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Legal Services

Compassionate Family Law Support at Respect Legal

At Respect Legal, we provide expert and compassionate family law advice across separation and divorce, parenting arrangements, property and financial settlements, intervention orders, and binding financial agreements.

Our high-calibre, all-female legal team combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight and emotional intelligence. United by a shared commitment to empowering our clients, we support individuals and families through some of life’s most complex and emotionally charged transitions.

Led by experienced family lawyer Danielle Zetzer, Respect Legal is known for its values-driven approach and focus on people over ego. Wherever possible, we prioritise respectful, out-of-court resolutions through collaborative law, lawyer-assisted mediation and practical, realistic advice.

Whether you are navigating parenting issues, dividing assets, or seeking protection from family violence, we walk beside you with professionalism, warmth and strength — setting a new standard for family law representation.

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Our Process

Family breakdown can be one of the most unsettling experiences a person can face. The emotional weight of separation or divorce — combined with uncertainty about the future — often makes legal decisions feel overwhelming. At Respect Legal, we believe the legal process should reduce stress, not add to it.

Our approach is grounded in listening first. We take the time to understand your circumstances, your concerns and what matters most to you. From there, we provide clear guidance so you can make informed decisions with confidence and a sense of control.

While we are highly experienced across all areas of family law — including parenting matters, property settlements and financial agreements — what truly sets us apart is how we work. We focus on practical solutions, open communication and pathways that minimise conflict wherever possible, using negotiation and mediation before turning to court proceedings when necessary.

Throughout the process, we prioritise transparency, compassion and respect. Our goal is not just to resolve the legal issues at hand, but to help you move forward in a way that protects relationships where possible, supports emotional wellbeing, and lays the foundation for a more secure future — especially when children are involved.

No matter where you are in your journey, Respect Legal is here to guide and support you every step of the way.

This Is What Your Journey With Us Looks Like

Separation
Advice

We start by offering an initial consultation, where you’re invited into our office to discuss your current situation and ask any questions you may have before proceeding with separation.

During this meeting, we focus on three key areas of your relationship: parenting arrangements for any children, your financial circumstances and assets, and the nature of your relationship — including its length, type, and any immediate concerns such as family violence.

From there, we provide tailored advice on the legal implications of ending your relationship and begin working with you to develop a separation plan that prioritises the wellbeing of your family — both now and into the future.

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Negotiation

Once you’ve received initial advice and have a clear understanding of your options, we’ll guide you through the next steps to progress your matter toward resolution. Depending on your circumstances, this may include:

  • Mediation – A voluntary and confidential process where both parties work with a neutral mediator to reach an agreement on parenting or property matters.

  • Lawyer-assisted mediation – Similar to standard mediation, but with each party supported by their lawyer throughout the process to provide legal advice and negotiate on their behalf.

  • Round table conference – A structured negotiation involving both parties and their lawyers meeting face-to-face to work through the issues and seek a resolution without going to court.

  • Litigation – If all other avenues have been exhausted or are not appropriate, we may need to commence proceedings in the Family Law Courts. This is generally considered a last resort, and we will ensure you are fully prepared and supported throughout.

At every stage, our focus remains on achieving the best possible outcome for you and your family, with a process grounded in clarity, respect, and resolution.

Documentation

The final step in your family law journey is ensuring that any agreements reached are properly recorded and legally recognised. This stage gives you certainty and protection, turning discussions into binding arrangements that safeguard your future.

Depending on your circumstances, documentation may include:

  • Consent Orders – Making your parenting and/or property agreements legally enforceable through the Family Court.
  • Parenting Plans – A written record of care arrangements for children, which can later be formalised if required.
  • Binding Financial Agreements (BFAs) – Outlining how assets, liabilities, and financial resources will be divided, along with any spousal maintenance obligations.

 

At Respect Legal, we draft and finalise all necessary documentation to ensure it is accurate, enforceable, and compliant with Victorian Family Law. Our goal is to give you peace of mind that your arrangements are secure, practical, and designed to support your family’s next chapter with stability and respect.

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Our Services

Parenting

We also recognise that prolonged legal disputes, particularly those driven by conflict, can have a lasting impact on children — both in the short and long term. That’s why our approach to parenting matters is guided by two key principles:

 

  1. Supporting and facilitating a meaningful relationship between the child and the other parent, where appropriate; and

  2. Protecting children from any risk of harm.

We work with you to find practical, child-focused solutions that prioritise your children’s wellbeing and stability. Our parenting services include:

  • Parenting plans – Flexible, written agreements that outline parenting arrangements without requiring court orders.

  • Parenting coordination – Ongoing support and conflict management to help parents implement and adhere to parenting agreements.

  • Consent orders – Legally binding parenting arrangements approved by the court, made by agreement between the parties.

  • Parental responsibility – Guidance on shared or sole decision-making authority for major issues affecting your child’s life.

  • Child support agreements – Legally recognised arrangements for financial support of children.

  • Adult child maintenance – Support arrangements for children over 18 in special circumstances, such as those still in school or with a disability.

We aim to support parents in making informed, respectful decisions that protect their children and foster long-term, workable outcomes.

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Property & Financial

When working out a property settlement between two people, we need to look at your assets and liabilities, including the family home, investment properties, cars and businesses. The right advice on these matters is crucial…

More importantly, we focus on achieving outcomes that support the financial stability of both parties and allow the family to move forward with confidence and clarity.

Our property and financial services include:

  • Property settlement – Advising on the fair division of assets and liabilities after separation.

  • Spousal maintenance – Assisting with claims where one party may require financial support from the other following separation.

  • Consent orders – Legally binding agreements formalised through the Family Court, without the need for litigation.

  • Binding Financial Agreements (BFAs) – Private, legally enforceable agreements that set out how property, finances and spousal maintenance will be handled.

We are here to guide you through every step of the process with clarity, care, and respect for your unique circumstances.

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Divorce​

We can assist you in commencing formal divorce proceedings once you have been separated for at least 12 months. If, after this time, there is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation, you are entitled to apply for a divorce.

If you wish to legally end your marriage — whether to move on with your life or to remarry in the future — a divorce order is required. Our team can guide you through this process with care and clarity, offering support with:

 

  • Joint applications – Where both parties agree to apply for divorce together.

  • Sole applications – Where one party applies for divorce on their own.

  • Applications involving children – Whether or not there are children under 18, we ensure all necessary requirements are met.

We’re here to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible, while ensuring all legal obligations are properly addressed.

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Family Violence

At our firm, the safety and wellbeing of children has always been — and will continue to be — our highest priority. We offer a range of services and practical solutions for parenting matters that aim to minimise children’s exposure to conflict, with the ultimate goal of keeping both you and your children out of court wherever possible.

We also work closely with our extended network of trusted professionals to ensure you have the right support around you during this challenging time.