Katrina has extensive experience advising clients on all aspects of the Family Law process, including negotiated agreements, mediation and defended litigation.  She ensures her clients have a clear understanding of their entitlements and obligations, so that they can make informed commercial decisions about their family law settlements.  She is adept at advising clients in relation to complex financial settlements, involving trust structures, corporate entities, businesses and assets located overseas.  She also prepares financial agreements for couples who are in or contemplating a de facto relationship or marriage.

She regularly advises parents on their rights and obligations with respect to parenting arrangements and child support.  She supports her clients to work together with their former partner to negotiate parenting arrangements, which are in the best interests of their children and are practical for their family.  When recourse to litigation is necessary, she assists clients to navigate the Court process with dignity and integrity to achieve child focused outcomes. She has successfully litigated applications for both international and domestic relocation of children, school and name change issues, and change of primary residence.  Katrina has experience representing parents in circumstances of parental alienation.

Katrina understands the emotional and financial stress of litigation and is committed to providing her clients with avenues to resolve their matter via mediation and dispute resolution.   However, should it be necessary, Katrina is a highly skilled litigator.  She has detailed knowledge of the Court system and has extensive experience representing clients in complex family law litigation in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Katrina holds a Juris Doctor (Law) from the University of Melbourne as well as a Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience (Honours) from Monash University.

Katrina was a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards in Family Law 2022.  She is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and the Victorian Women Lawyers.  She is also a member of the Monash Chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society.  Katrina is a mentor in the Melbourne University Law School Mentoring Program.  Katrina has held the position as a board member of the not-for-profit organisation ‘Support for Mums’, which supports women and their families through circumstantial crisis.  She also held the position as an Executive Committee Member of the Victorian Women Lawyers for several years.

Contact Katrina on 9070 9832 or via email at katrina.stuart@stuartfamilylawyers.com.au to discuss your family law matter.