Family Law expertise

Guiding You Through Family Law Decisions with Clarity and Care

When your family life is in turmoil, it’s hard to know where to start — let alone who to trust. Whether you’re separating, worried about your children, or facing legal decisions that feel overwhelming, most people want the same outcome: someone who can explain what the law means for their situation, in plain terms, without pressure or judgment.

That’s where we come in. At Stace Hammond, we specialise in helping people make informed, legally sound decisions about their next steps. You stay in control. Our role is to understand your circumstances, explain the law as it applies to you, and give you clear advice about your options.

For some, that means resolving questions about children — where they live, how their time is shared, or whether a move of town or school is possible. For others, it may mean urgent steps to apply for, or respond to, a protection order.

When relationships end, we advise on dividing property and assets, including trusts that may have been set up during the relationship. We can also look at whether spousal maintenance or child support applies, and we prepare contracting out agreements for couples who want certainty about their arrangements.

We help families supporting loved ones who can no longer make decisions for themselves, guiding them through applications for welfare guardianship or property management. We also assist with future planning — such as wills and enduring powers of attorney — so your wishes are respected if you’re not able to make decisions yourself.

Not every case is straightforward. We’re experienced in untangling long-standing or high-conflict disputes where matters have gone around in circles.

Once we’ve understood your situation and completed our usual checks, we provide a clear picture of your legal position and the options available. We explain how those options may play out legally — whether through negotiation, mediation, or in the Family Court.

Whatever your circumstances, our aim is the same: to give you clarity about your legal choices, realistic advice about likely outcomes, and the guidance you need to make decisions with confidence. If you’re worried about cost, we can talk to you about how fees work and whether legal aid might be available.

If you’re not sure where to begin, that’s okay. Start by getting in touch with a brief outline of who you are and what’s happening. We’ll explain the next steps, what’s involved, and how we may be able to help.

Support with Legal Fees: JustFund

For many people going through separation, legal costs can feel like an immediate barrier. To help with this, Stace Hammond is accredited under JustFund, a legal financing service that supports people who have relationship property to divide.

JustFund provides a line of credit that can be used to pay legal fees as your matter progresses. It’s not a loan in the traditional sense — funding is assessed based on your likely share of the relationship property, and you don’t need to repay anything until the matter is resolved.

This kind of support can be especially helpful for those who:

Are going through separation involving relationship property, that includes a home, or other assets;
Also need to resolve parenting, child support, or spousal maintenance issues as part of the process;
Don’t have immediate funds available to access legal advice.

In simple terms: if you’re entitled to a share of the relationship property, JustFund may allow you to access the legal help you need now — with repayment deferred until your settlement is final.

We can guide you through the short application process, which takes around 20 minutes and has no impact on your credit score. Once approved, your legal fees are paid directly by JustFund, and you only repay what’s been used, typically from your share of the property division.

To find out more, contact us directly or visit w ww.justfund.co.nz