Kristy Haranas

Kristy Haranas is a Partner at Forte Family Lawyers. She obtained Specialist Accreditation as a Family Lawyer from the Law Institute of Victoria in 2019. Accredited Specialists demonstrate superior knowledge, experience and proficiency in their specialist area of law.

Kristy holds a Bachelor of Laws and Masters of Applied Law (Family Law)

Since her admission to practice in 2011, Kristy has practiced predominantly in the area of family law. Prior to her time as a Family Lawyer, Kristy was employed in an investigative role at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Her time at the ASIC has given Kristy an in depth understanding of complex financial structures, strategy, and litigation process which she brings to her practice of Family Law. Kristy has significant experience in in all aspects of family law including the most complex of property and parenting matters, Financial Agreements, Child Support and Spousal Maintenance.

Kristy brings a pragmatic, outcome-focused approach to the resolution of her clients’ family law matters. Her excellent communication skills mean that her clients can always expect clear advice through the often-complicated family law process.

She is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, Women’s Legal Service and the Law institute of Victoria.

• Parenting matters including high risk factors/serious allegations of family violence or abuse, international/interstate relocation, child abduction/recovery applications and children with additional needs
• Property matters involving complex financial structures, business valuations, third party involvement (loans/gifts/inheritances from family), international assets
  International family law including forum disputes
• Collaboration with other professionals (tax lawyers, accountants, wealth managers and financial advisors) for settlement structuring including corporate/trust entities
• Financial agreements including pre, during and post relationship/marriage agreements, working with other professionals to ensure cohesion between financial agreement and estate planning
• Child support and spousal maintenance

• Bachelor of Laws, James Cook University 2011
• Master of Applied Law (Family Law), College of Law 2018

• 2019 – Accredited Family Law Specialist, Law Institute of Victoria.

• 2020 Doyles Guide Rising Star – Victoria
• 2026 Doyles Guide – Recommended – Parenting and Children’s Matters Lawyers

• Member, Specialist Accreditation Committee, Law Institute of VIctoria
• Member, Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
• Member, Women’s Legal Service
• Member, Law Institute of Victoria
• Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Successful in hearing before Justice Hogan in Division 1 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in having a Financial Agreement declared binding. – Telfer & Telfer [2022] FedCFamC1F 547

• February 2026 – Presenter at Leo Cussens Family Law Intensive workshop, Family Law in a post Shinohara Era “The (Notional) Penny has dropped)
• March 2026 – Presenter at Leo Cussens, Family Law Practice (2 day) workshop