Legal drafting is a core part of family law. Professional legal drafting can be the difference between a quick and cost-effective legal process and a lengthy battle through the Court. We’ve been serving clients for a long time. We created this guide to put forward our recommendations for experienced and reliable legal drafters.
Quick guide to the best family law legal drafters
What we look for
Family law expertise
There are no one-size-fits-all templates that fit different legal fields. Legal documents, arrangements, and other critical print materials require a specific understanding of the Family Law Act and other intricate details. This ensures that all documents and arrangements meet the necessary legal criteria and are tailored to the unique circumstances of each case.
Attention to detail
Drafters need to ensure that all necessary information, legal documents, and other details are thoroughly accounted for and undergo a careful review. Legal issues, especially complex cases, must be handled with meticulous care to prevent errors or omissions that could lead to rejection by the Court. Clear and accurate print materials, combined with a thorough review process, are essential in ensuring compliance with legal standards and achieving the desired outcome.
Transparent fees
Legal drafters should be upfront about their expenses. Solutions typically require payment of a fixed fee to draft and print a legal document, agreement, or affidavit. If additional costs arise for a personal request or other solutions, these costs must be clearly presented and transparently communicated.
Establishing a strong connection with clients through honest communication and providing opportunities for them to review all charges ensures they are fully informed and confident in the drafting process.
Should I Use a Legal Drafter or Not?
We would like to address common questions about whether using a legal drafter instead of a family solicitor is the right choice. While legal drafters may offer a cost-effective option, it’s important to consider the risks that can arise when handling important legal documents, arrangements, or requests.
Family solicitors ensure that every document is prepared with attention to detail, properly printed, and correctly submitted. They also provide the expertise required to address all necessary details, reducing the likelihood of errors that could jeopardise your case. Relying solely on a legal drafter may leave important aspects unaddressed, potentially leading to serious complications.
Limited scope
A legal drafter has a limited scope to help clients. Their offers are typically based on a predefined set of facts about the document, agreement, or contract they are tasked to create. A family lawyer, on the other hand, can provide a more holistic approach to a case. When drafting a legal document or preparing an agreement to be signed, a family lawyer can also advise on other concerns that may impact the document’s validity or effectiveness. This ensures that every detail is addressed, the contract is properly signed, and the final print is legally sound and in the best interests of the owner.
Tailored solutions
A legal drafter has limited ability to handle the complexities that can arise in cases. What happens when disputes occur between the parties? Does a drafting service have the capacity to offer mediation or represent the owner in courts? Can they effectively negotiate on behalf of the clients or manage details beyond creating and printing a document?
These are often essential requirements. For example, drafting a letter or responding to a formal request may require more than just preparing a document to be signed; it demands a comprehensive approach. A family lawyer is equipped to manage a client’s interests during the drafting process, ensuring that every detail is addressed, the job is done thoroughly, and the clients are fully protected.
Enforcement
Completing a document is often not the end of the job. Breaches can occur, requiring enforcement of the document. A legal drafter can’t assist beyond the creation and submission of the document. They cannot handle demands, respond to a notice, or ensure the agreement is upheld.
A family legal expert, however, can manage the entire process, from filing to enforcement, ensuring that the agreement is signed, complete, and in the client’s best interest. They can also address any request or claim related to the document, ensuring its terms are upheld by the Court.
Affordability
Affordability is often the major contention. What about those supposed ‘predatory’ fees that solicitors charge? Legal practice, like any other service, operates on the principle that you get what you pay for. Any provider boasting about being the cheapest is cheap for a reason. Family law deals with sensitive issues where cutting corners and offering a standardised service for every client can do more harm than good.
Legal drafting by an experienced family legal expert is informed by their in-depth comprehension of your needs. When they create and print a legal document, it is tailored to your specific circumstances, fulfilling all requested obligations and ensuring that the agreement is ready to sign. This thorough process not only ensures accuracy but also produces an effective document that avoids the need for amendments, ultimately saving the client’s time and money. A poorly drafted or generic document may look affordable initially, but the cost of printing it multiple times, fixing errors, and addressing further issues can outweigh the savings.
A note before we begin
We don’t believe that any legal professional is objectively better than everyone else. While you may have found this page by searching for something like “Best legal drafters for family law,” this isn’t our intention. With our extensive experience, we understand the importance of proper legal drafting and compliance with the relevant rules.
Whether it’s preparing a print copy of a legal document, ensuring it meets all requested requirements, or providing the necessary employer support in legal matters, we know how to identify the right solutions. Prior to making a decision, it’s crucial to review their expertise, access their track record, and evaluate their ability to file and maintain accurate records. We’re confident that the listed providers can deliver superior results, but we encourage you to use this list as a starting point for your own research and to ensure the legal professional aligns with your specific needs.
Shanahan Family Law
Shanahan Family Law has served the Sunshine Coast community for over a decade, earning a reputation for prioritising mediation over litigation. This approach has provided them with extensive experience in handling consent orders and drafting arrangements for property division, financial support, and the distribution of assets and debt.
Their solicitors ensure that every legal document is accurately prepared and ready to submit, even in complex cases involving multiple parties, such as a buyer or a person with financial claims. With meticulous attention to detail, they create agreements that account for all critical factors, ensuring a seamless connection between the parties and a fair resolution for everyone involved.
Key services
Legal drafting
Binding financial
Consent orders
Best part
Their team is experienced with any written agreement needed for your family law matter.
Shanahan Family Law can handle court documents for even the most complex cases.
What their clients say
I was very happy with my experience at Shanahan Family Law. Danyelle guided me through the property settlement and a satisfactory outcome was reached. This was achieved without going to mediation or court.
- Robert Johnston
Andrews Family Lawyers
Peter Andrews has worked in family law for decades, gaining extensive experience in some of Australia’s largest firms. Since 2013, he has been serving the Brisbane area through his own practice. Known for his clear and practical advice, Peter focuses on achieving quick and beneficial outcomes for his clients. His full suite of family law solutions enables him to prepare and print legal documents for any requested matter with significant expertise.
Whether drafting a single-page document, managing complex cases requiring permission or compensation arrangements, or facilitating the exchange of critical information, Peter ensures his clients have access to the necessary legal support to resolve their issues efficiently and effectively.
Key solutions:
Legal drafting
Financial
Property orders
Consent orders
Best part
Peter Andrews has significant experience gained from major law firms and working with thousands of clients.
His legal drafting service is underpinned by in-depth expertise as a practising legal expert.
What their clients say
I cold called them because they were a local firm and I can highly recommend them! Peter and Lisa provide personalised professional legal assistance. They were very easy to deal with and they keep you up to date with where processes were at and achieved the desired outcomes in a timely manner.
- Bronwyn Stevens
Ferrall and Co. Lawyers
Ferrall and Co. Lawyers is led by Rowena Ferrall, a solicitor who combines her extensive family law experience with deep compassion for every client she works with. Rowena’s many years as a generalist legal expert have given her a true knowledge of a broad range of clientele and their unique legal needs. Her approach ensures clients have access to clear legal advice, whether it involves drafting a single-page document, printing arrangements, or writing detailed legal submissions.
As a preferred Legal Aid supplier in Queensland, she demonstrates a strong connection to the community by offering cost-effective legal payments. Her commitment to providing quality assistance is evident in her thorough review processes and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for all who seek her help.
Key services
Legal drafting assistance
Domestic violence matters
Family law
Criminal law
Traffic matters
Best part
Rowena has extensive experience working on cases across a range of fields.
Ferrall and Co. Lawyers are dedicated to providing low-cost assistance to their local community.
What their clients say
It is with great confidence that we recommend Rowena Ferrall and her exceptional staff to anyone needing legal advice. Rowena represented us with a contractual issue and achieved an outcome that exceeded our expectations. The whole team was great to work with and explained the legal procedure in easy-to-understand terms.
- Brian Parsons
LawDepot
Ken Sawyer founded LawDepot in 2001 as an online platform designed to help people generate custom legal documents every day. Their content, curated by legal professionals, ensures accuracy and compliance with current laws. LawDepot provides users with easy access to their support worldwide, allowing them to create and print documents tailored to their needs.
With a strong connection to quality, reliability, and innovation, they serve over 13 million users and have generated over 40 million legal documents. Each page of their content undergoes thorough review to maintain high standards, ensuring users receive exceptional value for their legal expenses. This commitment to excellence makes them a trusted resource for those seeking efficient and accurate legal solutions.
Key services
Will and testaments
Loan
Separation
Prenuptial
Employment contracts
Best part
LawDepot’s content is overseen by a team of legal experts to ensure the accuracy of every legal document.
They’ve served millions of clients with a focus on reliability and an innovative mindset.
What their clients say
I spent the last week trying to get someone to find this form and I created one in seconds. This website has everything I need to start working on my business endeavours and I'm super excited about launching a new business. If you're looking for the right forms to protect yourself and your business this is the website you need!
- Amanda Bucci
Conclusion
We believe all the legal drafters in this list can provide you with access to the expertise needed for your family law drafting requirements. Each drafter has the ability to prepare every page of your legal documents with precision. While some may believe that family lawyers aren’t worth the money for drafting solutions, our experience, ability to handle complex arrangements, and the access we provide to tailored solutions refute this idea. Every page of your agreement will reflect a thorough understanding of the law and your unique needs.
