Consent orders

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We often hear of friends and relatives that go through a messy separation following their decision to part ways and cannot agree on their children’s living arrangements and how their property will be divided. What we don’t often hear about are those that part ways on amicable terms and come to an agreement about their children and/or property. The most common way of recording these types of agreements in a legally binding manner is by way of an Application for Consent Orders.

An Application for Consent Orders is a formal court document, which is filed with the Family Court of Australia and processed administratively without the need for court appearances. The document enables the parties to seek orders about their children’s living arrangements and property settlement. Providing:

the orders concerning their children are in their best interests;
the orders concerning their property are fair and equitable;
the form has been completed correctly; and
the form of the orders are capable of being enforced

the court will generally grant the orders and post the sealed orders to the parties.

The benefits to obtaining consent orders include:

It makes the agreement clear, binding and enforceable.
For orders concerning transfers of property, it usually allows the spouse acquiring the property to get a stamp duty exemption on the transfer. This can represent a saving of thousands of dollars.
If the transfer of an asset would trigger capital gains tax, consent orders allow you to obtain rollover relief, meaning you may not have a CGT liability.
You can split (transfer) superannuation entitlements.

Ward Keller’s family law team can assist you with Consent Orders. If you and your spouse have reached an agreement, we offer fixed fees for preparing Consent Orders.

You can speak with one of our experienced family lawyers, who will provide you with initial advice, information regarding ongoing costs and determine which of our team is best placed to assist you.

To make the most of your initial consultation, please use our sophisticated online system to learn about how we can assist you, and, crucially, to provide us with some background information about your circumstances. This will enable us to meaningfully answer your questions, provide advice, and discuss your options.

If you would like to make an appointment for an initial consultation please contact Kerryn Campbell on 89462936, or make a start online.