Judy is a highly regarded Accredited Family Law Specialist, nationally accredited mediator with AMDRAS Advanced Mediator status, and registered FDR practitioner with an excellent understanding of interpersonal and family dynamics after her previous career in social work.
Judy has practised exclusively in Family Law since 2003, and founded Stewart Family Law in 2011. She uses the insights she has gained over the years to help her clients work through the challenges of family law matters, and is well-versed in the impacts that abusive and toxic behaviours place on relationships. Judy uses her knowledge in these areas to assist individuals and families in resolving high-conflict, difficult and sensitive matters.
Since 2017, Judy has been recommended as a Leading Family and Divorce Lawyer on Doyle’s annual list of recommended lawyers. Judy is a nationally accredited mediator with AMDRAS Advanced Mediator status and a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. She is acknowledged as a recommended Leading Family Law Mediator on Doyle’s list.
Judy practices across all areas of family law, prioritising mediation and collaborative law to reach lasting outcomes that preserve relationships, wherever possible. She has extensive experience with complex property settlements. Her background in social work and extensive family law experience assist her to resolve high-conflict, difficult and sensitive matters that are impacted by abusive and toxic behaviours.
Well-known for her pragmatic, organised and responsive approach, Judy provides her clients with efficient and effective solutions to their Family Law problems. She takes a conciliatory approach to her matters, actively discouraging hostility or conflict, to reduce the stress related to negotiations during divorce and separation.
The following are examples of matters Judy has recently worked on:
We assisted a client with a complex financial dispute involving significant assets and conflict regarding disclosure of assets and division of the asset pool. The issues in dispute included the parties’ financial and non-financial contributions, the ownership and value of assets, child support and children’s expenses and spousal maintenance considerations. We provided our client with ongoing advice and representation throughout the extensive Court proceedings. At judgment, our client achieved a highly favourable outcome, with orders made substantially in line with the orders sought.
We assisted another client in a similarly complex financial dispute involving significant assets and business interests after the other party had already commenced Court proceedings. Through effective negotiation with Counsel representing both parties, we successfully resolved the matter at the settlement conference, avoiding the need for a final hearing. The negotiated settlement delivered a favourable outcome for our client, providing certainty and avoiding the additional time, cost and stress associated with a contested trial.
Our client sought advice after being presented with a Financial Agreement prepared by their de facto partner’s solicitor. We carefully reviewed the Agreement and provided comprehensive advice on its legal effect.
The Agreement was favourable to our client, who had accumulated separate property approximately twice the value of the other party’s assets. It provided that our client would retain this property in the event of separation. The Agreement also protected our client’s pre-relationship assets, as well as future inheritances, gifts, and compensation entitlements. It recorded agreed asset values at the commencement of the relationship, reducing the risk of future disputes regarding contributions or asset division.
We provided clear advice about the potential disadvantages of entering into a Financial Agreement, including the inability to predict future circumstances and the potential risk of future disputes regarding the interpretation or enforceability of the Agreement. The Agreement ultimately provided our client with significant certainty and protection in relation to their existing wealth. By clearly defining how property would be dealt with in the event of separation, the Agreement provided our client with security moving forward in their relationship.
Previous volunteer legal advice at Women’s Legal Service and Caxton Legal Service
I would like to say a huge thank you to Judy Stewart for all her help, expertise and kindness to me and my family, during a very stressful time. Much appreciated. Happily recommend her.
Sylvia, October 2025
I couldn’t recommend Judy and the team at Stewart Family Law any more highly. From the minute I walked into their offices I felt welcomed and supported by everyone I spoke to.
They went above and beyond. I would definitely recommend Judy and her team.
Michelle, August 2025
Disclaimer This information is general and not a substitute for personalised legal or clinical advice. It discusses behaviours that appear selfish, controlling or manipulative during a relationship or family breakdown, which are often viewed as narcissistic traits. The term is used for discussion purposes only and relates to observable behaviours and experiences that may impact […]
Family law mediation, also known as Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), is a structured but informal process that helps separating couples or family members resolve disputes without going to court. It sits between private negotiations and court proceedings, giving both parties more autonomy and flexibility. A neutral third party, known as a family dispute resolution practitioner […]
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