Petersham Child Custody Lawyers

Is Your Ex Using the Children as Leverage — and Do You Know What You Can Do About It?

FletchLaw cuts through the conflict and refocuses proceedings on what actually matters — the wellbeing of your children and a parenting arrangement that works in the real world. We serve Petersham and the Inner West, and your first conversation with us won’t cost you a cent.

Google reviews rating 4.9 stars for FletchLaw

4.9

A woman sitting alone on a park bench with an empty child's backpack beside her — representing the painful uncertainty about parenting time that many Petersham parents face during a custody dispute, and the experienced support FletchLaw provides to protect their relationship with their children.

Are You Facing Any of These Concerns Right Now?

Is your ex withholding the children to punish you — and do you know what legal steps are available right now?

Withholding children from a parent is not just deeply distressing — in most circumstances it is also unlawful. There are immediate legal steps available to you, and in urgent cases we can move very quickly. You do not have to simply accept this situation while you wait for things to resolve themselves.

Are you worried that your ex's version of the parenting arrangement will become the default — simply because they acted first?

The arrangements that are in place at the beginning of a separation can carry significant weight in subsequent proceedings. Getting proper legal advice early — before patterns are established — is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your ongoing relationship with your children.

Do you have serious concerns about your children's safety or wellbeing in your ex's care?

When a parent has genuine concerns about the safety of their children — whether due to family violence, substance use, mental health issues, or neglect — the law provides mechanisms to act on those concerns promptly. We’ll advise you on what steps are available and how to pursue them effectively.

Is the conflict between you and your ex making it impossible to agree on even the most basic parenting decisions?

High-conflict separations can make every parenting decision feel like a battleground — schooling, medical care, holidays, extracurricular activities. When direct agreement isn’t possible, there are structured legal processes that can break the deadlock and put workable arrangements in place without requiring years of litigation.

Are you afraid that your children are being coached to say things that damage your case or your relationship with them?

Parental alienation is a recognised and serious issue in family law proceedings. Courts take it seriously when it is properly documented and presented. We can advise you on how to respond effectively and how to protect your children from being placed in the middle of an adult dispute.

Do you feel like you're already at a disadvantage — and that the system won't treat you fairly?

Many parents — particularly fathers — arrive at their first consultation convinced the system is stacked against them. The law in Australia is built around the principle that children benefit from meaningful relationships with both parents. We make sure that principle is reflected in your parenting arrangements, and we fight for it when it isn’t.

Headshot of Simon Fletcher, family and divorce lawyer at FletchLaw in Stanmore.

Meet Simon Fletcher

When children are caught in the middle of a parental dispute, the stakes could not be higher. The arrangements put in place now will shape your children’s lives — and your relationship with them — for years to come. At FletchLaw, we treat every child custody matter with the seriousness and care that demands.

Simon Fletcher has guided Inner West parents through some of the most difficult and emotionally charged custody disputes imaginable — from urgent applications to protect children at risk, to long-running disagreements about relocation, schooling, and parenting time. He brings experience, composure, and genuine child-focused thinking to every matter he handles.

When the conflict with your ex feels overwhelming, Simon’s job is to cut through it — focus clearly on what the law says, what the court would likely decide, and what the best outcome looks like for your children. Your first conversation won’t cost you a cent.

Book your free telephone consultation now.

How We Can Help You Through This

We'll give you an honest, accurate picture of your legal position regarding parenting arrangements — so you know what you're entitled to argue for and what a court would realistically decide.

We'll act urgently when children are being withheld, when there's a relocation threat, or when your children's safety is at risk — because some situations cannot wait for the ordinary pace of proceedings.

We'll help you establish interim parenting arrangements quickly so that the status quo doesn't become entrenched in a way that disadvantages you later.

We'll negotiate structured parenting plans that work in the real world — covering living arrangements, schooling, holidays, medical decisions, and everything in between.

We'll advise you on family dispute resolution and mediation options — because many parenting disputes can be resolved without court involvement if the process is properly managed.

We'll document and present evidence of concerning behaviour — including parental alienation, family violence, or substance issues — in a way that is taken seriously by the court.

We'll make sure any parenting arrangement reached is properly formalised through consent orders — so it's legally binding, enforceable, and clear to both parties.

We'll keep your children's wellbeing at the centre of every recommendation we make — because the best legal outcome and the best outcome for your children should be the same thing.

We'll be there throughout the entire process — responsive, experienced, and completely focused on protecting your relationship with your children.

The 3 Step FletchLaw Process

Book Your Free, No-Obligation Consultation

Call us and speak directly with Simon Fletcher. He'll listen carefully to your situation, ask the right questions, and give you an honest assessment of where things stand legally and what your realistic options are. No cost, no pressure, and no commitment — just clear, experienced advice when you need it most.

We Take the Legal Weight Off Your Shoulders

Once you decide to work with us, we handle everything — urgent applications if needed, negotiations with your ex's legal team, preparation of parenting proposals, and representation at any hearings. We carry the legal burden so you can focus on being present for your children through a difficult time.

Move Forward With Arrangements That Are Right for Your Children

With properly documented parenting arrangements in place, the conflict has a framework to operate within — and your relationship with your children has the legal protection it needs. You can focus on what matters most: being the parent your children need, with the certainty that your role in their lives is secure.

Take the First Step — Your Free Consultation Won't Cost You a Cent

When your relationship with your children feels under threat, acting quickly matters — but acting without proper advice can make things worse. Your initial consultation with Simon Fletcher is completely free. It’s a confidential, no-pressure conversation focused entirely on your situation and your children. Here’s what you can expect:

  • A warm, judgment-free conversation — a private space to tell your story, share your concerns about your children, and get honest answers without any pressure to proceed
  • Clarity on where you stand legally — a plain-English explanation of your rights as a parent and what the law says about your situation, so you leave with real understanding rather than more anxiety
  • An honest picture of your realistic options — including whether urgent action is needed, what a negotiated outcome might look like, and what a court would be likely to decide if it came to that
  • Practical, child-focused guidance — advice built around the specific circumstances of your children and your family, not a generic overview of how family law works in theory
  • The space to ask anything — whether it’s about parenting time, your ex’s behaviour, your children’s schooling, or what happens if your ex won’t cooperate — this is your time

Ready to take the first step? Call us today to book your free consultation — we're here to help.

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What to Expect When You Work with FletchLaw

Free initial consultation with no obligation

Speak with Simon, get honest answers about your parenting rights, and decide whether we’re the right fit — without spending a cent or committing to anything.

Urgent action when the situation demands it

When children are being withheld or are at risk, we move quickly. Some situations cannot wait for the ordinary pace of legal proceedings, and we know how to respond.

Direct access to Simon Fletcher throughout

You work with the principal solicitor from start to finish — not passed between staff or left with someone who has to be briefed on your matter every time you call.

Plain English at every stage

No legal jargon, no confusing terminology. Everything explained clearly so you always understand what’s happening and what your options are.

Child-focused thinking on every decision

Your children’s wellbeing is at the centre of everything we do — not just because the law requires it, but because it produces the best outcomes for families.

Transparent billing with no surprises

Every charge explained clearly before it’s incurred. You’ll always know what you’re paying for and why — with nothing added without your knowledge.

Negotiation-first approach throughout

We pursue every avenue for negotiated agreement before litigation is considered — because the best parenting plans are ones both parents can genuinely live with.

Properly formalised agreements

Every parenting arrangement we reach is documented correctly through consent orders — legally binding, enforceable, and clear to both parties.

Responsive communication you can rely on

Your calls and messages are returned promptly. When your children are involved, being kept in the dark is not something we allow to happen.

A local Inner West firm that understands this community

We’re based in Stanmore, minutes from Petersham. We know the Inner West, its schools, its families, and its local court processes.

Street map of Sydney's Inner West showing the shortest route between Petersham and FletchLaw in Stanmore — a 6-minute, 2.1 km journey along Parramatta Road

From Petersham to FletchLaw in Minutes

FletchLaw is just 2.1 kilometres from the centre of Petersham — a six-minute drive along Parramatta Road. We’re not a distant city firm you have to travel to in a crisis. We’re your neighbours in the Inner West, part of the same streets, the same community, and the same daily life that Petersham families know well. When you need us, we’re close.

Serving the Petersham & Inner West Community

Petersham is one of the Inner West’s most distinctive and tightly-knit suburbs — a place where heritage streetscapes, a thriving village atmosphere, and a genuinely diverse community all come together. For families here, home isn’t just a property. It’s a neighbourhood, a school, a set of relationships built over years.

Former Petersham Fire Station on Parramatta Road — a Victorian red brick landmark

The Former Petersham Fire Station on Parramatta Road is one of the suburb's most recognisable landmarks. Its bold Victorian red brick and heritage bay doors have anchored this stretch of the community for well over a century — a reminder of the deep roots Petersham families have put down here.

All Saints Anglican Church, Petersham — Gothic Revival architecture

All Saints Anglican Church stands as one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the Inner West. Its ornate brickwork and commanding roofline have provided a point of quiet continuity for the Petersham community through generations of change.

Petersham Railway Station — heritage sandstone building viewed from platform

Petersham Railway Station — with its elegant sandstone building and Victorian platform ironwork — has been connecting this suburb to the rest of Sydney since the nineteenth century. For many families, it's simply part of the daily rhythm of life here.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Book your free, no-obligation consultation today and get the honest advice you need to protect your relationship with your children.