Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Services
We provide strategic legal advice primarily in family law, with additional services in wills and estates and selected criminal law matters. Our focus is on helping clients understand their legal position clearly, prepare for negotiations or mediation, and move toward a practical resolution.
We work with clients in two ways - through ongoing representation for those who require comprehensive support, and through a range of structured, fixed-fee services for clients who need clear, expert guidance at key stages of their matter. Each approach is designed to suit different circumstances and different stages of a legal matter.
A strategy session is a focused, fixed-fee appointment designed to give you clear advice at a specific point in your matter, whether you are just starting out, preparing for mediation, or already in proceedings. It has a defined scope, a fixed cost, and a clear outcome.
Ongoing representation is different. It means we act on your behalf throughout your matter, managing correspondence, attending hearings and guiding the file from start to finish.
Many clients begin with a strategy session to understand their position and then choose to continue working with us. Others use a session as a standalone service and manage their matter themselves from there. Either path is entirely appropriate, and we will always help you identify which approach suits your circumstances.
Our primary focus is family law, including parenting arrangements, property settlement, divorce and consent orders. We also assist with wills and estates, and with selected criminal law matters, primarily those connected to family law circumstances such as domestic violence charges and intervention orders.
We do not prepare Binding Financial Agreements (BFAs). If this is something you require, we are happy to point you in the right direction.
We assist with a broad range of family law matters involving parenting arrangements and property settlement. If you are unsure whether we can assist with your circumstances, we encourage you to get in touch and we will let you know whether we are the right fit.
Both. We offer ongoing legal representation for clients who require comprehensive support throughout their matter, as well as a range of structured, fixed-fee sessions for clients who need targeted advice at a specific stage. Any ongoing arrangement is structured to suit your circumstances and is discussed openly before you commit to anything further
Getting Started
The best starting point is a free 15-minute introductory call. This is a short, no-obligation conversation to help you understand which of our services is most appropriate for your circumstances. There is no legal advice provided during this call. It is purely about understanding your situation and pointing you in the right direction.
You can book an introductory call directly through our services page.
If you are ready to proceed, you can also book a strategy session directly, or begin through our guided intake process, which allows you to outline your situation before we make contact.
As a general guide:
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If you are at the beginning of a separation and unsure where to start, a Strategic Advisory Session is the right place to begin.
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If you have a mediation scheduled or coming up, a Mediation Preparation Session will ensure you are properly prepared.
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If your matter is already before the court or proceedings are underway, an In-Court Strategy Session is designed for your circumstances.
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If you have previously completed a session with us and your circumstances have developed, a Strategy Review Session provides a focused update and revised direction.
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If you are in active negotiations and need advice on specific proposals, Negotiation Support gives you real-time strategic guidance.
If you are still not sure, our free introductory call or guided intake process will help direct you to the right starting point.
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Our guided intake is a short online process that allows you to provide key information about your circumstances before we make contact. It is a useful starting point if you are not yet ready to book a session, or if you would prefer to outline your situation first.
Once you complete the intake, we will review your information and contact you to discuss the most appropriate next step.
The intake is completed through Settify, a secure legal intake platform commonly used by Australian law firms. You will be redirected to Settify when you click "Start Your Matter."
Fees & Pricing
Our session fees are as follows:
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Strategic Advisory Session — $1,700
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In-Court Strategy Session — $1,700
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Mediation Preparation Session — $1,200
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Strategy Review Session (returning clients) — $1,400
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Negotiation Support — from $1,000 (duration selected at booking)
These fees are fixed and are confirmed at the time of booking.
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Application for Divorce - from $1,500 for a sole application in straightforward circumstances, or from $1,800 where a court attendance is required. Both fees are in addition to the court filing fee and, where applicable, the cost of a process server. Matters involving additional complexity, such as an overseas marriage certificate requiring translation or parties living under one roof, are quoted separately. Please contact us to discuss.
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Application for Consent Orders - from $4,500 + GST, plus the court filing fee. The final fee depends on the complexity of your matter, including whether the orders cover property, parenting or both, and whether they involve superannuation splitting, companies or trusts. We will provide a clear cost estimate once we have reviewed your circumstances.
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Wills - fees depend on the complexity of your estate and instructions. Please contact us to discuss your circumstances and we will provide an accurate quote.
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For all sessions, payment is required at the time of booking and can be completed directly through our website.
For other services, including divorce applications, consent orders and wills, and for ongoing representation, payment arrangements are confirmed at the time of engagement before work commences.
Our session and fixed-fee services are structured to provide cost certainty, and payment is required at booking. If you have questions about payment for a particular service, please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
HOW SESSIONS WORK
Once your booking is confirmed, you will be invited to provide a brief overview of your situation and to send through any relevant documents or correspondence. This allows us to review your circumstances before the session so that our time together is focused and productive.
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Strategic Advisory Session, In-Court Strategy Session, Mediation Preparation Session and Strategy Review Session each allow up to 1 hour and 30 minutes of meeting time, plus time for our review of your documentation beforehand.
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Negotiation Support allows you to choose your session duration at booking, from 1.5 hours to 3.5 hours, depending on the complexity of the issues you need to work through.
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All sessions are conducted via video consultation, allowing us to work with clients across Australia. You will receive a video link prior to your session. Sessions are one-on-one with Kaela Dore, the principal solicitor of KD & Co Lawyers.
If you are based in Adelaide and would prefer to meet in person, please contact us directly and we will make the necessary arrangements.
By the end of your session, you will have a clear understanding of your legal position, your options, and your recommended next steps. You will know what to prioritise, what to avoid, and how to move forward with confidence.
Following the session, you will receive a written summary confirming the advice provided, based on the information discussed. This is sent within 48 hours of your session.
Following your session, you will receive a written summary outlining your advice and next steps. Many clients find this gives them everything they need to move forward confidently on their own.
If you would like continued support, we are happy to assist. Whether that is negotiation assistance, mediation preparation, drafting of documents or ongoing representation, we can discuss the options that best suit your circumstances at or after your session.
Working with us online
No. We provide services to clients across Australia through video consultation. Our approach is designed to ensure you receive the same level of care and guidance regardless of your location.
We are unable to assist clients in Western Australia due to jurisdictional restrictions.
Family law in Australia is governed by federal legislation, which applies consistently across all states and territories, with the exception of Western Australia, which operates under a separate legislative framework. We are able to assist clients in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
For clients based outside South Australia, our structured session services are the most practical and cost-effective way to work with us. Where a matter requires ongoing representation and physical court attendance in another state, this can create logistical difficulties and additional cost. We will always be upfront about this and help you identify the most appropriate path forward for your circumstances.
In our experience, yes. Sessions are focused and structured, and most clients find that the preparation process, providing a summary of their situation beforehand, means the session itself is highly productive regardless of format. We regularly work with clients in circumstances where an in-person meeting would not be practical, and the outcomes are consistent.
Family Law - Common Questions
The most important first step is understanding your legal position, including what your entitlements are, what the process looks like, and what decisions need to be made and when. Many people make costly mistakes early in the process simply because they did not have access to clear advice at the outset.
A Strategic Advisory Session is designed specifically for this situation. It gives you a structured overview of where you stand and a clear plan for what to do next, before any formal steps are taken.
Not necessarily, and in most cases it is preferable to resolve matters without court proceedings. The majority of family law matters are resolved through negotiation, mediation or consent orders, without a judge ever making a decision about your matter.
Our approach is focused on preparing you to resolve your matter in a structured and considered way, without escalating to litigation unless it is genuinely necessary.
Mediation is a process where a neutral third party facilitates discussions between the parties to help reach an agreement. In most family law matters, parties are required to attempt mediation before applying to the court for parenting or property orders.
Mediation is often one of the most important stages of a family law matter. The outcome can shape the direction of your matter significantly, which is why preparation is essential. Our Mediation Preparation Session is specifically designed to ensure you approach mediation with a clear strategy and a thorough understanding of your position.
No. Divorce is a separate legal process that formally ends a marriage. It does not determine how assets are divided or how parenting arrangements are structured. Those matters need to be addressed separately and, importantly, there are time limits within which property claims must be made following divorce.
If you have separated and are unsure whether your property and parenting arrangements have been properly addressed, this is something we can assist with.
Consent orders are a formal way of recording an agreement between parties about property settlement or parenting arrangements. Once made by the Court, they become legally binding and enforceable.
They are a common and appropriate way to formalise an agreement without the need for contested court proceedings. We assist with the preparation and filing of consent orders as a fixed-fee service.
Yes, and this is exactly the situation our fixed-fee service model is designed for. Many people going through separation would benefit enormously from legal guidance but are not in a position to engage a lawyer for the full duration of their matter, or are simply unsure how a lawyer can help them at their particular stage.
Our sessions are designed to give you the advice and strategic direction you need at the moments that matter most. The goal is to ensure you are informed, prepared and well-positioned, whether you are handling negotiations yourself, attending mediation, or assessing a proposal from the other party.
Wills & Estates
Yes. We assist with the preparation of wills and basic estate planning documents. Our wills service is suited to clients with relatively straightforward circumstances, including clients who are updating their will following separation, which is an important step that is often overlooked.
To get started, you can complete our guided wills intake, which allows you to outline your instructions before we make contact to discuss the next steps.
Yes, and this is important. Separation does not automatically revoke or alter the terms of an existing will. If your will currently appoints your former partner as executor or beneficiary, you should consider updating it as a priority.
We regularly assist family law clients with updating their wills as part of a broader approach to managing their affairs following separation.
Sill have questions?
If your question is not answered here, you are welcome to get in touch directly.
Phone: 08 7084 3060 or email us at lawyers@kdandcolawyers.com