International Family Lawyers
Expert guidance for cross-border family law matters, protecting your rights and your children.
2025
APAC Business Awards
(Family Law Firm of the Year – Australia)
Our Awards
ASSISTED OVER 5,000 FAMILIES
If your matter spans outside of Australia, your case is going to require expertise that does too.
Family law matters that involve multiple jurisdictions include:
* Cross-border divorce
* Parenting disputes that involve relocation overseas
* Child abduction under the Hague Convention
* Overseas property and financial settlements
* Child support agreements, where one party lives abroad
We can determine the appropriate jurisdiction for your claim, co-ordinate overseas document exchanges, secure orders to protect your child’s best interests and manage property settlements in international family law matters.
Melbourne Family Lawyers has a deep understanding of the Australian legal system and will use a global lens to guide you through international family law disputes. We leverage established affiliations with international law firms to secure you the best possible outcome.
Move forward with clarity and confidence.
Trusted International Family Law Advice for Complex Cases
Getting legal advice early in family law matters which span multiple jurisdictions is essential to ensuring your case moves forward efficiently. International family law matters require balancing time zones and cross-cultural communication, leaving little room for delay.
Experienced International Family Lawyers in Melbourne
Our Melbourne-based team regularly assists clients across Australia and overseas. We collaborate with trusted international law firms so you have consistent advice and a clear strategy across jurisdictions.
International family law concerns are often more complex than domestic cases.
These matters can include:
- Competing jurisdictions
- Overseas assets
- Cross border parenting disputes
- International relocation
- Hague Convention proceedings
- Enforcement of foreign orders
Our International Family Law Services
International Relocation
If you are seeking to relocate overseas with your child, or opposing a proposed relocation, you will likely require either the other parent’s formal consent or a Court order.
Relocation matters are determined by reference to the child’s best interests and can significantly affect schooling, routine and parental relationships.
We prepare strategic relocation applications and represent clients in contested relocation proceedings.
International Child Abduction and Hague Convention Matters
If your child has been taken overseas without consent, or kept outside Australia when they should have returned urgent action may be required under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980).
Melbourne Family Lawyers will act, without delay, in:
- Preparing an application for the return of your child under the Hague Convention
- Drafting urgent recovery orders for your child to be returned
- Liaising with overseas lawyers and to draw on jurisdiction-specific experts
- Working with overseas lawyers and authorities to coordinate the process
If you are in this situation, getting advice early can make a real difference.
International Divorce
If your marriage is recognised or tied to multiple countries, filing for divorce in the right jurisdiction will affect the outcome of your case.
Jurisdiction can affect:
- How property will be divided
- Whether spousal maintenance is payable
- Parenting arrangements
- Enforcement of orders
To provide you with the best outcome for your case, we will advise whether Australia is the most appropriate forum or whether your proceedings should be commenced overseas.
Overseas Property Settlement
Dividing assets across multiple countries requires careful legal and financial coordination.
We act in complex international property settlements involving:
- Overseas real estate
- Foreign companies and trusts
- International investments
- Cross border enforcement of financial orders
Our focus is to secure a fair and enforceable outcome that protects your long term financial position.
International Child Support
We help you draft, review, and enforce child support arrangements when one parent lives overseas or income and assets sit in another country.
You can expect clear guidance on making the agreement workable under Australian law and, where needed, aligned with overseas requirements so it is more likely to be recognised and enforceable, with practical protections for you and your child.
Meet Some Of Our Family Lawyers
Hayder Shkara
Director & Practice Manager
Katherine Siotos
Solicitor
Stephanie Hope
Senior Associate
Giuseppe Rubino
Senior Associate
Multijurisdictional Expertise
Our team of international family lawyers in Melbourne represented clients in international family law matters in the following jurisdictions:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Hong Kong
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- India
- Japan
- New Zealand
Our Senior Associate Alison Loach has special expertise as holder of a New Zealand practicing certificate.
We also have lawyers who are fluent in both Mandarin and Italian.
Planning Ahead for Expats and Global Families
If you are an expat, hold dual citizenship or frequently travel internationally, proactive legal planning is essential.
We assist with:
- Binding Financial Agreements recognised across borders
- Parenting plans incorporating relocation clauses
- Structuring international asset arrangements
- Pre travel consent documentation
If you are an expat, hold dual citizenship or frequently travel internationally, proactive legal planning is essential.
We assist with:
Related Articles & Cases
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Does child support cover school uniforms? In Australia, child support generally does cover school uniforms. Uniforms are usually treated as part of a child’s ordinary education costs, grouped together with
Shinohara Decision Ends the Practice of ‘Add Backs’ in Family Law Property Settlements
The Full Court of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) has handed down a landmark decision that changes the way property settlements are approached under the
Can I Request a Child Support Reassessment: 6-Point Comprehensive Guide
Can I Request a Child Support Reassessment? Yes, you can request a child support reassessment if there’s been a change in your circumstances or your child’s needs. A reassessment helps
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are signatories to the Hague Convention?
Australia is a Hague Convention country, meaning Australians can make an application under the convention to require their child be returned to Australia if they were taken to another Hague Convention country without consent.
Not all countries are signatories to the convention.
Our team can advise whether your best course of action if your child has been taken overseas without consent, or not returned to Australia.
What is a Family Law Watchlist?
The Family Law Watchlist is a system operated by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to monitor children’s movements subject to family law orders.
If a court believes there’s a risk of a child being taken out of Australia without proper consent, it can request that the child’s name be placed on this watchlist.
This prevents the child from leaving the country without court approval.
What are Departure Prohibition Orders?
A Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) is a legal order that prevents an individual from leaving Australia, usually due to unpaid debts like child support.
The order remains in effect until the debt is paid or arrangements are made to manage it.
Violating a DPO can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
What is a Recovery Order?
A Recovery Order is a court order that authorizes or directs a person, usually the Australian Federal Police, to find and return a child to a person who has legal custody or parental responsibility.
This is often used in cases where a parent has taken away a child without consent from the other parent or against existing family law orders.
How to Register an Overseas Divorce?
In Australia, an overseas divorce can generally be recognised if it is valid in the country where it was granted and if either party has a sufficient connection to that country.
How Long Does an International Divorce Take?
If your divorce spans outside of Australia, it may take up to 5 months to finalise. The time frame will be determined by the countries involved, responsiveness of parties, as well as the complexity of the case.
Additional steps, like serving documents overseas, or dealing with foreign assets may complicate the process which will require additional time to resolve.