O'Malleys Lawyers Christchurch is a family and property law firm based on Fitzgerald Avenue in the Christchurch CBD. The practice specialises in family law matters, including care of children proceedings, family violence applications, and disputes involving Oranga Tamariki, alongside property, wills and estate work.
Clients typically work exclusively with one lawyer from the beginning to the end of their matter, usually meeting in that staff member's personal office, with a videoconferencing-equipped meeting space available for larger gatherings or multi-location meetings. The firm makes best endeavours to meet with clients facing urgent issues within a day or two of initial contact, and is a registered Legal Aid provider.
As a qualifying Reporting Entity under New Zealand's Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, O'Malleys is required to verify client identity and the source of funds for certain 'captured activities' when handling money on a client's behalf. Fees may be charged on an hourly rate or fixed fee basis, depending on the experience level of the lawyer and the complexity of the matter, with Legal Aid available by agreement where appropriate.
O'Malleys Lawyers operates from Fitzgerald Avenue in the Christchurch CBD, specialising in family and property law. The firm's areas of expertise span some of the most sensitive and complex parts of family life, from care of children proceedings and family violence matters through to relationship property disputes, wills and residential property transactions.
At the core of O'Malleys' work is family law: care of children proceedings covering parenting orders, day-to-day and shared care, contact arrangements, enforcement for breach, and disputes between guardians over issues like relocation, education and medical treatment. The firm also handles family violence matters, including making or defending applications for Protection, Occupation or Property Orders, and represents clients in matters involving Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Children and the Ministry of Social Development.
Other family law areas covered include Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act (PPPRA) matters such as welfare guardianship and powers of attorney, paternity issues under the Family Proceedings Act and Status of Children Act, and claims made or defended under the Family Protection Act and Testamentary Promises Act. Relationship property issues — agreements, settlements and litigation — round out the firm's family law offering, alongside other Family Court matters handled on a discretionary basis.
Beyond family law, O'Malleys assists with the sale and purchase of residential property, and provides help with wills, estates and family trust establishment for existing clients, provided an independent professional trustee is appointed.
Except in rare or unavoidable circumstances, clients at O'Malleys work exclusively with one lawyer from the start of their matter through to its conclusion. Meetings usually take place in that lawyer's personal office, though a meeting space equipped with videoconferencing is available for larger gatherings or where participants are in different locations. For clients facing urgent issues, the firm makes its best endeavours to arrange a meeting within a day or two of initial contact, though workloads and other factors may sometimes mean new instructions can't be accepted.
O'Malleys is a Legal Aid provider, and applications for Legal Aid may be made where appropriate and by agreement. Fees are charged on either an hourly rate or a fixed fee basis, depending on the lawyer's experience and the complexity of the matter, and alternative billing arrangements — such as invoicing at a milestone or upon settlement — can be agreed in writing with the relevant staff member.
As a qualifying Reporting Entity under New Zealand's Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, O'Malleys is required to verify client identity and the legitimacy of funds for certain 'captured activities' when handling money on a client's behalf, such as requesting proof of identity and address. This is a standard requirement across law firms that handle client funds and does not affect the confidential nature of communications between staff and clients.
The office is located on Level 1 (upstairs) at 68 Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch, with off-street parking available for clients.