BWJ Law

Leading Family and Divorce Lawyers in the Redlands

At BWJ Law, our sole focus is family law. We understand family matters are often complex and require expert legal guidance tailored to your circumstances.

Whether you are facing a divorce, property split, custody battle, or any other family legal issue, our dedicated team of family law solicitors are here to support you each step of the way.

Why Choose Us

At BWJ Law, we understand that each family’s situation is unique. That’s why our dedicated team takes the time to understand your specific circumstances, offering tailor-made legal advice to guide you through the complexities of family law.

We ensure you are well-informed and supported every step of the way.

With our exclusive focus on family law, BWJ Law offers expert legal advice in all matters involving separation, divorce, property settlement, financial agreements, children and parenting, and domestic violence.

Our commitment to excellence means we strive to provide the highest level of legal representation and advice for all our clients.

Legal issues can be daunting and stressful to navigate. Our solicitors adopt a compassionate approach, ensuring our legal services are transparent, clear and tailored to your needs.

With BWJ Law, you will find a legal representative that truly cares about your peace of mind.

We believe that quality legal advice should be accessible. Therefore, we offer fixed fee initial consultations for up to one hour, to remove any uncertainty about the costs involved for you to obtain a preliminary understanding of your legal issue.

Our fair pricing and flexible payment plans are designed to recognise your budget and adapt to the progress of your case.

Starting with a no-obligation, confidential first consultation, you will meet with one of our experienced family lawyers to discuss your needs.

This initial step is offered at a fixed fee of $295, ensuring you can proceed with confidence and without pressure.

Based in Capalaba, Queensland, BWJ Law is familiar with the legal landscape of Brisbane and its greater surrounding suburbs.

Our expertise is tailored to the region, ensuring relevant and informed advice for our community members.

Need help with family law in Capalaba?

At BWJ Law, we make things simple. Our experienced lawyers are here to help you with divorce, child custody, property settlements, and more.

We understand Queensland’s family laws and can guide you smoothly through your legal issues.

Contact us for a fixed-price initial consultation and tailored solutions that protect your interests.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say?

Frequently Asked Questions

Family law deals with the financial and parenting arrangements between married and de facto spouses after the breakdown of their relationship and is governed primarily by the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), alongside separate legislation concerning Child Support.

Family law is related to but distinct from the areas of Care & Protection (where the government takes legal action to ensure a child’s safety), and Domestic and Family Violence Protection. Most family lawyers practice in all areas.

Many individuals are able to successfully navigate their separation without ever needing to engage a Family Lawyer, although it is always best to get advice from a family lawyer shortly after separation to ensure you understand your rights and obligations and manage your risks, even when the separation is amicable.

You may also need family law advice or representation if you want to make sure an agreement with your ex partner is binding and enforceable, if you cannot resolve an important dispute about your children or property, or if you are seeking to enter in a pre-nuptial or de facto cohabitation agreement.

The family law system in Australia is designed to avoid court where possible, and unless a matter is especially urgent or involves family violence, separated couples are expected to make a genuine effort to resolve their disputes about parenting or property matters before commencing proceedings in Court.

Formalising an agreement via Consent Orders and getting divorced both involve making an Application to Court, although you will not need to personally attend the Court or speak to a Judge as part of an Application for consent Orders.

Whether you need to attend Court as part of a Divorce case depends on a variety of factors; including whether there are suitable parenting arrangements in place for children under 18 and whether or not the divorce is being contested.

This depends on the type and complexity of the matter and the unique circumstances of each family​​.

Cases that resolve via negotiation and do not involve contest court proceedings typically take 2 to 5 months to finalise, and cases involving contested proceedings in Court typically take 6 to 18 months, although there are exceptions to every rule.

Getting divorced involves making an application to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Provided one or both of parties have sufficient ties to Australia and the marriage can be proved, a person may apply for divorce if their marriage has irretrievably broken down and they have been separated for at least 12 months.

You may be eligible to apply for divorce even if you have been living under the same roof as your ex during the 12 month separation period, but this involves extra steps that often result in additional costs, so you should always get legal advice if you are thinking about filing for divorce and have lived with your ex at any time in the preceding 12 months. Additional rules also apply to if the marriage is less than 2 years old.

The regarding property settlement is complicated and involves dividing assets and liabilities between the parties in a way that is ‘just and equitable’.  This typically means dividing the assets and liabilities according to each party’s contributions and future needs, but other considerations are taken into account if necessary to ensure the result is just and equitable.

Unless you are seeking to formalise an agreement via a Binding Financial Agreement, there is no legal obligation to involve a lawyer at any stage of your family law matter.

That said, it is always wise to get legal advice before entering into anything binding so that you do not accidentally agree to something you will later regret.

The process of formalizing an agreement about children or property settlement can also be overwhelming and complicated.

A family lawyer will help you navigate that process without the stress, and will ensure that whatever you agree to is recorded in a way that does not unintentionally expose you to risk.

Spousal maintenance typically involves one spouse making periodic payments to the other for a specified period of time.

Spousal maintenance payments are made separately from or additional to child support payments and lumpsum payments arising out of a property settlement.

You may be eligible for spousal maintenance if you are unable to support yourself adequately and your ex has the financial capacity to provide additional financial support.  

If you are able to establish that you are entitled to spousal maintenance, then the Court will make a decision as to how much the payments will be and how long they will last for by taking into account a long list of additional considerations that are set out in the Family Law Act.

The system offers a range of protections to survivors of domestic violence. This includes the power to order specific restraints (like in a Domestic Violence Order you might obtain via the Magistrates Court), as well as the power to prevent an abusive person from personally cross-examining their ex.

Separated De facto couples have the same rights and protections are separated couples who were/are married, however they often have to face the additional task of proving that the de facto relationship existed.

Book an Initial Consultation

Get expert legal guidance at an affordable price. Our initial consultation priced at $295 offers personalised advice on your family law matter. Talk to our experienced lawyers in Capalaba and start finding solutions today.

We now offer payment plans to approved clients.

Lisa Lucas

Lisa Lucas

Legal Bookkeeping & Accounting

Meet Lisa, our seasoned professional who joined our team in August 2022, boasting an impressive background of over two decades in accounting. With a solid foundation in IT and a Bachelor of Science under her belt, Lisa’s journey evolved as she not only managed her own accounting firm but also earned postgraduate degrees in both accounting and commercial law.

In her pivotal role, Lisa is instrumental in maintaining the firm’s compliance and ensuring seamless operations. Her wealth of experience brings a wealth of knowledge to our team, contributing to our success and client satisfaction.

Beyond the numbers, Lisa finds balance in her life through activities like Pilates and walks with her beloved dogs. Her dedication, expertise, and passion make Lisa an invaluable asset to our team, driving us towards excellence in every aspect of our work.

Amy Hayslep

Amy Hayslep

Receptionist

Amy joined our team in December 2022 as a receptionist, where she plays a vital role in managing our firm’s administrative support and daily operations. 

Her commitment to excellence and efficiency has greatly contributed to the smooth running of our office. 

Amy is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business with a focus on Marketing at the University of the Sunshine Coast, a testament to her dedication to professional growth and understanding of business dynamics. 

Amy’s aspiration to integrate her marketing insights into her current role demonstrates her forward-thinking approach and commitment to continuous improvement. Outside of work, Amy enjoys Pilates, baking, and gardening.

Jon Staby

Jon Staby

Paralegal

Jon was born in Windhoek, Namibia and moved with his family to Brisbane in 2005. Jon is currently studying his Bachelor of Laws and aims to complete it by the end of 2024. 

Jon has been currently working as a Paralegal since April 2023 and has a keen interest in all family law areas.  

Jon believes in the law to empathetically and expertly help clients to reach the best outcomes for their unique circumstances. 

In his free time, Jon’s hobbies include painting, playing basketball with friends, and watching television shows with his pet cat Luna.  

Serena May

Serena May

Solicitor
LLB (Hons) BBus

Serena was admitted to the profession in 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Business from QUT. 

Serena has previous experience as a Barrister’s Assistant in family law as well as working in a mid-tier commercial law firm in property law, wills and estates, employment law and construction disputes. This experience has provided her with the opportunity to learn from an array of senior legal practitioners before choosing to specialise in family law.

Serena is passionate about ensuring her clients feel well informed throughout their matter. Serena acknowledges every personal circumstance is unique and no other person knows exactly what it is like to walk in your shoes. 

Serena recognises that clients are often experiencing immense stress and require compassionate and efficient communication from start to finish to empower them to move on to the next chapter of their life.

On her weekends Serena enjoys heading to the coast for a surf and spending time with her poodle pup, Miss April May.

Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson

Practice Leader – Founder
BSc LLB (Hons) GDLP

Michael was awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from QUT in 2012, and was admitted as a lawyer in 2013. 

He also has a Bachelor of Science from UQ which he was awarded in 2007 (before deciding that a career in law would be more interesting than science).

Michael has practiced exclusively in the areas of Family Law, Child Safety (Care and Protection), and Domestic Violence since mid-2014. 

Michael has experience as a Separate Representative for children in Child Safety cases and has appeared on behalf of hundreds of people in Family Law and Domestic Violence cases in Queensland and the ACT.

Michael’s experience means he has a particularly keen insight into how to best avoid Court and he has an excellent record of settling cases quickly and without unnecessary conflict and cost. 

That said, he also knows how to best prepare and conduct litigation if Court becomes unavoidable, and he will expertly guide you through even the most complex and delicate case.

Michael takes a genuine interest in his clients and will make sure that you are properly advised in a way that is easy to understand, without all the unnecessary jargon that so many lawyers love to use. You can trust Michael to be direct, flexible, and empathetic. 

When he is not at work, Michael loves being in the outdoors, whether that’s fishing from his kayak or working in the garden. He also loves to cook and experiment in the kitchen.

Matthew Watt

Matthew Watt

Practice Manager – Founder

As one of the founders of BWJ Law, Matt is an indispensable member of the executive team. 

He plays a pivotal role in the day-to-day operations of the firm, focusing on implementing operational strategies and realizing the organization’s vision. 

This ensures that all employees are equipped with the necessary resources to perform at their best, delivering unparalleled service to clients.

An active member of the Australasian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA) and an associate member of the QLD Law Society, Matt consistently stays updated with the latest in legal practice management. 

He recognizes the significance of continuous professional growth, ensuring that he offers the best support to legal practitioners. 

Moreover, he adeptly manages a diverse range of corporate and strategic responsibilities inherent to the role of a practice manager.