Judy is a highly regarded Accredited Family Law Specialist, nationally accredited mediator 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 and 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.
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 […]
The ’17 signs of Parental Alienation’ are behavioural red flags that suggest a child may be unfairly influenced to reject or fear one parent based on the actions, non-actions, verbal and other cues from the other parent. They highlight patterns such as sudden hostility, extreme loyalty to one parent and repeating negative statements without a […]
Parental alienation occurs when one parent influences a child to reject or fear the other parent without a legitimate reason. This behaviour can undermine or even sever a meaningful parent–child relationship, often creating long-lasting harm. While the terms “parental alienation” and “parental alienation syndrome” are sometimes used in court proceedings or psychological assessments, it is […]
If you are leaving a relationship with a narcissistic partner, you may have wondered if there are family lawyers who specialise in narcissistic abuse. Formal family law specialisations are generally related to the field of practice, such as family law, property law, or estate law. Narcissistic abuse is a niche area of family and relationship […]
This article explores what a 70/30 divorce settlement means, when it applies and how property division is decided in Australia. Dividing assets after separation is often one of the most challenging aspects of divorce. While many people assume a 50/50 split is standard, Australian family law recognises that a just and equitable outcome depends on […]
