Parenting lawyers help separated parents agree on, or seek court orders for, where children live and how they spend time with each parent.
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Australian courts decide parenting arrangements based on the child's best interests, with safety the first consideration. Parents can record an agreement in a parenting plan, which is flexible but not enforceable, or in consent orders, which are. A lawyer helps you understand what arrangements are realistic and how to present your case if agreement isn't possible.
Why parenting & child custody matters
Parenting arrangements shape children's daily lives for years. A clear, workable agreement reduces conflict and gives children stability.
The Australian context
Under the Family Law Act, the child's best interests are paramount and safety is the first consideration. 2024 reforms removed the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility, so each case turns on its own facts. Agreements can be recorded in a parenting plan or made binding as consent orders.
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(457)Google rating from 457 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Genuine Legal Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates · International Family Law & Hague AbductionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(400)Google rating from 400 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bayside Solicitors Mornington provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(400)Google rating from 400 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bayside Solicitors Mornington provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Probate & Estate Administration
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(351)Google rating from 351 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Aston Legal Group provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(326)Google rating from 326 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robinson Gill Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & ConstructionNo win, no fee
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(324)Google rating from 324 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Blackwood Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas
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Augustine Heights, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(324)Google rating from 324 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
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Brookwater Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Augustine Heights, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(230)Google rating from 230 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(194)Google rating from 194 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
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Hickman Family Lawyers Perth provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law
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Glenroy, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(178)Google rating from 178 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
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BARDO LAWYERS provides legal services in Glenroy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Immigration & Visas and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreImmigration & Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Family Law · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(165)Google rating from 165 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Benefit Legal Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Public Liability, Medical Negligence and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Public Liability+7 moreMedical Negligence · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Personal Injury · Family Law · Workers Compensation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(154)Google rating from 154 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nolan Family Lawyers & Mediation provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Glenroy, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(152)Google rating from 152 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Glenroy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements7 languages
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Bella Vista, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(147)Google rating from 147 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Catron Simmons Lawyers provides legal services in Bella Vista, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Drink & Drug Driving · Probate & Estate Administration
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(143)Google rating from 143 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
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Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(142)Google rating from 142 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Jurgensen Horne Lawyers provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Family Law+4 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(141)Google rating from 141 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Berry Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Property Settlement
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Describe the children’s current arrangements and the practical problem you want resolved. School, health, travel, communication and safety issues may need different discussions from a disagreement about time spent with each parent.
Ask how a proposed plan differs from a court order and what process would be required to record or change arrangements.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of work
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Questions to ask a parenting & child custody adviser
What arrangements need immediate attention?
What resolution process is suitable given any safety concerns?
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is there a presumption of 50/50 time?
No. The law focuses on the child's best interests. Equal time can be ordered where it suits the child, but there is no automatic starting point of equal time.
Can I move away with the children?
Relocating in a way that affects the other parent's time usually needs their agreement or a court order. Get advice before moving.
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
