Family Lawyer New Plymouth

Working smarter, to make life better everyday.

Family Law Specialist

Parenting Orders - Family Court - Family Lawyer New Plymouth

A parenting order sets out when a person has the role of providing day to day care for, or may have contact with the child.

Without notice application
If a child is at risk of serious harm or undue hardship, you can make an urgent application to the Family Court for a Parenting Order.

On notice application
An application can be made to the Family Court to resolve a dispute on care and contact arrangements.

Protection orders - Family Court

The Family Violence act provides protection to people in family relationships, who have experienced family harm.

If you are at risk of family harm, we can provide advice and guide you through the process to apply for a protection order, occupation and furniture orders.

Guardianship Orders

This concept is separate from care and contact.

Guardianship of a child means having all duties, powers, rights and responsibilities in relation to the upbringing of a child, including name, place of residence, education, and medical decisions.

Guardians must consult and agree on decisions.  

If there is a dispute, we an assist with an application to the Court to resolve the dispute.

Paternity Tests

DNA testing is undertaken with a bucal swab to determine paternity of children.


We can assist with this process and application to the Family Court for either a declaration of paternity or non paternity.

Relationship Property

Contracting Out Agreements
Life sometimes doesn’t go to plan, and the fairytale ending that we hoped for has a plot twist.

A contracting out agreement can be used to protect your assets from future relationship property claims if you end up separating.

Separation and Relationship Property Agreements
If your relationship does come to end, we can advise you on the implications and consequences of the division of your property, undertake negotiations and then record the agreement to divide in a separation and relationship property agreement.

If agreement isn’t possible, we can advise you on the option of applying to the Family Court, draft proceedings and then represent you at the Court hearings.

Kelly is a provider of the Family Legal Advice Service.

Family Legal Advice Service is also known as FLAS. 

It is the legal advice service delivered by the Ministry of Justice to assist with Family Dispute Resolution (FDR). 

FLAS is designed to have your lawyer explain the family justice process. 

We provide advice about the issues in dispute that will be discussed at mediation.

Contact Kelly if you would like assistance with this out of court process.

Family is the Priority

Ko Taranaki te maunga.
Ko Mohokatino te awa.
Ko Rotoiti te roto.
Taranaki ahau.
Ko Ludlam tōku whānau.
He rōia ahau.
Ko Kelly Marriner tōku ingoa.

When you engage me as your family lawyer, you will have an advocate that works hard, and is passionate on making life better everyday for our children.

As a law student in 1995, my life vision didn’t anticipate a career in provincial Taranaki, married with children.  However,  in 2000 my career kick started when I came to visit my grandfather, and I became a 4th generation Ludlam to live in Central Taranaki.

I met my husband Andrew the following year and we have made a life together in Taranaki, raising our two wonderful daughters.

As each day presents new challenges, I draw on my own life experiences and values to assist my clients.   Family is the priority.

I was privileged to accept an opportunity in governance, when Taranaki Community Trust were looking for a young female lawyer in Central Taranaki.  I spent 8 years as a Trustee, including a period as Deputy Chair and 5 years as a Director of TSB Bank Limited.

The governance skills I gained from those positions, now assist me as a Trustee of New Plymouth Girls High School Board.  I retired from Criminal law in 2020 to focus on my Family law practice.  My experiences in practice help shape the conversations I have with the Tamariki and our Educators.

Those close to me might describe me as a workaholic.  The support of my husband Andrew has enabled me to work diligently as a lawyer both out on my own in practice and previously as a partner in a provincial Taranaki firm, leading a team of family lawyers.

As a client, you will benefit from my work ethic.

The relationships and outcomes that I value, are those where there is integrity, honesty, fairness, diligence and hardwork.

Technology excites me and as a client you will be drawn into the use of IT as I assist you to resolve the issues that you face.

Relaunching KM Legal as a Family Law Specialist enables me to focus on making a difference for our children.

Kelly Marriner LL.B BA

Director | KM Legal Limited

Kelly is an exceptional hard worker and “tells it how it is”. I really appreciated her straightforward and no nonsense approach. Would most certainly highly recommend!

I feel very thankful to have Kelly on my side helping me to navigate through various legal processes. Kelly truely does provide a quality service with a knack of explaining legal processes in a clear and simple way.