Key takeaway: You can do the divorce application yourself in Australia — it's lodged online and designed for self-representation. But ending the marriage is separate from dividing property and sorting parenting, which carry real risk if you DIY badly. Mediation is the cost-effective middle path: it resolves the substantive issues without each side running up large legal bills.
Can you really DIY a divorce?
For the divorce itself — the legal ending of the marriage — yes, absolutely. The application is designed to be completed by ordinary people without legal training, and a large share of divorces are done without a lawyer, using the court's divorce resources. Where people get into trouble is assuming the same applies to property and parenting, which are separate and far higher-stakes. See the step-by-step divorce guide →
Want to keep costs down but get it right? Mediation handles the hard part affordably. Book a consultation.
Book a free consultation →Doing the divorce application yourself
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia provides the Application for Divorce through the Commonwealth Courts Portal, with guidance on each step. If you meet the eligibility criteria (12 months' separation, residency) and your situation is straightforward, you can complete it, pay the fee, and — for joint applications with no children under 18 — often avoid attending court entirely. See what it costs →
Where you need to be careful
DIY is fine for a clean, agreed divorce. Be more cautious if: there are children under 18 (the court must be satisfied about their care); you can't locate your spouse; service is contested; or there's any complexity. In those cases a little guidance prevents costly delays and rejected applications.
Property and parenting are different
This is where DIY gets risky. Dividing property and agreeing parenting arrangements have lasting financial and personal consequences, and informal "we'll just sort it out ourselves" arrangements often unravel — leaving you exposed to future claims. You don't necessarily need two lawyers billing by the hour, but you do need the agreement done properly and made binding through consent orders. See property settlement →
Mediation: the middle path
Between expensive lawyer-led litigation and risky DIY sits mediation — and it's the sweet spot for most people. A neutral mediator helps you reach a fair agreement on property and parenting without each side lawyering up, then you formalise it. You stay in control, keep costs low, and get a binding, proper outcome. It's how you "do it yourself" on the hard parts without doing it blind. See family law mediation →
The smart middle path: resolve property and parenting through mediation, no court war. Book today.
Book a free consultation →When you should get advice
Get legal advice where the stakes or complexity are high: significant or complex assets, a business or trust, superannuation splitting, family violence, or where you and your ex are far apart. Even then, advice plus mediation usually beats full litigation on cost. The goal isn't to avoid all professional help — it's to use it efficiently where it counts. See collaborative family law →