Divorce in Victoria is a federal process — and it's online
There's no “Victorian divorce”. All divorces in Australia are granted by the Federal Circuit and Family Court under the Family Law Act, and applications are filed electronically through the Commonwealth Courts Portal. What's Victorian is the practical side: your marriage certificate comes from Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria; affidavits are witnessed under Victorian rules; process servers work locally; and the lawyers who know the Melbourne registry's habits are here.
That's why a Victorian firm doing this online is different from a national template website: we know the local pieces, and we're accountable here.
Am I eligible?
You can apply if all of these are true:
- You've been separated for at least 12 months (you can be separated and still living in the same house — we'll explain what the Court needs).
- You or your ex is an Australian citizen, or lives in Australia and regards it as home, or has lived in Australia for the last 12 months.
- You were legally married (anywhere in the world — overseas marriages count).
Married less than two years? Since June 2025 there's no extra step — the old counselling-certificate rule was repealed.
What we do for you
- Check eligibility, jurisdiction and (if you have children under 18) the arrangements the Court needs to see.
- Prepare the Application for Divorce and any affidavits (separated under one roof, lost or overseas certificate).
- A family lawyer reviews and approves every application before filing.
- File electronically with the Court and pay the filing fee.
- Sole applications: prepare service documents, arrange a process server or service by post, and file proof of service.
- Our lawyer attends the first hearing of your application if the Court requires an appearance; any later hearing is separate work, quoted in writing first.
- Deliver your divorce order and a post-divorce checklist, including the 12-month time limit for property claims.
And your dashboard shows each step, with expected dates, so you're never wondering what's happening.
How long does it take in Victoria?
Once we file, the Court sets a hearing date — currently around two to three months out, and hearings are listed in order of filing, so the sooner your application is complete and filed, the sooner your hearing. If you're applying alone, your ex must be served at least 28 days before the hearing (42 days if they're overseas), so early service keeps you on track. The divorce order takes effect one month and one day after the hearing. Most clients are divorced within three to four months of filing.
Local, when you want it
Prefer to speak to someone face-to-face? Freemont Family Lawyers has offices in Melbourne CBD, St Kilda, Dandenong and Pakenham. Book an appointment – additional fees apply.
- Melbourne CBD — Level 19, 180 Lonsdale Street
- St Kilda — 117/566 St Kilda Road
- Dandenong — Level 10, 14 Mason Street
- Pakenham — 1 Cook Drive