have been met.
Learn more from the NZ Govt website.
Why hire a divorce lawyer?
By hiring a divorce lawyers you are giving yourself the maximum chance at getting your fair share of the pie. We're talking assets such as property, cars, businesses and much more.
These assets should not be taken lightly and you are entitled to your fair share of these things. A criminal lawyer knows what you are entitled to and they know how to go and get it for you.
They take the time and stress out of this process for you so that you can take care of your own wellbeing as well as your families wellbeing if you have one.
There are a lot of loopholes and little things that you need to do when filing for divorce which you may not know about and this is where a divorce lawyer can be very handy indeed.
By hiring one of the divorce lawyers form above you will have the best chance of a fair outcome which will leave you satisfied.
How much do divorce lawyers cost in NZ?
If you and your partner can agree to settle out of court you can file a divorce dissolution order for only $211.50, however you can sometimes even ask the curt to waive the fee.
When hiring a divorce lawyer you'll usually have to pay an hourly fee. Most lawyers offer a free consultation of around 15-30 minutes where they'll be able to tell you if they can act on your behalf or not.
While using a divorce lawyer sounds like a wise move it can be very expensive. Some lawyers charge upwards of $500 per hour and while it appears a lot, they often have a team working on your case (office disbursements). I'm sure you've seen Netflix documentaries where an entire team is working on a case. This is why the hourly fee is high.
However some lawyers will be a lot less and could be around $150 - $250 per hour. GST may be excluded so it's best to ask during your free legal advice session for all the costs.
If you try to settle with spouse, a lawyer may only need to spend a few hours on your case, such as sending a letter or initiating a divorce settlement. This may cost a few thousand dollars.
If you have no luck out of court then this is where the fees for divorce lawyers increase and it could cost thousands of dollars that are payable in multiple instalments. There's also court fees payable.
Jeremy Sutton who we mentioned above, has a rough price guide on his website and although he only deals with high profile cases, the costs can run into the 100's of thousands of dollars.
Legal Aid is available to some New Zealanders and is a Government funding for those who cannot afford a lawyer. It's not applicable for divorces but if children are involved and the route taken falls under the Family Court then legal aid may be available.
Who’s the best divorce lawyer?
Well, this comes down to your specific circumstances and variables that are involved. Things such as businesses, property and custody arrangements with children are all different things.
Each lawyer in our extensively researched list above specialises in their own niches or areas. There is a divorce lawyer above to suit or specialise in any of your needs.
These guys and gals which we have included in our list are among the best of the best in the world of divorce law so find which one may suit your situation and give them a call, you are in safe hands here.
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