Separation is hard enough without the legal process making it worse.
We’ve been helping Australians navigate financial agreements since 2006 – without the conflict, without the enormous legal bills, and without making an already difficult time harder than it needs to be. On this page you’ll find out exactly who you’re dealing with.
Peaceful Path to Settlement is brought to you by RP Emery & Associates, Australian legal document publishers with nearly two decades of experience helping couples navigate financial agreements simply and affordably.
Ian MacLeod
Ian is your primary contact throughout the entire process – from your first question through to your signed agreement.
He personally reviews every draft Financial Agreement before it goes anywhere near a lawyer. If something needs clarifying or adjusting, he’ll pick up the phone. If you need a callback, he’ll call. He replies personally – often the same day, sometimes on weekends.
Over nearly two decades, Ian has built a deep knowledge of Financial Agreements and the Family Law Act. He understands how the agreements work, what the legislation requires, and how to guide you through a process that most people find unfamiliar and a little daunting – without ever making you feel that way.
Ian is not a lawyer, and RP Emery is not a law firm. What Ian does is coordinate the entire process – making sure your draft is ready before it reaches the solicitors, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. You’ll have the same person with you from start to finish.
“I can’t thank you enough for the great service. When I had questions, you replied by telephone. This is unheard of from most online businesses.” Verified review
Nadia MacLeod
Nadia takes care of Marketing and Communications.
As a non-lawyer herself, she understands the confusion and unease that many people experience when confronted with a legal issue. That’s why she works to make legal matters simpler and more easily understood. The bottom line is that there are many common legal transactions that you can handle yourself quite comfortably – and she’s spent 20 years making that case.
The Solicitors Who Provide Your Legal Advice
Our associated lawyers are not directors, employees or shareholders of RP Emery and Associates, or any other associated entity. They are independent legal practitioners who provide advice to each party separately — as required by the Family Law Act.
The Family Law Act requires that both parties to a Financial Agreement receive independent legal advice before signing. “Independent” means each party has their own separate solicitor — not the same solicitor advising both. This requirement exists to protect you both.
We connect you with solicitors from our carefully selected nationwide panel – professionals we’ve worked with for many years, chosen for their expertise in family law and their ability to explain things clearly and without creating unnecessary conflict. Their job is to advise, not to escalate.
Steve Heptonstall – Saxby Munns BA LLB
Steve has spent over 20 years working in both private practice as a lawyer and the corporate world in a range of roles ranging from General Counsel to Corporate Executive for a number of large multinationals.
Steve Heptonstall has a wealth of experience assisting clients with Business and Commercial Law matters, Property and Conveyancing, Asset Protection and Estate Planning. Other areas of expertise include Mediation in the area of contract disputes and family law matters such as Binding Financial Agreements.
Steve is a member of the Law Society of NSW.
Carolyn Byrne – National Seniors Lawyers LL.B, GradDip.LegPrac, RN, BN, GradDip.FET, M.Ed
Carolyn Byrne is a highly regarded estate planning and seniors health lawyer serving the legal needs of clients throughout Northern New South Wales and South-East Queensland. She is experienced in Family Law matters and regularly advises our clients in relation to Binding Financial Agreements.
Carolyn also holds the highly respected position of Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law at Bond University.
Carolyn is a member of the Law Society of NSW.
Richard Hamilton – Nevett Ford BA/Bsc, Juris Doctor – Law
Richard leads the family law practice group at Nevett Ford, a top tier law firm located in Melbourne. He has extensive experience in Family Law matters and has provided legal advice to couples in relation to property settlement and separation/divorce, as well as those entering defacto or married relationships.
Richard is an experienced Family law mediator and regularly appears in the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia to represent clients in respect of their family law matters on both financial and child related issues.
RP Emery rely upon Richard’s extensive knowledge and he regularly advises our clients in relation to Binding Financial Agreements.
Richard is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.
What our Clients Say
★★★★★ Lisa Kaye White — Word of Mouth (verified)
“I approached RP Emery to see if I could find a friendly non-confrontational solution to finalising finances after a split from a long marriage. We had agreed quite amicably as to what we both wanted as an outcome — and to be quite honest, when we approached solicitors the combative nature of their advice and the cost was quite off-putting. It is not the way we wanted to end our marriage at all.
We reached out to RP Emery and dealt with Ian and the experience was amazing. We managed to get a binding legal agreement done as we wanted it — we purchased the legal package and both received independent advice for a fraction of the cost. We were able to word things and write the agreement as we wanted and received drafting feedback along the way. This was such a smooth process from start to finish.
I have now recommended this process to our daughter who unfortunately is having to go through the same thing – and they are finding the experience as easy and smooth as we did. For a couple that wants a calm and non-combative approach to their separation and know exactly what they want the outcomes to be, I can highly recommend this service. Thanks Ian — amazing business.”
★★★★★ Sarah P — Word of Mouth (verified)
“When I first found this service online I was very sceptical. I thought there must be a catch — it all seemed so straightforward and very reasonably priced. It seemed too good to be true, and I also had many people warning me not to trust an online service with something as important as a separation agreement.
Anyway, to get to the point — this really was a fantastic service. Ian went above and beyond to help me understand the ins and outs of it all, even going so far as to contact me when he was on holiday. He was so easy to deal with, very professional, and very reliable.
If you are trying to formalise a financial agreement, be it in the context of a divorce, separation or a relationship, do not look past this service. This was so efficient, affordable and respectful. I cannot recommend this service more highly.”
★★★★★ Kate McLaren — Google (verified)
“Excellent service, cannot recommend highly enough. I was completely daunted by the whole thing before I engaged RP Emery. Ian was so supportive and took time to explain everything. The lawyer that was engaged was very professional and also made sure I understood the agreement and all the requirements. It was honestly so much easier than I ever expected.”