Your trusted team in Melbourne for advice regarding parenting matters

When your relationship breaks down you may need help making arrangements for the ongoing care of children.

Our team is easy to talk to and we understand that every family is different.

We're here to help you understand your rights, responsibilities, and legal considerations related to where your child should live, who can make decisions about the child, and with whom the child should spend time.


Get in touch

media

Our Expertise

The best interests of the child will always be the paramount consideration in any decisions regarding arrangements for children.

  • Parental Responsibility

    In Australia there is a presumption that parents will have equal shared parental responsibility for parenting their child. When you separate, both parents continue to share parental responsibility, but this does not mean that a child will spend equal time with both parents.

    Parental responsibility relates to the duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority that parents have in relation to their child. This may include the child’s education, health, religion, and participation in extracurricular, sporting or artistic activities. The presumption may not apply in situations where there is family violence or abuse or there are other reasons why the presumption may not be in the child’s best interests.

  • Parenting Applications

    Following separation, if parents cannot agree about future arrangements for their child, they may apply for a parenting order to be made by a court. Applications for parenting orders may also be made by the child, a grandparent, or other person concerned with the welfare of the child.

    Before an application for parenting orders can be filed with a court, parties must obtain a certificate from an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner stating that the parties have attended family dispute resolution and made a genuine effort to resolve the dispute. Certain limited exemptions apply including where family violence is an issue.

    A parenting order made by a court can cover one or more of the following issues:

    • How the parents will share parental responsibility for the child
    • Who the child will live with
    • The time the child will spend with each parent and other people (for example grandparents)
    • Any communication the child will have with the parent or other people that they do not live with
    • Any other aspect of the care, welfare, or development of the child.

    When a court makes a parenting order, there are consequences if one of the parents to that order does not comply with their obligations.

"Barry Nilsson is an experienced and highly regarded family law firm who provided me with personal attention as if I was their only customer. The level of professionalism and knowledge is outstanding."

Family Law Client, 2023

Award-Winning Family Lawyers

Our family law team are regularly recognised by our clients, the courts and the legal community for providing exceptional legal services. With our deep understanding of family law, breadth of experience and client-centred approach, we have a proven track record in representing clients across a wide range of family law matters.

Our team has recently received the following recognition:

Leading Family & Divorce Law Firm in Australia (First Tier) in Doyle's Guide 2023

16 Individual listings in Doyle's Guide 2023

  • 6 Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers
  • 4 Leading Family Law (High-Volume & Complex Property Matters)
  • 3 Leading Parenting & Children’s Matters Lawyers
  • 3 Family Law Rising Stars

The Best Lawyers in Australia

10 individual listings for family law and family law mediation in the 15th edition of Best Lawyers 2023

Family Law Accredited Specialists

Nine of our family lawyers have been formally acknowledged as leaders in their field, and are recognised as Family Law Accredited Specialists

Ask us how we can help

Insurance & Health
Family Law, Wills & Estates
Meet our team
Knowledge Hub
Who we are
Barry Nilsson acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we conduct our business, and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
© Barry Nilsson 2026
Privacy policy Terms of Use Staff Access Reset
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation