Dealing with family law issues that span across borders requires experience and expertise. Emerson Family Law has built a robust network of international legal professionals, enabling us to provide informed guidance on matters involving multiple jurisdictions. Whether it’s international child custody or cross-border divorce, we support you with practical solutions tailored to your needs.
Bridging Global Gaps in Family Matters
Our Areas of International Law Expertise
International Children’s Matters
International or cross-jurisdictional issues often arise when children are not returned after an overseas holiday or are removed from Australia without the consent of the other parent, leading to international child abduction.
In these situations, it’s crucial to determine whether the country to which the children have been taken is a signatory to the “Hague Convention.” If the country is a signatory, the recovery of children is facilitated through specific procedures and interactions with the respective central authorities in that country.
However, when the country involved is not a signatory, the situation becomes significantly more complex. In such cases, obtaining urgent and informed advice is imperative to navigate your unique situation effectively. For more details, see Children’s Matters.
International Property Matters
Frequently, individuals may find their assets are not limited to Australia, with properties overseas that require valuation, protection, or discovery. Sometimes, parties may choose to finalize family law matters in another country, perceiving some advantage in doing so.
Additionally, there might be instances where orders made by a foreign court raise questions about enforceability within Australian jurisdiction.
Prompt, early advice is pivotal. Reach out to us to safeguard your rights and those of your children. Discover more here.
International Advisory Experts | Awards Winner
N B
2025-11-10
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Gavin Lai from Emerson Family Law. From start to finish he was kind, understanding and knowledgeable. His prompt replies and efficiency were second to none! He helped me navigate my way through an awful divorce and he achieved a terrific financial result for which I will be forever grateful.
Sarah Ryan
2025-11-06
I am incredibly grateful for the support and guidance I received from Gavin Lai, Special Counsel at Emerson Family Law.From our very first meeting, Gavin presented as kind, understanding and highly professional.Gavin took the time to truly listen, explain each step clearly, and ensure that I felt informed and supported at every stage. His calm and practical approach helped me navigate difficult decisions with confidence and clarity. I consistently felt that my children’s best interests and my wellbeing were his top priority.Gavin’s communication was exceptional - he was consistently responsive and proactive in keeping me updated, which provided great reassurance throughout the process.I would not hesitate to recommend Gavin to anyone seeking a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and compassionate family lawyer. He has made an incredibly difficult time much easier to manage, and I am deeply thankful for his help.
Sylvia Lee
2025-10-30
It is a real privilege and pleasure to work with Gavin Lai. It was a really stressful time for me and my family, and Gavin made things easy, straight-forward, understandable, and he is a really lovely person. Thank you so much Gavin, I would always very highly recommend him.
alona gilhang
2025-10-25
My journey to this unforeseen life-changing circumstance led me to Gavin Lai, he was highly recommended from a common friend. Gavin's personal approach showed he truly cared. Gavin from the get-go was proactive, honest, upfront while equally sensitive and understanding in dealing with realities of separation. He listened, provided sound advice and never overcommit. He was very responsive and will walk and run with you from start to finish. His expertise in the industry is commendable. Trusting Emerson Family Law and Gavin to handle my family matter was a great decision. Thank you so much Gavin.
Jazmine Zenoni
2025-10-23
I had the privilege of working with Gavin Lei from Emerson Family Law during a very difficult period in my life, involving complex family law matters concerning a young child. This process spanned over two years, and without Gavin’s guidance, expertise, and compassion, I honestly don’t know how I would have managed.Gavin’s insightfulness and knowledge are second to none. He consistently demonstrated professionalism, honesty, and genuine care for my situation. What I appreciated most was that he always had my best interests at heart but never sugar-coated things — he was honest, realistic, and always prepared.Thanks to Gavin, an incredibly stressful and emotional time was made that little bit easier. I can’t recommend him highly enough to anyone needing strong yet compassionate representation in family law matters.Thank you, Gavin, for everything.— Jazmine Zenoni
Bevan Muller
2025-08-20
I was going through a marriage separation and was not in a good place, but the way Gavin helped me through the process and always kept me informed helped me through all of this. I cannot thank the firm and Gavin enough.
Lucy Ting
2025-08-03
Gavin Lai has guided me (respondent in a complex and unusual family law case) for the last 15 months, that included an "out of time" threshold hearing trial. A consummate professional and prompt communicator, not the attributes that I can describe my first lawyer. I had full confidence and trust in Gavin, who navigated a good outcome!
Zoe Jayne
2025-07-30
I had the privilege of being represented by Gavin during a very challenging family court matter. Throughout the entire process, he provided not only expert legal guidance but also genuine support and reassurance.What truly stood out to me was his integrity and honesty—always keeping me informed, never in the dark, and consistently encouraging me to take the right path, even when emotions ran high. Gavin approached every step with wisdom, clarity, and a calm presence that gave me confidence during an incredibly difficult time.I’m truly grateful for the dedication, empathy, and professionalism Gavin showed me, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Emerson Family Law to anyone navigating complex family law matters.
Chris Anderson
2025-06-19
Highly recommend. I have engaged Gavin from Emerson Family Law a number of times and have found him to be extremely knowledgeable, ethical, reasonable, thorough and prompt. I doubt his communication could be bested, it is excellent. I always felt confident and informed with him as my solicitor. Having to go through a legal process for the first time can be overwhelming, and family/ friends/ strangers often give advice with no personal experience- if you want to be informed and confident, I recommend contacting Emerson Family Law for your peace of mind.
Adam Stone
2025-04-02
I was recommended to see Gavin Lai and I highly recommend him for family law matters. Gavin was a cool and steady hand to help me get through a difficult time, focusing on the big picture and using his experience to navigate the way forward and ensure things proceeded as smoothly as possible. Prompt, concise, cost conscious and focused, if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of a separation - call Gavin.
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Your initial consultation is offered at a fixed fee, guaranteeing a thorough service regardless of whether it’s an in-person meeting or a Teams call. This fee also covers any subsequent written advice you may need, with no additional charges.
