Yolanda Battisson

Yolanda is a Special Counsel in our Family Law Team.

Biography

My name is Yolanda Battisson and I am Special Counsel in the family law team at Murdoch Lawyers.

I was initially admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 2001 after having completed a two-year articles of clerkship with Murdoch Lawyers, and was admitted to the High Court of Australia in 2002.

I have been working as a solicitor for almost 20 years and exclusively as a family relationships lawyer for over 13 years of that time. Given my many years of experience in the family law space, I understand the stresses brought on by separation and I am committed to assisting people pragmatically and with empathy.

I have a particular passion for working with people to help them understand and move through the legal aspects of their separation to set them on a path toward a new start.

More specifically, I assist people with complex parenting and financial matters during and after a separation. I frequently assist parents to implement arrangements that enable them to effectively care for their child/children after a separation. I also work with people to finalise their financial separation and this often involves me working with high-net worth matrimonial pools and complex company and trust structures.

Where appropriate, I work together with my clients’ existing psychologists, accountants, financial planners, brokers and other professionals to ensure the relevant expertise is at hand, when required to drive the best possible outcome.

Doyles Family Law Recommended 2023
  • Recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Family Lawyer, Toowoomba & Darling Downs, 2021-2023

Prior to being a family relationships lawyer I also practiced in the areas of personal injuries, insurance law and commercial litigation.

I have worked in legal practices in Brisbane, Toowoomba, London and Sydney since becoming a solicitor. Having worked in other areas of law and in different and diverse locations, I am equipped with the skills necessary to deal with a wide breadth of legal matters and work comfortably with people from many different backgrounds and lifestyles.

Outside of work, my husband and I are approved foster carers and we enjoy and find fulfillment in helping children in care where we can, whilst also caring for our young son.

Practice Areas

  • Property settlement matters (including those with complex financial structures and third parties)
  • Parenting Arrangements (including those matters involving Child Abuse Allegations and interstate and international relocation and parental alienation)
  • Spousal Maintenance
  • Child Support Matters (including private agreement, applications for change of assessment, departure order applications, applications for declarations about parentage and adult child maintenance)
  • De facto threshold questions
  • Financial Agreements (including prosecuting and defending applications in respect of the validity of such agreements)
  • Domestic Violence
  • Divorce proceedings

Qualifications & Reputation

Professional Qualifications

  • Griffith University
    • Bachelor of Laws (Honours 2nd Class)
    • Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Politics and Public Policy)
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland
  • Solicitor of the High Court of Australia

Associations

  • Member of the Queensland Law Society
  • Member of the Family Law Practitioners Association
  • Member of the Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
  • Member of the Downs & South Western Law Society

Articles

Tips for Making your Financial Agreement Stick

Entering into a Financial Agreement with your partner can be a very valuable and empowering way to make sure you…

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Is a Financial Agreement Always Binding?

If done correctly, parties to a financial agreement should reasonably expect to be able to rely upon their agreement in…

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Do you Need a Binding Financial Agreement?

A Binding Financial Agreement is a private agreement that can be entered into by people before a de facto relationship…

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New Year… New Start?

If you have resolved that 2021 is the year to end your relationship and make a fresh start, there are…

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What Property Settlement Can You Expect When You Separate?

Quite often people are of the view that their property will be split 50/50 if they separate. The reality is…

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Podcasts

Testimonials

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“Yolanda, thank you so much for meeting me today. I was very happy with the meeting and you put my mind to rest over a number of concerns I had. You were very thorough and brought clarity to an emotionally difficult issue. I look forward to going forward with this matter with your assistance.”

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“Dear Yolanda, my sincere thanks for the time and care you showed me last evening in explaining a whole range of possibilities in such a compassionate and concise manner. I also really appreciate you taking the time to see me. Best Wishes…”

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“Dear Yolanda, you have no idea how much I appreciated your getting behind me with such a succinct and professional manner at a time when things are not so good. Thank you from both XXX and I. We will never forget…”

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“Dear Yolanda, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for all your efforts yesterday. It was not an easy day … and could quite easily have become derailed on several occasions. Your professionalism, attitude and demeanour throughout the day are to be commended and I think that is reflected in the agreement reached. In addition, the extensive notes you have delivered this morning are greatly appreciated. I just wanted to ensure my gratitude for yesterday’s efforts are conveyed. I don’t think I properly thanked you yesterday as I was drained and exhausted. It is very reassuring to know I have someone of your calibre in my corner. Many thanks.”

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“Dear Yolanda, I just want to say thank you. Your unwavering expertise, professionalism and patience provided the foundation I needed to get through this whole awful mess. I believe that because of you I have had the best possible legal advice and no one could have done any more to defend me in this case.”

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“…Obviously I could go on for pages, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you hadn’t helped us the way you did none of this would be possible and we will never forget that.”

    Contact Information

    Direct Line: 07 3164 1112