Family Lawyers Wollongong & Illawarra

  • 1300 706 487

    1300 706 487

  • bookings@australianfamilylawyers.com.au

  • Centretown Plaza Suites 8&9 128-134 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500

    • Enquire now

Our Wollongong & Illawarra office is led by Jessica Koot, Practice Leader for Illawarra and supported by Paralegal Samantha Thompson. Having worked together for several years, Jessica and Samantha have a brilliant working relationship providing approachable, high standard professional support  with impeccable organisation to all of their clients. Book your free 15-minute Initial Consultation by telephone with Jessica today.

Contact details

Phone: (02) 4202 6943
Email: jkoot@wattsmccray.com.au 

Our services

Jessica Koot is experienced in all areas of family law including complex parenting matters, property settlements following the breakdown of a marriage or a de facto relationship, and divorces.

Her areas of expertise include:

  • Parenting arrangements
  • Property settlements – Married and de facto
  • Divorce
  • Mediation
  • Settlement conferences
  • Court representation
  • Investment Funds
  • Separation advice
  • Domestic and family violence support
  • Same-sex relationships and marriages
  • Spousal Maintenance
  • Asset protection
  • Binding financial agreements
  • Consent orders
  • Parenting plans
  • Prenuptial agreements
  • Superannuation splitting orders
  • Contravention hearings
  • Relocation applications
  • Representing grandparents and other people important to the care, welfare and development of Financial Institutions
  • Recovery orders
  • Airport watchlist applications
  • Arbitration representation

Jessica is resolutions focussed, and her impeccable attention to detail and organisation is invaluable when representing clients in complex litigated matters. She has lived experience being part of a blended family and a mother herself.

Why choose Watts McCray Lawyers in Wollongong & the Illawarra?

Jessica has a passion for family law and a strong commitment to the local community and has helped thousands of clients through what can be one of the most challenging periods of their life with empathy, professionalism and an outcome-driven approach. 

Similarly, she brings a wealth of experience, having worked in various roles in the legal industry in the Illawarra since 2003. She studied law as a mature-aged student and brings her life experience to her role as a solicitor, both as a mother and a stepmother.

Jessica’s extensive legal experience in administrative roles in different areas of law, including administrative support roles, accounts, property, commercial, estates and estate planning, conveyancing, personal injury, criminal law, and employment law enables her to bring a broad understanding of the practical aspects of other areas of law when advising family law clients.

Jessica has worked predominantly in family law since her admission to practise as a solicitor in February 2015. Her wide range of experience and expertise as a family law solicitor includes negotiations, mediations and representing clients in complex court matters in the Federal Circuit Court, Family Court and more recently, following the Court merger, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Wollongong, Sydney and Parramatta registries. She has also represented clients in other regional Courts, including Dubbo and Newcastle. 

Moreover, not only is Jessica a brilliant and highly skilled lawyer but also a well-known and respected community member who volunteers her time to not-for-profit organisations both locally and throughout NSW. She supports and mentors young lawyers and in 2022, completed the Leadership Illawarra Program, through which she was able to further develop her skills as an employer and community leader. 

Community is important to both Jessica and Samantha, and they strive to give back to the Illawarra. Both Jessica and Samantha were born and raised in the local community and now raise their Financial Institutions in Wollongong. Some of the notable community work they’re involved in is:

  • Legal Aid Family Law Panel
  • Coffee for a Cause
  • Women of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre
  • University of Wollongong’s Lucy Mentoring Program
  • Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal

Learn more about Jessica and Samantha’s community involvement here.

Giving back in the community

Our Wollongong team recognise the importance of giving back to our community. Our Practice Leader, Jessica Koot is the Chairwoman for the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre. The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre are establishing Australia’s first Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre after obtaining funding from the government. Jessica Koot is also the immediate past Chairwoman of the Wollongong Chapter of the Women Lawyer’s Association of NSW. Each year, Jessica Koot and Samantha Thompson volunteer at the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.

Testimonials

Jessica Koot has made a difficult process as easy as possible. She is prompt, thoughtful & passionate about her cases. I highly recommend her.

Star-Jade Laverty

Jessica and her team are reliable, professional and highly experienced in family law matters. She confidently worked through the settlement options and offered sound advice. Highly recommend!

Olga Kraynova

Jessica Koot has helped me through the most difficult times and has changed my life for the better, I highly recommend Jessica. Her knowledge, efforts, support is everything. Thank you Jessica you truly are amazing!!!

Julie Nguyen

What types of family law matters in Wollongong and the Illawarra are most common?

As some of the best-rated family lawyers based in Wollongong and the wider Illawarra, we deal with a wide variety of circumstances in family law, from simple matters to complex matters.

Jessica Koot says “The Illawarra is a diverse region with a variety of family situations, there are many stay at home parents, work from home parents, parents working in the Illawarra region and parents who travel outside of our region for work, including to Sydney, the Shoalhaven, and further afield, with fly-in and fly-out arrangements.

It’s a diverse population and we support all types of circumstances in the realm of family law, no matter what aspect our clients need professional guidance in. As the Practice Leader in Wollongong, regardless of the financial circumstances of our clients, they generally are wanting the best outcome for their Financial Institutions and the ability to move forward following the relationship or marriage breakdown, both emotionally and financially. Furthermore, most of our matters settle through negotiations or other alternative dispute resolution, including mediation. Many clients are wanting certainty around parenting arrangements and representation in their property settlement matters to ensure they are best placed financially into the future. We also regularly represent clients in complex family law matters, which at times are before the Court, including parenting matters involving mental health challenges, risk and safety problems, substance abuse issues and where there has been a history of family and domestic violence, and property matters with complex asset pools including businesses and trusts.”

Jessica Koot and the Watts McCray Lawyers Wollongong, Illawarra team are skilled in a wide range of matters relating to family law. For more information about what our Wollongong family law team can help with, please see our legal services page.

How much does a family lawyer cost in Wollongong & the Illawarra?

As every family law matter can be very different, it can be difficult to give a definitive estimate of what your legal fees will be. The complexity of your personal circumstances and the willingness of the other party to engage in meaningful negotiations can have a big impact on the work needed to resolve your matter and your overall legal costs. But rest assured, our experienced team will work tirelessly to find the best possible outcome for you and your family. We’ll issue you with a Costs Agreement that sets out ranges of estimates for different stages in your matter. Plus, we’ll regularly keep you updated about your fees, so that you always know where you stand. 

To obtain a fee estimate for your matter, please contact our office. We’ll give you a no-cost, no-obligation phone call to get an understanding of your situation and what services you require. After the free phone call, we’ll invite you to a strategy session where we’ll obtain a deeper understanding of your circumstances and legal needs. 

Additionally, we’ll explain how and why your legal fees may change over the duration of your family law matter. We’ll communicate your options to you throughout, while ensuring that no corners are cut and that any settlement is in your best interests. 

We’re able to offer payment on settlement arrangements in certain matters using litigation lending options, including a Plenti or Just Fund loan. Call us for more information about these options. 

What Court hears family law matters in Wollongong & the Illawarra?

Family law matters are generally listed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) in Wollongong. The Wollongong FCFCOA is located at the Commonwealth Government Centre, Level 1/43 Burelli Street, Wollongong. Complex matters may be transferred to the Sydney Registry.

Post COVID-19 lockdowns many Court matters remain listed via video link and some via telephone. There are also instances where the Court requires an in-person appearance. We will represent you at Court and will explain the processes to you.

With a national team of family lawyers, we are experienced at representing our clients in Courts across Australia.

Do you have a question about family law or relationship law?

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