O'Loan Family Law

02/09/2026

We'd like to reintroduce Joanna Azzi, our Solicitor Director and Accredited Specialist in Family Law, devoted mum, and a firm believer that the almond latte is superior. Some mornings the oat wins.

Joanna became a lawyer in 2006 because she wanted to help people through the hardest thing they will probably ever go through, and land somewhere fair on the other side. Twenty years, several areas of law and a lot of very tough conversations later, that has not shifted.

These days she works only in family law. What people notice is that she listens properly, she does not make you feel silly for asking, and she will be honest with you even when the honest answer is not the one you were hoping for. Practical, warm, and quietly unshakeable when things get difficult.

Earlier this year she completed Lifeline's Domestic Violence Response Training, because knowing the law is only half of supporting someone through this.

Her genuine superpower is being a devoted mum and a committed lawyer at the same time, and somehow doing both properly.

Say hello to Joanna in the comments 👋
Or if you would like to talk something through with our team, book a free insight call: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01ld3Q0

26/08/2026

An agreement with your ex is not the same thing as a legally binding one.

This is where a lot of separating couples come unstuck. You talk it through, you both agree, and you move on. Then twelve months later one of you changes your mind, and there is nothing holding the agreement in place.

Consent Orders solve that. In plain terms:

✓ They are your agreement, written up and approved by the court
✓ In most cases neither of you has to attend court, it is a paperwork process
✓ They can cover property, superannuation splitting and parenting arrangements
✓ Once made, they are legally binding and enforceable, the same as any other court order
✓ The court will only approve them if the property terms are just and equitable, and any parenting terms are in the best interests of the children

The alternative for financial matters is a Binding Financial Agreement, which is a private contract rather than a court order. Each has its place, and which one suits you depends on your circumstances.

Getting this documented properly is what gives you a clean break. Without it, the matter is not finished. It is just paused.

If you have reached an agreement with your ex and want it made binding, speak to our team about Consent Orders: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H018NPt0

This post is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different. Speak to our team about your specific circumstances.

20/08/2026

How long does a divorce actually take in Australia?

Here is the honest answer. The divorce itself is usually the quick part. Sorting out property and parenting is what takes the time.

In Australia:

✓ You must be separated for at least 12 months before you can apply for a divorce
✓ Once you apply, the application is generally listed for a hearing within a few months
✓ A divorce order takes effect one month and one day after it is granted
✓ Property settlement and parenting arrangements are separate processes, and can run before, during or after the divorce
✓ Once your divorce is final, you generally have 12 months to apply to the court for a property settlement or spousal maintenance

That last point is the one people miss. A divorce ends the marriage. It does not divide your assets, deal with superannuation, or settle arrangements for your children. Those are separate matters with their own time limits.

So the real question is not how long the divorce takes. It is how quickly you get a clear strategy for the property and parenting side.

If you are separated and unsure what needs to happen in what order, book your Chart Your Start consultation and leave with a clear plan: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H018NPp0

This post is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different. Speak to our team about your specific circumstances.

18/08/2026

If you do not feel safe, there is a legal step that can help.

An Apprehended Domestic Violence Order, or ADVO, is a court order in NSW that sets limits on how another person can behave towards you. It is protection, not punishment.

What an ADVO can do:

✓ Prohibit the other person from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating you
✓ Set conditions about contact, about approaching you, or about coming near your home, your workplace or your children’s school
✓ Include your children as protected persons
✓ Be applied for by police on your behalf, or privately by you
✓ Be put in place on an interim basis where there is an immediate concern

Where safety is a concern, we act quickly. We assist with protection orders, including ADVOs, to help create immediate and ongoing safety, and we guide you through the process with care, discretion and strength.

If safety is a concern for you or your children, speak to our team about your options: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H018NNC0

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

This post is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different. Speak to our team about your specific circumstances.

16/08/2026

Most separations in Australia never see the inside of a courtroom.

That surprises people. The picture in your head is probably a judge, a witness box and a fight. The reality for most separating couples is far quieter.

Property and parenting matters can be resolved by agreement, then formalised so they are legally binding. That usually looks like:

✓ Full and honest financial disclosure from both sides
✓ Negotiation between lawyers, or mediation with an independent third party
✓ The agreement documented as Consent Orders or a Binding Financial Agreement
✓ Court only as a last resort, if agreement genuinely cannot be reached

Staying out of court is not about avoiding conflict. It is about resolving it on better terms, with less cost and less damage to everyone involved.

We aim to resolve matters strategically and efficiently. If it needs to be fought, we step in and handle it.

If you want to settle without a courtroom but you are not confident your position is protected, book your Chart Your Start consultation and leave with a clear plan: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H018NVT0

This post is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different. Speak to our team about your specific circumstances.

13/08/2026

Gotta love an EOFY celebration. We dropped this one a few weeks ago to celebrate an incredible year at OLFL. We’ve experienced some pretty cool 😎 changes over the past 12 months and worked together to build a wonderfully caring, dedicated and diverse team. The best part is that we get to work with empathetic and humble humans - it’s been a journey to get here and we’re reminded every day of the importance of those qualities to create a truly special place.

13/08/2026

13/08/2026

50/50 sounds like the fair option. It is also one of the most misunderstood ideas after separation.

The law in Australia does not require equal time. It requires arrangements that are in the best interests of the child, and those two things are not always the same.

What we see: parents agree to 50/50 quickly, without mapping how it works day to day. School, work, travel between two homes. Balanced on paper, chaotic in real life.
A strong arrangement is not about splitting time evenly. It is about something stable, predictable and sustainable for your child.

Sometimes that is 50/50. Often it is something more structured. If you need help with your parenting arrangements, our family lawyers are here to help. Book your free call to get started: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01glQl0

12/08/2026

Rozelle, Balmain, Drummoyne: we are closer than you think.

O'Loan Family Law is based in Rozelle and we act for clients right across the Inner West. If you are in Rozelle, Balmain, Drummoyne or the surrounding suburbs, you do not need to head into the city to get specialist family law advice.

What we handle:

✓ Property settlement and asset division
✓ Separation and divorce strategy
✓ Parenting and children’s arrangements
✓ Consent Orders and Binding Financial Agreements
✓ Family violence and protection orders, including ADVOs

Family law is all we do. That is why clients come to us for strategy rather than a general legal opinion.

If you are in the Inner West and starting to think about separation, book a free 15-minute call with our team: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H018Pzv0

This post is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different. Speak to our team about your specific circumstances.

10/08/2026

The first month after you separate sets up the next twelve.

Not because of anything dramatic. Because of the small, practical things that are easy to miss when you are exhausted and doing this for the first time.

If you have just separated, or you are close to it, start here.

✓ Write down your date of separation. It affects time limits, entitlements and the divorce process, and people genuinely forget it later.
✓ Get a clear picture of the finances. Assets, debts, superannuation and accounts, in both names and single names.
✓ Secure your own banking and documents. Your own account, your own email address, copies of the key paperwork.
✓ Do not rush a property deal. Moving out does not sign away your interest in the home, but the practical arrangements matter, so get advice before you decide.
✓ Get strategic advice early, before you agree to anything or sign anything.

None of these are dramatic moves. They are the quiet ones that protect your position while everything else is still uncertain.

Not sure where you stand in the first weeks after separating? Book your Chart Your Start consultation and leave with a clear plan: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H018NSX0

This post is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different. Speak to our team about your specific circumstances.