If you have separated and need guidance, we can help you whether you were married or de-facto (living together without being married), and whether you were in an opposite-sex relationship, or in a same-sex relationship.
If you have not yet separated and want to know what your rights are, and what comes next, we can help.
Stevens Family Law & Mediation keep on top of all of the latest case developments, and have all the necessary skills and tools to help you to achieve an outstanding outcome in your family law matter, with as little stress as possible.
If you have been served with Court documents or correspondence from your ex-partner or their lawyer, we can help. We recommend that you seek your own independent legal advice from a Family Law Accredited Specialist like Ashley Stevens at Stevens Family Law & Mediation before you respond to any correspondence or file any Court documents.
Whilst the majority of our clients and family law work centres around the Newcastle Registry of the Family and Federal Circuit Courts, we are equipped and pleased to assist clients from wider areas including Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast of NSW, Sydney and Melbourne, among other areas.
Stevens Family Law & Mediation is up to date with the latest technology and is able to offer you consultations face to face, by telephone or by audio-visual link such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
At Stevens Family Law & Mediation, our job is to ensure that you achieve a favourable outcome, with the minimum of stress and upset. Let our specialist legal expertise in family law guide you through what is a stressful time in your life.
Ashley is a NSW Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law. She has worked almost exclusively in family law in Newcastle since her admission as a lawyer in 2007.
Ashley is a graduate of the University of Newcastle, with a dual degree in Law and Forensic Science.
Ashley has been helping family law clients in Newcastle and beyond for her entire legal career. She has a passion for making sure the process is as stress-free for her clients as possible. The combination of Ashley's empathy and sensitivity, and her professionalism and confidence in advocating for her client's position, has seen her achieve exceptionally successful outcomes for her clients in both property settlement and parenting matters.
Ashley is an experienced advocate, often achieving outstanding results for clients at interim hearings, and when briefing Counsel at final hearings. Ashley is also a skilled negotiator and enjoys assisting clients to negotiate agreements, either at mediation or by the exchange of offers of settlement.
Ashley's aim is to get her clients the best result, as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
Ashley is equipped to assist even if a matter involves complex issues such as family violence, financial control, and complex asset structures including companies and trusts.
Ashley is on the NSW Legal Aid panel representing parents in family law matters, as well as representing clients under the Family Violence Cross Examination Scheme administered by Legal Aid NSW.
Ashley is proud to have recently been appointed as an Independent Children's Lawyer and is honoured to be able to give back to the community by taking on this extremely important work.
Ashley is a long-term committee member and current secretary of the Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association, a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, the Newcastle Law Society, NSW Law Society, and is entered on the Supreme Court and High Court roll of practitioners, entitled to practice in all Federal Courts.
An accredited specialist is a lawyer who has been recognised by the Law Society of NSW as a specialist or expert in a particular field. Before applying for accreditation, the lawyer must have at least 5 years experience primarily working in their area of specialisation, and then must past rigorous peer testing in the areas of file and Court document preparation, knowledge of the law, and client interviewing and rapport building in order to gain Specialist Accreditation.
Ashley Stevens is a family law accredited specialist
Hannah has been working in family law practice for over 6 years, and completed her practical legal training under the supervision of family law accredited specialists.
Hannah was admitted as a solicitor in 2023, after graduating from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours Class II Division I).
Working in the field of family law prior to commencing Law School taught Hannah that she was passionate about wanting to continue this work throughout her studies and post admission.
Hannah completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Major in Human Services) in 2020, and understands the broader significance and impact that going through a family law matter can have on people's lives. Hannah's kind but confident nature aims to make clients feel supported and guided through what can be a difficult or stressful time.
Hannah is able to assist in all aspects of family law matters, including parenting and property settlement. She is particularly empathetic to the emotional toll that family law matters can have on clients or their children, and believes in always working towards a resolution that will enable families to best move forward.
Hannah is a member of the NSW Law Society, Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association, and is entered on the NSW Supreme Court and High Court roll of practitioners, and is entitled to practice in all Federal Courts.
If you would like to obtain advice about your rights and where you stand, contact us to make an appointment for your initial consultation.
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation, and we will discuss your estimated ongoing legal costs with you during the first appointment should you wish to proceed further.
