SEPARATED AND STILL NOT SURE WHERE YOU STAND?
Sit Down With A Family Lawyer From A Team Led By An Accredited Specialist, And Get Your Advice In Writing For $550
1 to 2 hours to map out your next step, then a formal letter of advice, the Mason Letter. Other firms' consults don't tend to include one.
32,900+
Matters Handled Across The Firm
Since 2001
Serving Our Community
180+ Years
Of Collective Experience Across The Firm
125
Google Reviews Across 3 Local Offices, All Practice Areas
If Your Ex Already Has A Lawyer, Here's Who You'd Have In Your Corner
1 to 2 hours to map out your next step, then a formal letter of advice, the Mason Letter. Other firms' consults don't tend to include one.
Accredited Specialist Led
Our family law team is led by Kasey Stewart, an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and a 2025 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards finalist (Dealmaker of the Year). The team is based at Mayfield, with Belmont and Warners Bay available for a first appointment.
Treated Like A Person
One client, Alan B., put it this way: "They understood what I was going through at that time of my life and treated me like a human being, not like a dollar sign."
The Whole Firm Behind
You
If you have a business or layered structures, the corporate, tax, estate planning and conveyancing expertise sits inside the same firm. Our own conveyancing team handles the property transfers that follow the orders.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
What The Mason Letter Changes: You Stop Guessing And Know Where You Stand
One Family Lawyer's Advice, In Writing
Instead of a different answer from everyone you ask, you have one family lawyer's advice, written down, for your situation.
Your Advice Arrives In Writing, Promptly
Your letter of advice follows the appointment, so you're not relying on memory alone.
Prepared Online Before You Arrive
Fill in your details online at your own pace beforehand, so the appointment is spent on your questions, not your paperwork.
Old Advice May Predate The 2025 Rules
Family law property rules changed on 10 June 2025. A mate's settlement or an old forum thread may not reflect them.
Peace Of Mind You Can Re-Read
Re-read the letter whenever you need to, with a clearer head. The advice from your consultation is on paper, and it's yours to keep.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
See Why Clients Recommend Mason Lawyers
"Outstanding professionalism, clear guidance, genuine empathy"
"... With Kasey, Ross and the whole team I consistently experienced outstanding professionalism, clear guidance, genuine empathy and very understanding support through what has been the most financially and personally devastating and challenging time of my life. ... Thanks to Kasey's hard work, I now have the capacity to live and care for myself and my family without struggle."
Nicolette V.
"Look after my needs when I was the most vulnerable"
"... The firm went out of its way to look after my needs when I was the most vulnerable and supportive throughout the process. I highly recommend Mason Lawyers I will continue to use them as my family lawyer for any future needs."
Adam A.
"Made so much easier with the professional support"
"My whole matter was personally overwhelming and difficult but it was made so much easier with the professional support I received from the whole Mason Lawyers team."
Client testimonial,
"Ensured I understood my position at all times"
"I cannot recommend Nicole highly enough. She managed my family law matter recently and acted honestly and with the highest integrity. So much stress was removed from me knowing Nicole had it under control, she minimised the animosity and just moved to get the job done well. ... Nicole listened to what I wanted and ensured I understood my position at all times."
Carla W.
"A caring compassionate understanding woman"
"... Kasey is not only a professional lawyer but a caring compassionate understanding woman. My mother and I will forever be grateful for her services to us ..."
V.K., masonlawyers.com.au
"Settled with dignity, compassion and respect"
"A family law matter was settled with dignity, compassion and respect. Everything was explained clearly and was handled with the upmost professionalism. Kasey was a great person to be working with... these matters have the ability to get a little turbulent but she was patient and kind. I cannot recommend her highly enough."
Mike S.
"I always felt confident"
"I had very little experience with dealing with a lawyer and this was a very difficult case. I always felt confident... they were always so capable and understanding of the huge problems I was dealing with. ..."
Nita J., masonlawyers.com.au
"Direct and honest about where you stand"
"... I could not have asked for a better advocate. She is direct and honest about where you stand, yet always communicates with empathy and care. There's a real comfort in having someone who knows the court system and the realities of how these matters unfold."
Abbey
"Not as stressful as I thought"
"Excellent services. Not as stressful as I thought. Understanding step by step."
C.A., masonlawyers.com.au
"I was given a written copy of the advice which I had not expected"
"I sought some independent legal advice from Mason Lawyers. The whole process was efficient, very well prepared and more detailed than I expected and I was given a written copy of the advice which I had not expected. It was a thorough and reassuring experience."
Kathryn P.
"Practical legal advice to solve matters without pushing for a court case"
"Ross is amazing.. he always provides practical legal advice to solve matters without pushing for a court case... A wonderful wise well versed solicitor that has your best interest at heart.."
Andrew
"Ensuring I fully understood my options and the implications of each decision"
"... They took the time to explain everything in detail, ensuring I fully understood my options and the implications of each decision. ... Jillian's ability to break down complex legal jargon into understandable terms was particularly impressive."
Michael M.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
From Not Knowing Where To Start To Advice In Writing: The Mason Letter, For A Fixed $550
Advice For Your Situation:
One family lawyer, your facts and your questions. Advice for your own situation, not a general answer off the internet.
Time To Ask:
The initial meeting runs 1 to 2 hours, so there's time to get through the questions you've been sitting on since you separated.
Advice You Keep:
Then a formal letter of advice. In one client's words: "I was given a written copy of the advice which I had not expected."
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
From Not Knowing Where To Start To Advice In Writing: The Mason Letter, For A Fixed $550
Request Your Appointment Online Or By Phone.
Use our online request form or call 02 4929 4499, and tell us your preferred office: Mayfield, Belmont or Warners Bay. Our office will be in touch to confirm the date and time of your first appointment.
Answer The Online
Questions Any Time.
Before you come in, you can set out your situation in our online portal at your own pace. The portal is open 24/7; the office keeps business hours.
Receive Your Letter Of
Advice Promptly.
After the meeting, you'll receive a formal letter of advice detailing the advice given in your consultation.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
How You Benefit From Mason Lawyers, Beyond The First Appointment
Property, Parenting, Divorce And Financial Agreements:
Our family law team handles property settlement, parenting arrangements, divorce and financial agreements, whichever of them your own separation ends up involving.
Advice In Plain English:
We explain the law in plain English, approachable and down to earth, so you understand your advice before you decide anything.
Your Will Updated By Our Estate Planning Team:
After separation, our estate planning team can help you update your will, inside the same firm as your family law matter.
Local Lawyers You Can Meet In Person:
Serving our community since 2001, from Mayfield, Belmont and Warners Bay. You deal with local people, face to face.
Funding Help For Eligible Clients:
Through JustFund, we can assist eligible clients to get access to quality representation without having to fund it themselves upfront.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
What's Different About The Mason Letter: 5 Reasons To Start Here
Written Advice Is Part Of The Package.
It's listed in the Getting Started package on our website: 'We provide a letter confirming our advice.'
A Fixed, Published Fee For The First Step.
We explain the law in plain English, approachable and down to earth, so you understand your advice before you decide anything.
Your Will Updated By Our Estate Planning Team:
After separation, our estate planning team can help you update your will, inside the same firm as your family law matter.
Local Lawyers You Can Meet In Person:
Serving our community since 2001, from Mayfield, Belmont and Warners Bay. You deal with local people, face to face.
Mayfield
4.9
from 4.7
Belmont
5.0
from 21
Warners Bay
4.5
from 57
Funding Help For Eligible Clients:
Through JustFund, we can assist eligible clients to get access to quality representation without having to fund it themselves upfront.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
The Mason Letter Versus Waiting It Out Or A Handshake Deal
Advice From A Family Lawyer, On Your Facts
Independent Advice That's Just For You
Formal Written Advice You Can Keep
Your Next Step Mapped Out
Explains The Family Law Process To You
A Known, Fixed Cost To Get Started
Someone To Act For You If Needed
Waiting it Out
A Handshake Deal
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
Experienced Local Lawyers Across Newcastle And Lake Macquarie Since 2001
Ross Mason started as a student clerk at Wood Roberts Solicitors in Mayfield, straight out of high school. He was admitted in 1994, was a partner by 23, and founded Mason Lawyers in Newcastle in 2001. Since then, some long-established local firms have joined us.
Kasey Stewart, Senior Family Lawyer, oversees our family law area. Since returning to the Hunter in 2009 she has worked exclusively as a family lawyer. She aims for a result that is fair and reasonable, and does as little damage as possible to an existing co-parenting relationship.
In family law the case finishes, but the people involved often still have to talk for years to come. Kasey keeps that in mind when she advises clients. And our lawyers live and work where you are.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
The Mason Letter Is For You If...
You've Waited, Hoping It Would Sort Itself Out:
You separated months ago, maybe longer, and nothing has been finalised. First you hoped to patch things up, then you just didn't want the fight. That's understandable. But a split doesn't finalise itself. A family lawyer will walk you through the process and tell you what to do first.
You Shook On A Split That Was Never Made Formal:
You and your ex agreed a rough split between yourselves, and it felt fair at the time. Keeping lawyers out of it made sense while you were both still talking. But it was never made formal, so who keeps what is still an open question. A family lawyer advises you on that split and what it means for you.
You've Had A Different Answer From Everyone You've Asked:
One mate reckons it's 50/50, another says your ex will take you to the cleaners, and the forums contradict each other. You're right to be wary of confident answers from people who don't know your situation. A family lawyer gives you advice on your own facts. With the Mason Letter, that advice comes in writing.
($550 inc GST, letter of advice included)
Your Questions About The Mason Letter, Answered
What does the $550 actually cover?
The Mason Letter is a fixed $550 inc GST. That covers an initial 1 to 2 hour meeting with a family lawyer, then a comprehensive letter of advice. It's the fee for your first step, not the cost of your whole matter.
What happens in the appointment?
You meet with a family lawyer for 1 to 2 hours. They explain the family law process, answer your questions and map out your next step with you. Then you receive a comprehensive letter of advice detailing that advice.
How is this different from a first appointment somewhere else?
It comes with a formal letter of advice, which other firms' consults don't tend to include. A first meeting is often emotional and full of new terms, so having the advice in writing means you can come back to it.
We still live in the same house. Is it too early to book?
You can book. The Family Law Act recognises that you can be separated while still living under one roof, which typically means the end of a shared bed, shared meals and shared washing. Your lawyer can talk it through.
Is there a deadline to sort out property?
Yes. If you were married, you have 12 months from when your divorce takes effect to resolve property or start proceedings. For a de facto relationship, it's 2 years from separation. Late applications need the court's permission, which isn't assured.
We've already agreed a split. Can't we just do the orders ourselves?
You can. The court has do-it-yourself forms and guides. We highly recommend a lawyer prepare the proposed orders, so they're in a form that can be enforced. A first appointment lets you check where you stand.
What if I think my ex is hiding money?
You both have a duty to give full and frank disclosure of your total financial circumstances, starting before a case is filed. If someone doesn't, the court can refuse to let them use it as evidence, or order costs.
Doesn't getting a lawyer mean we'll end up in court?
Not necessarily. Family law matters can resolve at various stages, including through correspondence between lawyers, mediation and arbitration. We take pride in being resolution focused.
