Amica Property Settlement: What It Covers and Where It Falls Short

Amica is a government-backed online tool developed by the Legal Services Commission of South Australia that helps separating couples reach property and parenting agreements without going to court. It's one of the cheapest options available — but "cheap" and "sufficient" aren't the same thing, and the limitations matter more than most people realise before they start.

What Amica Actually Does

Amica walks you through a guided questionnaire about your assets, debts, income, and family situation. It uses an algorithm to suggest a property division based on the factors the Family Court would consider — contributions, future needs, and the overall fairness test.

Pricing (2026):

• $270 for a basic property or parenting agreement
• $900 for Consent Order documents (required to make it legally binding)

Both parties need to create accounts, and both need to agree to use the platform. It's designed for amicable separations — if one party refuses to participate or there's a significant power imbalance, amica won't work.

The Limitations That Catch People Out

No superannuation splitting at the basic tier. The $270 agreement cannot include super splitting orders. Since superannuation is often the second-largest asset after the family home, excluding it from a $270 agreement means the division is incomplete. To include super, you need the $900 Consent Orders package.

Can't handle complex assets. Discretionary trusts, company structures, SMSFs, and business interests are beyond amica's scope. If either party holds assets through these structures, the platform won't produce accurate results.

Doesn't file for you. Even the $900 package produces documents you still need to file yourself through the Commonwealth Courts Portal. The filing fee ($215 for Consent Orders) is separate.

No Queensland-specific guidance. Amica produces the federal court documents but doesn't help with the state-level execution — transferring property titles through Titles Queensland, claiming the stamp duty exemption via the QRO portal, or lodging the correct state forms (Form 1, Form 24, Form D2.2).

No personalised legal advice. Amica explicitly states it doesn't provide legal advice. The algorithm produces a suggested split, but it can't account for unusual circumstances, evaluate whether a post-separation contribution should shift the percentage, or advise you on whether the suggestion is actually fair in your situation.

Amica vs a Family Lawyer

A lawyer provides personalised advice, drafts enforceable orders, handles filing, and can navigate complex assets. But the cost difference is dramatic:

• Amica ($900 for Consent Order documents) vs fixed-fee Consent Orders through a lawyer ($2,000–$5,500 per party)
• Amica with follow-up legal review ($900 + $500–$1,500 one-off review) vs full legal representation ($5,000–$15,000+ retainer)

For a straightforward separation with minimal assets and no super splitting, amica can be a reasonable starting point. For anything more complex — especially if you own property in Queensland and need to claim the stamp duty exemption — you'll likely need additional guidance beyond what amica provides.

When Amica Works and When It Doesn't

Good fit: Amicable split, small asset pool, no super splitting needed, no property title transfers, both parties comfortable with technology.

Poor fit: Any super splitting required, property in Queensland needing title transfer, business or trust assets, significant income disparity, one party reluctant to participate.

If you need a structured process that covers the full Queensland property settlement pathway — including super splitting procedures, title transfers, and the stamp duty exemption — the Queensland Divorce Financial Split Guide walks through every step from asset inventory to sealed Consent Orders, with worksheets and clause templates designed specifically for Queensland.

See more Queensland guides →