Family Lawyers Surrey Hills

Family Lawyers who help you move forward with your life

It’s natural to feel lost when you’re going through a separation. You don’t know where to start. You feel overwhelmed by everything that you have to do. We’ll give you a step-by-step plan and take care of all your legal needs, so you can start the next stage of your life.

Feel in Control

We answer all your questions so you can feel in control of your life again.

Simple, Fixed Fees

Gain certainty around your finances with a simple, fixed-fee quote.

Move Forward

Move forward with a step-by-step plan and expert support.

We’ve helped countless people just like you move forward with their lives

Family law isn’t like other areas of law. It affects every aspect of your life. The process of separation and divorce is an emotionally-draining time for everyone involved—and it’s something nobody should go through without the right support. We also understand that contacting a lawyer can be a daunting prospect.

So at Rayner Song Family Lawyers, we make it easy to access the family law services that you need to guide you through this rocky time. Get in touch to book a personal meeting with one of our caring Surrey Hills family lawyers. We’ll guide you through the process, navigating the complex legal system with you, and ensuring you understand exactly what’s happening at every step.

Kind words from our clients

The best family lawyer in this area. I had two consultations with Sophie this year, and she has been super helpful and understanding about my situation. She created a very caring and supportive environment to help clients, and I really appreciated that.

Heather Liu

03:23 23 Oct 24

I have known Sophie for about 10 years, and she and her team have helped me a lot. Sophie is not only a lawyer, and she is more like very close friend most of time for me. She felt what I felt, understood what I wanted and always be reliable. Her team is also great. The communication with the team is quite smooth and efficient. I am very happy with my recent experience with Sophie and her team.

Jiajun Wang

05:51 08 Jul 24

Highly recommend as the firm, led by brilliant Sophie, is highly knowledgeable, approachable, trustworthy, experienced and efficient. They also really understand differences in cultures which is important in today's multicultural landscape and navigating various legalities in Australia. Bonus that Sophie is an accredited specalist!

t. lee

01:21 05 Jul 24

I have had the pleasure of working with Sohpie and the team for well over 10 years, their professionalism, level of understanding and their attentiveness to any job big or small have always amazed me. Would recommend to anyone who is considering using any form of legal advice

Lee Du

23:09 03 Jul 24

I was recommended Sophie by a friend and their service has been exceptional the entire time I’ve been with them. Sophie is incredibly knowledgeable and was awesome in offering me realistic and practical advice for my situation. Kane has been such a delight to work with, he is thoughtful and dedicated to achieve the best outcome for me. He also has just the right amount of humour and lightheartedness that makes this difficult process a bit more pleasant. Highly recommend!

Debbie

08:59 25 Jun 24

Sophie was recommended to me as a specialist in de facto relationships and was absolutely on point with her knowledge and information.She was totally understanding of my slightly unusual situation and gave great advice to suit my particular circumstances resulting in a great outcome.I would recommend Sophie to anyone needing great legal advice and empathy at such a difficult time of separation or divorce

Leanne Turner

01:18 25 Jun 24

There is a document has to be certified copy by a lawyer or solicitor, walk into their office and the lawyer was happy to do it free for me, what a great service, will definitely come back again if need legal assistance in the future, thank you.

T Xia

23:41 18 May 24

Pleasure to deal with. Knowledgeable, helpful and very efficient. Real advice offered and delivered. Will recommend to my clients.

shaun cw

00:45 16 May 24

Sophie and her team are absolutely amazing! They provided me with tremendous help, and I'm incredibly grateful. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of assistance.

Fan Yang

04:21 03 May 24

I have referred my clients to Sophie Song's Office for professional legal assistance on family issues. The feedback I received were also excellent. Their comments were always that Sophie provided more than the normal legal advice but she has been caring and understanding of their problems. I shall continue to refer clients to her.Boniface Town JP

Bonni Town

02:05 03 May 24

I can't thank RaynorSong Family Lawyers, especially Kane and Sophie, enough for their exceptional service. From the outset, they demonstrated professionalism, empathy, and an extensive understanding of family law. Kane's dedication and Sophie's invaluable support made a significant difference in my case. Their hard work and commitment have ultimately led to positive outcomes. I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of compassionate and knowledgeable family law representation.

Tanya Massi

03:17 29 Apr 24

I highly recommend Sophie for her outstanding professionalism and empathy in handling my case. Sophie consistently approaches every issue from the client's perspective, addressing my needs and concerns thoughtfully. She objectively analyzes potential outcomes of the case and offers practical solutions. After every consultation, I felt more confident and clear about my direction. Thank you, Sophie, for the high-quality legal services and advice.

Tu Jiaqing

12:17 24 Apr 24

We were very happy with Sophie's professionalism, responsiveness and guidance regarding our legal matter.

Perera Roy

22:10 21 Apr 24

Sophie is very professional, knowledgeable lawyer with high ethics standard. She has assisted my clients in a few complicated family law cases. She helped clients won the cases in court and achieved the best outcome. Highly recommend Sophie and her team

YingYing Liang

00:18 21 Apr 24

Sophie provided invaluable support throughout my dispute case, demonstrating expertise and professionalism. Her compassionate approach significantly eased the complexities of the legal process. I wholeheartedly endorse Sophie and the Rayner Song team for their exceptional law services.

Wayne Xu

09:32 19 Apr 24

Kane Haddock has always been highly professional in his approach and very prompt with his responses. He always provides honest feedback and has clearly set expectations around any outcome, of which he has been correct on every occasion. This has relieved anxiety in what has been a tumultuous legal battle.Kane is not only professional, but personable and very easy to 'open up' to about sensitive topics. I could not recommend Kane Haddock or Sophie Song any higher.

Trent Wilson

07:42 19 Apr 24

Kane Haddock is exceptional.I have watched a close relative go through what has been an awful legal battle for several years now. Kane (and Sophie) have been there every step of the way.They are both so approachable, you never feel judged and they provide practical advice, not legal jargon that you get elsewhere. I say elsewhere as previous lawyers used have not been up to Kane's standard. Better yet, his sense of humour and demeanor/email tone make you feel like you're talking to an actual human who has empathy, always making you feel heard and supported.After watching the support my family member has received, I would recommend Kane to anyone. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.

Chloe Robinett

07:15 19 Apr 24

We had a really positive experience with Sophie. She is super professional, very efficient and trustworthy. She checked up the documents and gave us legal advices even just for witnessing the signatures. The level of service is exceptional, would highly recommend Sophie and the team.

Amanda Shen

00:27 19 Apr 24

The first google review I have ever left, and this is for Sophie and her team Rayner Song Family Laywers. Very professional, client-focused, quick respond, solved my family matters and protected my property as I wished. Will 100% recommend to whoever want to get problem solved with no fuss.

Raymond Zhang

06:23 18 Apr 24

Sophie from Rayner Song Family Lawyers was recommended to us by one of her satisfactory clients. She helped us to get a result far above our expectation. We were very much impressed by her professionalism, hardworking and meticulousness. She was very responsive and assuring and make us feel easy and confident during the whole process.

David Zhang

03:47 18 Apr 24

Words cannot express our immense gratitude to Sophie for her invaluable assistance during such a challenging period last month. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly endorse Rayner Song Family Lawyers to anyone seeking clarity and favorable results for their case. The unparalleled professionalism and wealth of experience provided by Sophie are truly commendable. I am thoroughly impressed and deeply satisfied with Sophie's guidance and support throughout. Thank you, Sophie, for your exceptional help.

Y Ren

01:16 18 Apr 24

I engaged Rayner Song since August 2022. Sophie, Kane and Simran have been great and professional in guiding me through the family law process for my parenting and financial settlement and get me what I entitled. The fact that the ex has changed 3 different law firms while I stick with Sophie said it all!

MK Tang

07:13 17 Apr 24

Raymor did a great job for me. Through couples of month time for my lawsuit, I have seen a resonsible and professinal attonery, it is my pleasure to work with him.Respect your work.

Elvis Z

03:59 17 Apr 24

Raymor Song are great. The service and people are nice there. They are kind and friendly.I have been impressed with their professionalism, detailed and clear advice and responsiveness.Highly recommend.

雪落清河

02:38 17 Apr 24

I will recommend definitely this services to anyone who wants a clear and positive outcome for his case. Professionalism and experience are also 2 very important points to consider when you decide Rayner Song Family Lawyers to represent you. I am very satisfy with their work to be honest.Thank you again for your excellent work.

Tao Lin

02:35 17 Apr 24

Thank you Sophie and the team for helping me for my property's transfer and settlement. Appreciate for spending time on searching for the related information of my property. Also, thank you for the honest advice. Great work!

Hong Ryan

00:51 17 Apr 24

Sophie and Simran are excellent lawyers. Their team has a strong professional background, with the ability to provide calm, objective analysis and judgment, along with a strong sense of empathy and compassion. They are trustworthy, and I am very grateful for their support.

Bing GUO

12:22 16 Apr 24

Extremely happy with the outcome that the Sophie team have delivered. Would highly recommend Sophie because of her professionalism, excellent communication and ability to explain the case solution and process in a very simple manner. She is hardworking to find the best possible solution for me and help to make my case process less stressful and provided excellent support along the way. Thanks again to the team for all your help.

Theresa Zhou

10:20 16 Apr 24

From the moment I met with Sophie and Simran I was confident that they would handle my divorce swiftly and with precision. Very happy to recommend them both.

Billie Robertson

08:56 16 Apr 24

I had the pleasure of working with Sophie from Rayner Song Family Lawyers and I couldn't be happier with the service provided. Sophie demonstrated a deep understanding of my case and offered insightful advice every step of the way. Her professionalism and expertise were evident from our very first meeting.She went above and beyond to ensure that my legal needs were met, always keeping me informed and involved in the process. Her dedication to my case resulted in a successful outcome that exceeded my expectations.I highly recommend Sophie and Rayner Song Family Lawyers to anyone in need of exceptional legal representation. Thank you for your outstanding service!

Wang Jenny

06:29 16 Apr 24

Highly recommend Rayner song, lovely bunch to work with, polite over the phone and were easy to reach when needed. Thank you to the group for all your help.

Gaby Maatouk

06:28 16 Apr 24

Sophie helped me over several years with a very important family law matter. I needed a lawyer who could effectively protect my family's interests. I was immediately impressed by Sophie's knowledge of family law and how quickly she responded to both straightforward and complex queries. The legal documentation and correspondence Sophie's office prepared was always of a high-standard.I appreciated Sophie's direct, to-the-point, method of communication. Sophie and her team (Jun, and later Simran) would advise me, very frankly, on what my options were at each stage. I greatly valued their candour as they guided me through a difficult time. While candid, Sophie & her team were also empathic, and I feel grateful that I found someone who treated my case with such a high degree of care and attention.Sophie and her team became trusted and valued advisors. I would commend Sophie on her HR skills; she always had a very competent, and compassionate, team of people working for her. My family's circumstances have changed a lot since the first time I met with Sophie, and I'm extremely grateful for all the work the Rayner Song team completed for me over the years. Sophie remains a trusted advisor. Thank you, Sophie.

Daniel Townsend

23:08 15 Nov 23

We had a very positive experience with Raynor Song Family Lawyers and would highly recommend them. We had a very stressful matter and it was dealt with professionally and with great success. Simran and Sophie communicated clearly and explained everything well and made us feel relieved and confident in choosing them to represent us.

Ryan Evans

11:28 13 Jun 23

Sophie sorted out my legal matter efficiently and carefully. She listened to my concerns and took care of everything.

신미현

12:46 28 Aug 22

Jun-Hoi and Sophie have represented me in my recent property settlement matter. Despite of being a complicated matter they handled it professionally and did their best to provide me with the best outcome possible. Definitely recommend and they are great, reliable lawyer

nikhil karale

13:58 20 Apr 22

Raymor Song are great. I have been impressed with their professionalism, detailed and clear advice and responsiveness. Highly recommend.

Emma Sutton

17:48 04 Sep 21

It has been a great pleasure to choose Rayner and Song to assistant my matter. Sophie and Jun have been very professional and effective to provide my all the legal advice . They are very responsive and with great working ethics. I consider myself lucky and very fortunate to decide to working with the Rayner and Song team for my matter and in the end I have achieved a better results and outcomes then I expected.Thank you very much Sophie and Jun. I will for sure to recommend you two to others in need.

Yue Chang

06:45 30 Aug 21

Many thanks to Sophie and Jun in helping me to solve my legal matter. They are very professional and easy to communicate. With their help, my family matter was settled to my satisfaction. Would strongly recommend their services.

Juan Wang

06:15 30 Aug 21

Three Easy Steps to Reach Your Desired Outcome

Step 1:
Book a Personal Meeting

We get to know you, understand your situation, and provide you with the right advice about what to do first.

Step 2:
We Create Your Plan

We create a clear, step-by-step plan that you can follow, to ensure your situation runs as smoothly as possible.

Step 3:
You Move Forward

We work toward your ideal resolution, and help you take control & move forward with your life.

Book A Personal Appointment

Whether your relationship is ending or just beginning, we’re here to help make the process as straightforward as possible.

We provide approachable, non-judgemental, and supportive family legal advice and services, to help you pick up the pieces and move your life forward.

Get in touch today to book a personal meeting with our caring family lawyers in Surrey Hills, and start your path to a clearer future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to get a divorce?

If you and your spouse are considering separation, it’s important to know that you’re not legally required to apply for a Divorce Order. You can separate, and live your lives independently.

However, if you intend to remarry then getting a divorce is a legal requirement. You can’t legally remarry if you haven’t finalised your divorce proceedings. This is considered bigamy, or polygamy, which is a crime in Victoria.

So while you don’t strictly need a divorce just to separate, if you’re considering a definitive separation, then you may need to consider filing for divorce.

Getting a divorce also affects your financial interests. Once you are divorced, if you and your former spouse have not yet legally resolved your property and spousal maintenance matters, you each only have 12 months in which to apply for property or spousal maintenance orders without first needing to get special permission from the Court.

We can guide you through this process. Get in touch to speak with one of our Surrey Hills family lawyers about what this process looks like.

Can you help me document an agreement?

There are many important benefits to obtaining a legally binding property settlement agreement, including:

It will prevent your former spouse from seeking a share of your future savings, superannuation, inheritance, etc.
It will protect you against debts accumulated by your former spouse in the future.
It may enable you to access stamp duty and capital gains tax exemptions on the transfer of investment properties, shares, and other investment assets.
If you re-partner in the future, it may protect against your future partner’s assets from being attacked by your former spouse.

The benefits of obtaining a legally binding parenting agreement/custody agreement include:

It may stop your former spouse from changing his/her mind about the parenting arrangements in the future if they become angry at you finding a new partner.
It may stop your former spouse from changing the arrangements just became he/she wishes to reduce child support payments.
It can contain clauses to enable you to go on interstate or overseas holidays with your child without having to obtain your ex’s agreement each time.
Conversely, if you’re worried that your ex may take the child overseas without your agreement, if can contain clauses allowing you to retain the child’s passport.
It can contain clauses about who can make what decisions about the child.

We can help you with the forms and paperwork you need to ensure your agreements are documented clearly, concisely, and that they’re legally binding.

I'm not sure what comes next. Can you help?

At Rayner Song Family Lawyers, we’re experts in helping Melbourne families navigate the confusing family law system. We can give you a simple step-by-step plan to resolve all your legal issues and we can help you take each step until you reach your desired outcome.

If you’ve already met with or engaged another lawyer and you would like us to give you a second opinion, please reach out to us.

Even if your matter is already at Court and you are not satisfied with progress, we can assist you to finish those court proceedings.

Can you explain what my legal rights & benefits are?

When you first meet with us, after we listen to you and gain a clear understanding of your situation, we’ll run through your legal rights and benefits. We make sure you understand exactly what you’re entitled to, where you stand in the legal process, advise on the options available to you in your current situation, and the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

We’ll run through what the Court is likely to consider equitable, and importantly, what you and your ex-spouse can do to try and resolve the matter without needing to attend Court in the first place.

Family law can be confusing, if you don’t have the right support. We help make it as easy as possible to understand what your rights are.

We've written an agreement, but need an expert to check it over. Can you help?

We can review your agreement documents to ensure that everything there is concise, accurate, and a fair representation of what you agreed to.

We can also check that the agreement will be binding. Many of your past clients have told us that they thought any signed, written agreement is binding or that a signed statutory declaration is binding.

Unfortunately, that is not the case with family law. If the agreement you did yourself is not binding, there may be future stamp duty or taxation problems and your ex may potentially be able to seek a second settlement in the future.

We’ll identify any errors or potential traps, and help you create an agreement that delivers the right outcome for all parties.

I know the outcome I want, but am not sure how to get there - are you able to guide me through the process?

Yes, our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to understand the family law process.

We work with you to understand your current situation, determine your desired outcome, and show you step-by-step how we can help you get there.

Whether it’s coming to an agreement with your ex-spouse, determining custody of children, undertaking negotiations, or supporting you during court intervention, we make sure you know exactly what to expect. Then, we stay by your side every step of the way.

Do you handle all divorce & separation cases?

We know that divorce can be an emotionally-charged and draining time. So at Rayner Song, we endeavour to make your divorce and separation proceedings as straightforward as possible. We take on your divorce or separation and help you through the process.

We work with you to help you and your ex-spouse reach a fair agreement, and guide you through the process if you need to take things further, such as documenting agreements, managing negotiation or mediation, or even supporting you through Court proceedings.