Best Family Lawyers in Hamilton
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The 6 Best Family Lawyers in Hamilton

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Need a family lawyer to give advice or defend you in court? If you do, then right on cue, as we’ve rounded up the best family lawyers in Hamilton here!

But before we show them to you, we’ll tackle the average cost of family lawyers in Hamilton. Doing so will give you an idea of the current rates you should pay a lawyer to resolve a family case.

The Average Cost of Family Lawyers in Hamilton

Family lawyer fees will depend on several factors, including the skill level of the lawyer and how involved they are in your case.

Since experienced family lawyers can often solve a case in less time and provide better results, the price for their services will be higher compared to that of a mid-level lawyer.

You may also call a lawyer for only prudent advice to full participation. The more involvement he has in the dispute, the higher the fees will be.

Now bear in mind that rates can be hourly or fixed. The former means you pay for each hour the lawyer works with you, while the latter is a one-off fee covering the service from start to finish.

As per Go To Court Lawyers, the cost of hiring a lawyer ranges from $300 to $400 per hour. The average of this price range is $350 per hour.

Depending on the lawyer, you may also be charged a retainer’s fee. A retainer’s fee is like a downpayment, which the lawyer deducts from as services are completed.

Apart from lawyer costs, you would have to pay certain court fees too. These usually include the following:

  • Filing fees
  • Transportation and travel fees
  • Court reports and witness charges

Bear in mind that before you agree to the family lawyer’s service, you should be clear on the entire cost—not just of the lawyer fees but also the extra expenses you’ll have to pay.

The Best Family Lawyers in Hamilton

Now that you know the cost of hiring a family lawyer, let’s move on to our list of the best family lawyers in Hamilton!

1)   Catherine Starr – Evans Bailey Lawyers

Catherine Starr's Photo
Expertise Family Law, Property Law, and Trusts, Wills and Estates
Website https://www.evansbailey.co.nz/our-people/catherine-starr
Address Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Contact details Phone: 07 834 6458
Fax: 07 838 2454
Email: [email protected]

Catherine Starr is a director of Evans Bailey Lawyers. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from Otago University and was admitted to the bar in 1991.

In 1995, she worked for E Sellars & Co as a business lawyer. A year later, she joined Evans Bailey Lawyers, where she became an associate in 2000 and a director in 2014.

She is an expert in Family Law, Property Law, and Trusts, Wills, and Estates. But she has a special interest in children’s rights, regularly acting for kids in the Family Court.

Catherine is a member of the New Zealand Law Society and NZLS Family Law Section. You can therefore trust her to provide great advice and outcome for your legal matters.

Pros

  • Offers a wide range of legal services
  • Reputation for being professional and friendly
  • NZLS-registered

Cons

  • Not an NZLS accredited mediator

Customer Reviews

The law firm received 5 stars from a few customers. One client, John, described the company as giving “quality, professional advice.”

Also, on Facebook, Jane said this:

“Catherine Starr at Evans Bailey has been our go to Solicitor for all our legal requirements going on 20years. Professional and yet friendly and approachable, I feel comfortable asking questions and my info is always delivered to me in plain English. Thank you Catherine.”

2)   Brigham Nordstrom – Family Law Solutions Ltd

Brigham Nordstrom's Photo
Expertise Child law – Adoptions, Child, Youth & Family (CYF) Matters, Guardianship and Parenting, and Paternity  
Adult law – Child Support, Domestic Violence, Protection of Personal and Property Rights (PPPR), and Relationship Property
Website http://familylawsolutions.co.nz/#profile
Address 109 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Contact details +64 7-390 0500
Office hours Monday: closed
Tuesday – Thursday: 9.00 AM – 4.00 PM
Friday – Sunday: closed

Have problems relating to relationship property, child support, or adoption? Well, you can call Brigham Nordstrom, who is one of the leading family lawyers in Hamilton.

After several years of working for a renowned Hamilton law firm, he formed his legal practice Family Law Solutions. There, he is a Barrister and Solicitor.

He is proficient and experienced in different areas of family law. He can give advice and fight for you in court, aiming to provide the best outcome for all the parties involved.

And clients say that Brigham is very helpful and looks after his clients well. That’s always a good thing to hear in a lawyer!

Pros

  • Good record of results
  • A broad range of expertise in family law
  • Family Court litigation Counsel

Cons

  • Not much parking at his office

Customer Reviews

As mentioned before, clients said he was knowledgeable and friendly. Have a look at some of the reviews:

Leonie and Darcy wrote this of Brigham:

“Brigham Nordstrom is extremely knowledgeable of  family law and family law court processes. We both very quickly established trust in Brigham and through his advice and direction our application for Guardianship of our Moko was granted.

Very Highly recommended.”

What’s more, Ambrose stated:

“Brigham nordstrom appointed to my son by the courts awesome looked after my son very well thankyou bro.”

3)   Raewyn Sporle – Raewyn Sporle Barrister and Solicitor

Raewyn Sporle's Photo
Expertise Parenting, Relationship Property, Child Support, Paternity, Wills and Powers of Attorney, and Domestic Violence
Website http://sporlefamilylawyer.co.nz/about
Address 71 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Contact details (07) 839 3929
[email protected]
Office hours Monday – Friday: 9.00 AM – 4.30 PM
Saturday – Sunday: closed

Raewyn Sporle combines her Psychology and Family Law backgrounds to aid clients through tough situations. She can help close the family legal disputes they are facing.

She can assist you with matters relating to divorce, parenting, domestic violence, contracting-out agreements, relationship property, child support, and wills and trusts.

Her alma mater is Waikato University, which is where she obtained her Psychology degree. After that, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1994.

You can reach her via phone or email as indicated above or visit her in her Central Hamilton office from Mondays to Fridays from 9.00 AM to 4.30 PM.

Pros

  • Described as empathic and efficient
  • Wide range of legal services
  • Has a Psychology background that comes in handy in certain cases

Cons

  • Occasionally has to deal with a lot of clients, which can make getting hold of her difficult at times

4)   Maninder Sidhu – Brook Law Lawyers

Maninder Sidhu's Photo
Expertise Family and Immigration Law
Website https://brooklaw.co.nz/our-people/
Address 7A Princes Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Contact details Phone: (07) 838 3385 (Ext – 2)
Mobile: 0064 2260 02950
Email: [email protected]
Office hours Monday – Friday: 9.00 AM – 5.00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: closed

Can’t afford a lawyer to deal with a family legal issue? You can check if you qualify for legal aid, and if you are, Maninder from Brook Law Lawyers will be able to help!

Maninder Sidhu’s specialty is family and immigration law. She can handle cases pertaining to care of child, alimony, residential and commercial conveyancing, trust and wills, and the like.

Also worth noting is that she has a kind and giving heart, often taking part in volunteer legal work for Hamilton District Community Law Centre, Citizens Advice Bureau, and other non-profit groups.

She can provide clients legal advice in 3 languages: Hindi, Punjabi, and English. This may come in useful if you are restricted to one of these languages – particularly the first two – and struggling to find a lawyer who can comprehend you.

The only drawback is that the company can be too busy at times and charge high rates for normal clients, i.e. those who are not eligible for legal aid.

Pros

  • Listed legal aid lawyer
  • Has a lot of experience in family and immigration law
  • Can speak Hindi, Punjabi, and English

Cons

  • Expensive fees for paying customers
  • Busy law firm makes scheduling difficult

5)   Shona Enersen – Bean Law

Shona Enersen's Photo
Expertise Family Law, Education Law, and Resource Management Law
Website https://beanlaw.co.nz/about-us/
Address 157 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Contact details 021 195 3752
[email protected]
Office hours Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Shona Enersen is a staff solicitor in Bean Law with abundant experience.

She grew up in the Counties Manukau region amid a dairy-farming family. She worked as a teacher for a primary school for a time, in fact.

Along the way, she decided to study law at Waikato University where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws. Today, she provides legal counsel to clients in family, education, and resource management law.

She can typically be found working on family law cases. With her background in criminal law, she can also particularly assist you in cases of domestic violence, divorce, child custody, and relationship property.

Anyway, if the situation has gotten worse between you and your spouse, Shona can take control of the stressful situation, and represent you in the Family Court if need be!

Pros

  • Reputation as a calm and competent lawyer
  • Litigation specialist
  • Wide range of expertise in the family law arena

Cons

  • Only works part-time in the law firm

6) Amanda Taylor: Taylor Law

EXPERTISE Family Law: Care of Children Act, Family Violenct Act, Oranga Tamariki Act, Births, Deaths, Marriages
WEBSITE https://taylorlaw.nz/
ADDRESS Level 2, 109 Anglesea Street Central City
CONTACT DETAILS 021 0222 4356 | [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Amanda Taylor an experienced barrister and solicitor, specialising in family law, specifically Care of Children and Family Violence matters. She is a Legal Aid provider who can assist you in making an application for it if desired.
Those who are struggling with family matters and legal assistance can contact

Taylor Law. In return, Amanda can give knowledgeable advise of your possible options and give assistance in any way that she can. Rest assured that all conversations are confidential.

The aim for Taylor Law as a family lawyer is to provide clear and easy-to-understand legal advice, to help clients navigate their way through the legal system with confidence, and finally, to achieve the best outcome from the situation at hand.

Pros

  • Legal aid provider
  • Specializes in family law
  • Provides easy-to-understand legal advice

Cons

  • One woman lawyer
  • Overdue payments may have interests
What does a family lawyer do?

A family lawyer advises on divorce, marital property division, child care and control, and other issues. He also drafts family or nuptial agreements and represents clients in court.

How do I choose a good family lawyer?

Here are some of the things you can do to find a good family lawyer:

Do your research online
There are lots of family lawyers in Hamilton. But before you decide on one, you should check them out online.
You can note their qualifications, career background, and rates (if available), as well as reviews. This will narrow down your choices of lawyers that don’t fit your needs.

Look for an experienced lawyer
An experienced lawyer can get your case resolved faster and more effectively. However, their rates are usually more expensive than less experienced ones.

Read the client reviews
If you don’t know anyone who has worked with a lawyer, then client reviews will be your best bet.
These offer a glimpse of how it’s like to work with them—such as how they resolve the case, what attitude they bring, if they are prompt and responsive, and so on.

Call them by phone
What you read about them online is only icing on the cake. To help you decide whether to pick them, you also have to ring them.
This will help you find out if you like how they work and feel at ease with them. These are important as you’ll be working with the lawyer for a while, until the case is resolved.

Ask about the full price you have to pay
You don’t want to be surprised by the additional fees along the way. So it’s best to be clear about all the expenses you’ll have to pay from the start so you can budget for it.

Are more expensive family lawyers always better?

Not always. Cost is only one of the many factors you have to look for—if you don’t look at other things like attitude, work ethic, and speciality, you may find it hard to work with him.

The point is that the lawyer you choose should be able to represent you well and win the case. This will work even if he is a young and less-experienced lawyer.

What is the average retainer fee for a family lawyer?

Depending on your case, you can expect to pay a retainer fee from $4,000 to $7,000. That said, some lawyers charge fees that can be as low as $1,500.


And that concludes our list of the best family lawyers in Hamiton! You can give these lawyers a call and see if one of them can take your case expertly.

Any questions or thoughts about our picks? If you have one, let us know by dropping us a line, and we’ll get right back to you.

And if you’re looking for other services in Hamilton, check out our other Hamilton lists! For instance, you can check out our list of the best flower delivery services in Hamilton.