Consent Orders are written agreements approved by the Court.

They can cover:

• Property settlement (assets, liabilities, superannuation)
• Parenting arrangements (time with children, decision-making)

Once approved, they have the same effect as a court order made after a hearing.

Consent Orders provide important legal protection.

They:

• Finalise financial ties between parties
• Make agreements legally enforceable
• Reduce the risk of future disputes
• Can provide stamp duty and capital gains tax advantages (in property matters)

Without formalising your agreement, your financial relationship may remain open.

The process involves:

1. Reaching agreement between both parties
2. Preparing formal documents
3. Filing an Application for Consent Orders with the Court
4. The Court reviewing the agreement
5. Orders being made if the agreement is considered fair

There is no need to attend court.

For property matters, the Court must be satisfied that the agreement is just and equitable.

This involves considering:

• Assets and liabilities
• Financial and non-financial contributions
• Future needs of each party

If the agreement is not considered fair, the Court may reject it.

Parenting Consent Orders formalise arrangements for children, including:

• Living arrangements
• Time spent with each parent
• Communication
• Decision-making

The Court must be satisfied the orders are in the best interests of the child.