Tompkins Wake has a specialist team of lawyers who can assist in all aspects of family law. Our expertise in relationship property, family law and trust and estate disputes ensures our clients can navigate these complex and often stressful matters with solutions focused advice and support.

We work with our clients to understand their concerns and objectives. We assess each client’s prospects and provide pragmatic and strategic advice for resolving matters.  Our litigators work closely with our specialist teams across Tompkins Wake to ensure our clients receive strategic advice, tailored to their specific issues. Where matters cannot be resolved through alternate dispute resolution, we advocate for our clients and protect their interests in Court.

Examples of our work:

Our team has recently been involved in three leading matters in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal:

• Thompson v Thompson
• Clayton v Clayton
• Scott v Williams

Our team is also regularly featured in the Family Law Advocate:

Autumn 2018, Volume 19, Issue 3

• Misleading the court ... when is it perjury? by Jodie Foster
• On the horns of a dilemma by Helen Radinovich
• Relocation - When you need to move on by Angela Vanderwee
• Trustees' indemnity for costs by Kate Sullivan

Summer 2017, Volume 19, Issue 2

• Court of Appeal: $1 million sufficient provision for daughter by Helen Radinovich
• Modern Love; New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2017 by Angela Vanderwee
• The "armchair principle" and the interpretation of wills by Kate Sullivan

Spring 2017, Volume 19, Issue 1

• Changes to the Family Court Rules 2002 - effective 1 September 2017 by Angela Vanderwee
• Court of Appeal rules decision on protection order was "wrong" by Jodie Foster
• Sustaining a caveat on the grounds of an implied or constructive trust by Angela Vanderwee

Winter 2017, Volume 18, Issue 4

• Constructive trust estate claims by Kate Sullivan
• Interim maintenance orders - how many can the Family Court make? by Helen Radinovich

Autumn 2017, Volume 18, Issue 3

• Disclosure to beneficiaries and privilege by Kate Sullivan
• Parents demand repayment of loan on breakdown of daughter's relationship by Helen Radinovich

Summer 2017, Volume 18, Issue 2

• Constructive trusts - another "trust busting" tool by Kate Sullivan
• Cross-examination in an interlocutory application in the Family Court by Helen Radinovich

Areas of expertise:

Adoption
Capacity Issues (Claims under PPPR Act)
Care of Children
Child Support
Court Applications
Dissolution (Divorce)
Estate Claims
Family Law
International Family Law
Lawyer for Child
Relationship Property Disputes
Spousal Maintenance
Trust Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Relationship Property Agreements
Contracting Out/Pre-Nuptial Agreements
PPPR Act applications (capacity issues)