There are a lot of ways to set legal fees, offering fixed fee family law pricing is common, especially for divorce applications, helping reduce the financial strain of separation. It brings clarity when dealing with the other party, whether or not a court order is involved. This can include:
Organising consent orders.
Managing parenting arrangements.
Advising on property settlements.
Providing independent legal advice for binding financial agreements.
This tool provides general information only. It is not legal advice, a quote, a costs agreement, or legal costs disclosure. The information shown is based on general industry patterns and does not take into account the specific facts of your matter. Whether a fixed fee or hourly arrangement is appropriate depends on your circumstances, the work required, urgency, complexity and whether agreement is reached. Please contact our office for information about fee arrangements specific to your matter.
Free 60-Second Tool
Fixed-Fee vs Hourly: General Information Guide
Answer 5 general questions to learn how fixed-fee and hourly billing structures typically work in Australian family law matters. This tool provides general information only — not a quote, recommendation or legal advice.
This short quiz is designed for anyone navigating separation, divorce, property settlement, parenting matters or a binding financial agreement in Australia. You'll get:
- A plain-English recommendation on fixed fees vs hourly rates for your situation
- Key factors family lawyers use to scope a matter
- The right next step, whatever your recommendation
What best describes where you're at right now?
Choose one.
Have you and your former partner reached agreement on most issues?
Think about property, parenting and finances overall.
Have both parties fully disclosed finances (assets, liabilities, super)?
Full financial disclosure is a legal obligation and impacts how a matter is scoped.
Does your matter involve any of these?
Select all that apply. These factors often cause fixed-fee scopes to shift.
How likely is it that your matter could change or escalate?
For example: a change of mind, a new dispute, or a shift to court proceedings.
Get a straight answer from a family lawyer — free
Book a free discovery call with Shanahan Family Law. We'll review your situation and explain exactly how your matter would be costed.
Rated 5 stars by 45+ clients on Google · Sunshine Coast family lawyers since 2008
This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Every family law matter is different. For advice specific to your circumstances, please contact Shanahan Family Law directly. Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation.
Shanahan Family Law uses an hourly rate for family law legal fees. We’ve found this approach gives clients clearer visibility of how their fees are charged and lets us tailor the work to each matter. Our family law solicitors have clear priorities:
Transparent pricing.
Tailored advice.
Strategic flexibility.
There are several reasons why an hourly rate allows us to represent clients in the best way possible.
What is fixed-fee family law?
Fixed-fee agreements are a one-size-fits-all solution for family law matters. That means the workload has to be predictable. The service defines upfront the specific tasks that’ll be done.
What are hourly rate services?
An hourly rate follows the work the lawyer does. The rate may change according to the experience of the lawyer. The work is then tailored to the specific needs of the case.
Why we use hourly rates
Here are some reasons why we believe our hourly rate approach provides better value for clients at our Sunshine Coast family law firm.
Accounting for unforeseen circumstances
Family law cases can be upended by all kinds of unforeseen issues. This is a problem for fixed fee family law legal support. Some services have conditions, such as:
- An existing agreement between the parties may be required by the firm, which avoids the headache of going through mediation or negotiations.
- Already disclosed finances may be required by a lawyer before providing legal advice, as full disclosure can be a lengthy process — particularly when clients have business interests and investment properties.
- Court filing fees may or may not be included in a fixed-fee service, depending on the firm.
This limits the practicality of fixed-fee arrangements. An hourly rate can account for changes in a client’s legal needs without making significant changes to an existing cost agreement.
How Much Will Your Family Law Matter Cost? Get an Instant Estimate
This calculator provides general information only. It is not legal advice, a quote, a costs agreement, or legal costs disclosure. Court fees are based on publicly available FCFCOA information and may change. Professional fees, barrister fees, mediation costs, valuation costs and other expenses depend on your matter, the work required, urgency, complexity and whether agreement is reached. Please speak with our office for costs information specific to your circumstances.
Free Cost Estimator
Family Law Court Fee and Cost Range Guide
This guide shows publicly available Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) filing fees and indicative professional fee ranges for general information only. It is not a quote or costs disclosure. Adjust the inputs to see how indicative ranges may vary.
Estimated Total Cost
$2,940 – $6,300
Possible professional fees and indicative disbursements. Excludes GST.
This is a benchmark only — get a real quote
Shanahan Family Law offers a free discovery call to scope your matter and give you a clear, transparent cost estimate for your specific situation.
Rated 5 stars by 45+ clients on Google · Sunshine Coast family lawyers since 2008
Disclaimer: This calculator provides general information only. It is not legal advice, a quote, a costs agreement, or legal costs disclosure. Court fees are based on publicly available FCFCOA information and may change. Professional fees, barrister fees, mediation costs, valuation costs and other expenses depend on your matter, the work required, urgency, complexity and whether agreement is reached. Please speak with our office for costs information specific to your circumstances.
Court fee source: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia family law fees. Last checked: April 2026
Professional fee ranges: provided and approved by Shanahan Family Law. Last checked: April 2026.
Fixed fee family law transparency
It may seem like transparency is a point in favour of fixed fees. Clients can understand pricing beforehand and could potentially pay costs upfront into a trust account. However, the client may have to cover expenses related to work the service wasn’t anticipating, or additional expenses related to complications with an ex partner. An hourly rate offers a more flexible line of billing, ensuring fees always reflect the actual work done.
An hourly rate allows us to be transparent with our clients about how services will be priced. If circumstances in the case change, the client can still be clear about how our legal fees are charged. This supports our focus on cost‑effective, client‑centred family law representation. It can also be easier to provide flexible funding solutions for financially vulnerable clients.
Tailored solutions
We have always focused on the unique needs of every party. An hourly rate allows us to maintain flexibility in the strategy we develop for each individual client. We can provide extensive support while ensuring that clients have a clear fee structure, which is crucial when navigating divorce, separation and related family law matters. This can be important if a case escalates to Family Court proceedings.
When fixed fees may work
Here are some circumstances when fixed fees may work for you, especially if you are seeking compassionate family law help across Australia:
- Initial consultations with a lawyer can be arranged for a set fee through a pre-arranged meeting.
- Simple legal matters involve a small, clearly defined issue that may not require the comprehensive support offered in our Sunshine Coast family law services and client experiences.
- Early independent advice on relationship property proceedings or parenting arrangements is available from our principal family law solicitor Luke Shanahan.
From our clients
"The team explained every step clearly, returned my calls quickly, and treated me with respect throughout a stressful time. I felt supported the whole way."
Conclusion
Are you working through family law issues with a former partner? Fixed fee family law services can work in some circumstances. But they may not provide complete transparency and are inflexible. As a dedicated provider of family law services, Shanahan Family Law uses an hourly rate so clients can see how their legal fees are charged as the matter progresses. Where an agreement is reached, our solicitors can advise on the steps that may be required to formalise it. This allows us to provide tailored solutions and ensure clients understand how legal assistance is costed.
Are you looking for an experienced family lawyer?
We assist clients in a lot of ways, including dedicated support through our Broadbeach family law practice and our Nambour family law office. Whether you need help with a binding financial agreement or understanding a court filing fee, our family law team is here to guide you. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
