“Custody” isn't actually the legal term used in Australian family law anymore, though it's still how most people search for help. A family lawyer in Brisbane can explain how the law approaches parenting arrangements, including where children will live and how important decisions will be made.
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law helps Brisbane parents work through parenting arrangements, most often reached through mediation rather than court, with a focus on what's genuinely best for the children involved.
Parenting plan or consent orders: what's the difference
“Custody” isn't the legal term anymore, but the practical choice most parents face is this, informal or binding?
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A parenting plan is a written agreement between you both. It's flexible, but not legally enforceable
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Consent orders are a similar agreement, formalised through the court, and legally binding
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Many parents start with a parenting plan and move to consent orders later, once arrangements settle
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If there's any risk an arrangement won't be honoured, consent orders give you something to fall back on
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Consent orders can be drafted without needing to attend court in person, provided both parents agree on the terms
What the court actually looks at
If parents can't agree and a matter goes to court, judges aren't deciding what's “fair” between the adults. They're applying a specific test.
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The child's safety, and protection from harm, comes first
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The benefit of a meaningful relationship with both parents, where it's safe
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The child's own views, given appropriate weight for their age and maturity
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Each parent's capacity to provide for the child's needs, practically and emotionally
Understanding this test early can save a lot of unnecessary conflict, because it reframes the conversation around the children rather than around either parent's preferences.
Not sure where to start? Call 1300 052 224 for a free chat.
Why Brisbane Parents Choose Best Wilson Buckley Child Custody Lawyers
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A dedicated family law firm since 2009, working with Brisbane parents on parenting arrangements every week, not as a sideline to other legal work
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We focus on what a court would actually look at, not just what feels fair between the adults, so your arrangement holds up if it's ever tested
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Advice that keeps your children's stability at the centre of every conversation, not just the dispute between the two of you
A Brisbane-based team who considers your whole situation, including any child support lawyers Brisbane questions or property settlement lawyers Brisbane matters running alongside your parenting arrangements.
Frequently asked questions about child custody in Brisbane
Does “custody” still exist as a legal term?
Not officially. Courts now use terms like parental responsibility and care arrangements, but we understand why people still search for custody help, and we're glad to talk it through in plain language.
How is care time actually decided?
The court looks at what's in the best interests of the child, including their safety, their relationship with both parents, and their views if they're old enough to express them.
Do we have to go to court?
Not usually. Most parents reach an agreement through mediation first. Court becomes necessary only if agreement isn't possible, or if family violence is a safety concern.
Can our parenting arrangement change later?
Yes. Arrangements can be updated by agreement, or reviewed by the court if circumstances change significantly, such as a move, a new relationship, or a change in a child's needs.
Client Feedback
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you again for going over and above, it's much appreciated and not lost on me.”
“Thank you so much Samantha for your continued support with my divorce. Much appreciated.”
“Golly Gosh, it’s so amazing. Thank you so much Kiara. I’m thinking the final orders may just be more obtainable now.”
“Kiara was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable.”
“Kiara and the team at BWB have been nothing short of amazing to deal with. For me the experience of dealing with a property settlement after divorce is something that I never wanted to have to go through, nor wish upon anyone else for that matter. However, in times where emotions are high, I would highly recommend getting help from the team at BWB, and having them provide you with the correct advice using their level heads. Navigating through any legal matters requires so much time and effort, so in my opinion, this is best left to the professionals. Kiara has been prompt and professional, yet at the same time understanding, and not at all bias in dealing with my personal matter which I was concerned about being a male. In fact I am glad that after researching law firms in Ipswich that I chose BWB and meet Kiara. So a big thank you Kiara, and it has been a pleasure in an unpleasant time dealing with you and I hope that anyone reading this testimonial will engage you to assist in their future family law matters. Thank you.”
“Your team was absolutely wonderful. Professional, discreet, sensitive and was just a guiding light in ensuring a speedy, yet practical outcome. All staff were courteous and nothing was ever an inconvenience to ask. Advice was timely and I always felt respected and heard. I had great confidence in Best Wilson Buckley and would definitely recommend them.”
“I would like to thank Jo Maloney who handled my Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. She showed professionalism and explained things to me in a down-to-earth manner.”
“Pure professionalism throughout the process, with exceptional advice and timely action that lead to the optimal outcome.”
“I especially want to thank Max and Lizzie for helping me with my property settlement – they were amazing. Max in particular showed nothing but professionalism – he didn’t keep me in the dark, he was up front and honest, and was very compassionate, understanding, and supportive… Max also made me aware of future costs so there weren’t any unexpected costs. I would like to thank the whole team at BWBFL for their support and I will definitely high recommend their services.”
“Thank you so much for your help! You helped me through times when I struggled to see the light weather you knew it or not. Wishing you and your family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!”
“Thank you so much for all your advice and knowledge. I am very happy with the result and can now get on with my life.”
“Thank you, so very much for your kindness, hard work and thoughts. Once again Kiara, you have been fabulous and I appreciate how easy you are to talk to and how contactable you have been.”
“Thanks again for your advice. I really hope that we do not need to meet with you for further guidance but we feel confident that if needed that you are a great fit for us.”
“Neal, I can’t thank you enough for your professional services and support over the last two years … I seriously don’t know what I would have done without you and I will be forever grateful.”
“Thank you again for your invaluable assistance in bringing resolution to this matter yesterday. I was particularly impressed with your approach to the mediation.”
“I wanted to thank you for all your help throughout this journey. As stressful as the process was, you made it a lot easier to deal with. I really appreciate the help and support you have given me.”
“When we approached Lynn with our queries regarding a family law matter, we found her to be extremely helpful. After listening to our concerns, Lynn outlined the options available to us along with the pros and cons of each option. All our questions were answered in detail with the supporting reasons given. We found Lynn to be very knowledgeable in family law matters and her advice invaluable to us. We will certainly be seeking Lynn's advice should we require further assistance in the future.”
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart... I feel overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness… I appreciate all the hard work you are both doing to support me.”
“We are over the moon to see [the children] back where they belong. We would like to sincerely thank you and your team for all that you have done.”
“Thank you again for your help, you are amazing at your jobs and I greatly appreciate everything you have done for me and my family so far.”
“I came to BWB to get legal advice and didn’t expect to be supported and encouraged by Lynn and Jess through the process, which has given me the strength to keep going until today when it settled. My friends, when they heard where I was going, told me that BWB is known for that.”
“I celebrated the removal of the immediate burden with a couple of dark amber ales – I am under no illusion that victory will have the same odds as Phar Lap returning from the dead and winning the next Melbourne Cup, But, just standing up for my rights and against the unwarranted injustice and nonsense that has been heaped to my door, already makes me feel like the jockey of the moment. I tip my hat to your professionalism and bow in gratitude – you treated me with compassion and kindness.”
“Thank you for your prompt reply. I very much appreciated your sincerity, directness, and the scope of your knowledge. It has sorted out a great deal in our lives and made me and my son aware of so many vital pieces of information. I will pass on the information. Thank you once again for your guidance”
“Thank you so much … I’m so happy with the outcome … I can’t thank you enough. I’m so thankful I had you on my side.”
“Hi Lynn, Jess, and Zoe and anyone else that has helped me out. Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for all that you have done for me over the last 12 months… It had been a long and frustrating 12 months… Time to now to buy a new home and get back on track again. Thanks again for everything.”
“Thank you again Amity for the professional expertise and amazing prompt, efficient service that you and the Best Wilson Buckley Ipswich team provided to myself during this time.”
“I can’t speak highly enough of Amity and Kiara – they have been fantastic throughout the whole process.”
“Thanks Alecia, I appreciate all the help you have given me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Thank you for your email and all the work BWBFL, Sam and yourself have done to get to this stage.”
“I truly am so grateful to you and everything you have done over the past year and a half. It has been a rollercoaster, however the compassion you show in your role gives family law practitioners a really great name. I think you know just how much it means to me and my family – which is what makes you great.”
“I want to thank you for being so steady and understanding in my situation. You made this process so much easier with your kind and gentle approach. You are a credit to your firm. It's a shame we never met you in person so I could shake your hand.”
“The letter is perfect. I can’t thank you enough. This letter honestly means the world to me and I appreciate your time in putting this together for me.”
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for today. It was an amazing experience. I found it highly illuminating. I got everything I wanted and I see a clear path forward. Most important of all I have more time with my daughters than I dared to hope for. Kiara was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Your work on this has been nothing short of miraculous.”
“I’m a bit lost for words… you have no idea of the pressures that have been lifted. Thank you for your guidance, devotion, and relentless focus on my case for the past three and a half years. It has been extremely long and mentally exhausting… I am blown away by [your] integrity and all the hard work you did on my behalf. I will always be grateful for your efforts and copious amounts of time, research, and understanding to ensure the best possible outcome for establishing and concreting the building blocks for a beautiful and meaningful relationship with my [girls]. Thank you once again.”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for the invaluable assistance both yourself and Samantha Chai have shown me. Your patience and guidance is appreciated and valued”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you again for going over and above, it's much appreciated and not lost on me.”
“Thank you so much Samantha for your continued support with my divorce. Much appreciated.”
“Golly Gosh, it’s so amazing. Thank you so much Kiara. I’m thinking the final orders may just be more obtainable now.”
“Kiara was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable.”
“Kiara and the team at BWB have been nothing short of amazing to deal with. For me the experience of dealing with a property settlement after divorce is something that I never wanted to have to go through, nor wish upon anyone else for that matter. However, in times where emotions are high, I would highly recommend getting help from the team at BWB, and having them provide you with the correct advice using their level heads. Navigating through any legal matters requires so much time and effort, so in my opinion, this is best left to the professionals. Kiara has been prompt and professional, yet at the same time understanding, and not at all bias in dealing with my personal matter which I was concerned about being a male. In fact I am glad that after researching law firms in Ipswich that I chose BWB and meet Kiara. So a big thank you Kiara, and it has been a pleasure in an unpleasant time dealing with you and I hope that anyone reading this testimonial will engage you to assist in their future family law matters. Thank you.”
“Your team was absolutely wonderful. Professional, discreet, sensitive and was just a guiding light in ensuring a speedy, yet practical outcome. All staff were courteous and nothing was ever an inconvenience to ask. Advice was timely and I always felt respected and heard. I had great confidence in Best Wilson Buckley and would definitely recommend them.”
“I would like to thank Jo Maloney who handled my Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. She showed professionalism and explained things to me in a down-to-earth manner.”
“Pure professionalism throughout the process, with exceptional advice and timely action that lead to the optimal outcome.”
“I especially want to thank Max and Lizzie for helping me with my property settlement – they were amazing. Max in particular showed nothing but professionalism – he didn’t keep me in the dark, he was up front and honest, and was very compassionate, understanding, and supportive… Max also made me aware of future costs so there weren’t any unexpected costs. I would like to thank the whole team at BWBFL for their support and I will definitely high recommend their services.”
“Thank you so much for your help! You helped me through times when I struggled to see the light weather you knew it or not. Wishing you and your family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!”
“Thank you so much for all your advice and knowledge. I am very happy with the result and can now get on with my life.”
“Thank you, so very much for your kindness, hard work and thoughts. Once again Kiara, you have been fabulous and I appreciate how easy you are to talk to and how contactable you have been.”
“Thanks again for your advice. I really hope that we do not need to meet with you for further guidance but we feel confident that if needed that you are a great fit for us.”
“Neal, I can’t thank you enough for your professional services and support over the last two years … I seriously don’t know what I would have done without you and I will be forever grateful.”
“Thank you again for your invaluable assistance in bringing resolution to this matter yesterday. I was particularly impressed with your approach to the mediation.”
“I wanted to thank you for all your help throughout this journey. As stressful as the process was, you made it a lot easier to deal with. I really appreciate the help and support you have given me.”
“When we approached Lynn with our queries regarding a family law matter, we found her to be extremely helpful. After listening to our concerns, Lynn outlined the options available to us along with the pros and cons of each option. All our questions were answered in detail with the supporting reasons given. We found Lynn to be very knowledgeable in family law matters and her advice invaluable to us. We will certainly be seeking Lynn's advice should we require further assistance in the future.”
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart... I feel overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness… I appreciate all the hard work you are both doing to support me.”
“We are over the moon to see [the children] back where they belong. We would like to sincerely thank you and your team for all that you have done.”
“Thank you again for your help, you are amazing at your jobs and I greatly appreciate everything you have done for me and my family so far.”
“I came to BWB to get legal advice and didn’t expect to be supported and encouraged by Lynn and Jess through the process, which has given me the strength to keep going until today when it settled. My friends, when they heard where I was going, told me that BWB is known for that.”
“I celebrated the removal of the immediate burden with a couple of dark amber ales – I am under no illusion that victory will have the same odds as Phar Lap returning from the dead and winning the next Melbourne Cup, But, just standing up for my rights and against the unwarranted injustice and nonsense that has been heaped to my door, already makes me feel like the jockey of the moment. I tip my hat to your professionalism and bow in gratitude – you treated me with compassion and kindness.”
“Thank you for your prompt reply. I very much appreciated your sincerity, directness, and the scope of your knowledge. It has sorted out a great deal in our lives and made me and my son aware of so many vital pieces of information. I will pass on the information. Thank you once again for your guidance”
“Thank you so much … I’m so happy with the outcome … I can’t thank you enough. I’m so thankful I had you on my side.”
“Hi Lynn, Jess, and Zoe and anyone else that has helped me out. Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for all that you have done for me over the last 12 months… It had been a long and frustrating 12 months… Time to now to buy a new home and get back on track again. Thanks again for everything.”
“Thank you again Amity for the professional expertise and amazing prompt, efficient service that you and the Best Wilson Buckley Ipswich team provided to myself during this time.”
“I can’t speak highly enough of Amity and Kiara – they have been fantastic throughout the whole process.”
“Thanks Alecia, I appreciate all the help you have given me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Thank you for your email and all the work BWBFL, Sam and yourself have done to get to this stage.”
“I truly am so grateful to you and everything you have done over the past year and a half. It has been a rollercoaster, however the compassion you show in your role gives family law practitioners a really great name. I think you know just how much it means to me and my family – which is what makes you great.”
“I want to thank you for being so steady and understanding in my situation. You made this process so much easier with your kind and gentle approach. You are a credit to your firm. It's a shame we never met you in person so I could shake your hand.”
“The letter is perfect. I can’t thank you enough. This letter honestly means the world to me and I appreciate your time in putting this together for me.”
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for today. It was an amazing experience. I found it highly illuminating. I got everything I wanted and I see a clear path forward. Most important of all I have more time with my daughters than I dared to hope for. Kiara was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Your work on this has been nothing short of miraculous.”
“I’m a bit lost for words… you have no idea of the pressures that have been lifted. Thank you for your guidance, devotion, and relentless focus on my case for the past three and a half years. It has been extremely long and mentally exhausting… I am blown away by [your] integrity and all the hard work you did on my behalf. I will always be grateful for your efforts and copious amounts of time, research, and understanding to ensure the best possible outcome for establishing and concreting the building blocks for a beautiful and meaningful relationship with my [girls]. Thank you once again.”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for the invaluable assistance both yourself and Samantha Chai have shown me. Your patience and guidance is appreciated and valued”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you again for going over and above, it's much appreciated and not lost on me.”
“Thank you so much Samantha for your continued support with my divorce. Much appreciated.”
“Golly Gosh, it’s so amazing. Thank you so much Kiara. I’m thinking the final orders may just be more obtainable now.”
“Kiara was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable.”
“Kiara and the team at BWB have been nothing short of amazing to deal with. For me the experience of dealing with a property settlement after divorce is something that I never wanted to have to go through, nor wish upon anyone else for that matter. However, in times where emotions are high, I would highly recommend getting help from the team at BWB, and having them provide you with the correct advice using their level heads. Navigating through any legal matters requires so much time and effort, so in my opinion, this is best left to the professionals. Kiara has been prompt and professional, yet at the same time understanding, and not at all bias in dealing with my personal matter which I was concerned about being a male. In fact I am glad that after researching law firms in Ipswich that I chose BWB and meet Kiara. So a big thank you Kiara, and it has been a pleasure in an unpleasant time dealing with you and I hope that anyone reading this testimonial will engage you to assist in their future family law matters. Thank you.”
“Your team was absolutely wonderful. Professional, discreet, sensitive and was just a guiding light in ensuring a speedy, yet practical outcome. All staff were courteous and nothing was ever an inconvenience to ask. Advice was timely and I always felt respected and heard. I had great confidence in Best Wilson Buckley and would definitely recommend them.”
“I would like to thank Jo Maloney who handled my Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. She showed professionalism and explained things to me in a down-to-earth manner.”
“Pure professionalism throughout the process, with exceptional advice and timely action that lead to the optimal outcome.”
“I especially want to thank Max and Lizzie for helping me with my property settlement – they were amazing. Max in particular showed nothing but professionalism – he didn’t keep me in the dark, he was up front and honest, and was very compassionate, understanding, and supportive… Max also made me aware of future costs so there weren’t any unexpected costs. I would like to thank the whole team at BWBFL for their support and I will definitely high recommend their services.”
“Thank you so much for your help! You helped me through times when I struggled to see the light weather you knew it or not. Wishing you and your family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!”
“Thank you so much for all your advice and knowledge. I am very happy with the result and can now get on with my life.”
“Thank you, so very much for your kindness, hard work and thoughts. Once again Kiara, you have been fabulous and I appreciate how easy you are to talk to and how contactable you have been.”
“Thanks again for your advice. I really hope that we do not need to meet with you for further guidance but we feel confident that if needed that you are a great fit for us.”
“Neal, I can’t thank you enough for your professional services and support over the last two years … I seriously don’t know what I would have done without you and I will be forever grateful.”
“Thank you again for your invaluable assistance in bringing resolution to this matter yesterday. I was particularly impressed with your approach to the mediation.”
“I wanted to thank you for all your help throughout this journey. As stressful as the process was, you made it a lot easier to deal with. I really appreciate the help and support you have given me.”
“When we approached Lynn with our queries regarding a family law matter, we found her to be extremely helpful. After listening to our concerns, Lynn outlined the options available to us along with the pros and cons of each option. All our questions were answered in detail with the supporting reasons given. We found Lynn to be very knowledgeable in family law matters and her advice invaluable to us. We will certainly be seeking Lynn's advice should we require further assistance in the future.”
“Thank you again from the bottom of my heart... I feel overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness… I appreciate all the hard work you are both doing to support me.”
“We are over the moon to see [the children] back where they belong. We would like to sincerely thank you and your team for all that you have done.”
“Thank you again for your help, you are amazing at your jobs and I greatly appreciate everything you have done for me and my family so far.”
“I came to BWB to get legal advice and didn’t expect to be supported and encouraged by Lynn and Jess through the process, which has given me the strength to keep going until today when it settled. My friends, when they heard where I was going, told me that BWB is known for that.”
“I celebrated the removal of the immediate burden with a couple of dark amber ales – I am under no illusion that victory will have the same odds as Phar Lap returning from the dead and winning the next Melbourne Cup, But, just standing up for my rights and against the unwarranted injustice and nonsense that has been heaped to my door, already makes me feel like the jockey of the moment. I tip my hat to your professionalism and bow in gratitude – you treated me with compassion and kindness.”
“Thank you for your prompt reply. I very much appreciated your sincerity, directness, and the scope of your knowledge. It has sorted out a great deal in our lives and made me and my son aware of so many vital pieces of information. I will pass on the information. Thank you once again for your guidance”
“Thank you so much … I’m so happy with the outcome … I can’t thank you enough. I’m so thankful I had you on my side.”
“Hi Lynn, Jess, and Zoe and anyone else that has helped me out. Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for all that you have done for me over the last 12 months… It had been a long and frustrating 12 months… Time to now to buy a new home and get back on track again. Thanks again for everything.”
“Thank you again Amity for the professional expertise and amazing prompt, efficient service that you and the Best Wilson Buckley Ipswich team provided to myself during this time.”
“I can’t speak highly enough of Amity and Kiara – they have been fantastic throughout the whole process.”
“Thanks Alecia, I appreciate all the help you have given me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Thank you for your email and all the work BWBFL, Sam and yourself have done to get to this stage.”
“I truly am so grateful to you and everything you have done over the past year and a half. It has been a rollercoaster, however the compassion you show in your role gives family law practitioners a really great name. I think you know just how much it means to me and my family – which is what makes you great.”
“I want to thank you for being so steady and understanding in my situation. You made this process so much easier with your kind and gentle approach. You are a credit to your firm. It's a shame we never met you in person so I could shake your hand.”
“The letter is perfect. I can’t thank you enough. This letter honestly means the world to me and I appreciate your time in putting this together for me.”
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for today. It was an amazing experience. I found it highly illuminating. I got everything I wanted and I see a clear path forward. Most important of all I have more time with my daughters than I dared to hope for. Kiara was amazing too, she was well prepared and knowledgeable… and she helped put me at ease. Her advice was invaluable. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Your work on this has been nothing short of miraculous.”
“I’m a bit lost for words… you have no idea of the pressures that have been lifted. Thank you for your guidance, devotion, and relentless focus on my case for the past three and a half years. It has been extremely long and mentally exhausting… I am blown away by [your] integrity and all the hard work you did on my behalf. I will always be grateful for your efforts and copious amounts of time, research, and understanding to ensure the best possible outcome for establishing and concreting the building blocks for a beautiful and meaningful relationship with my [girls]. Thank you once again.”
“I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to you and the Best Wilson Buckley team… It means a lot to me to have people like yourself on my side giving me a voice that would otherwise go unheard. You do an amazing job with such profession, so thank you. I’m so glad this is finally over and I can make a fresh start. I appreciate your hard work. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for the invaluable assistance both yourself and Samantha Chai have shown me. Your patience and guidance is appreciated and valued”
