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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Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jess Bourke Legal provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
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Double Bay, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Karras Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Double Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+5 morePartner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody
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Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
North Queensland Women's Legal Service provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters
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Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SR Family Law (formerly Spencer Ryan Family Law) provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consult
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Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sutton Family Law provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Petrie, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Petrie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Justice Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Binding Financial Agreements
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Batemans Bay, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mannion Lawyers provides legal services in Batemans Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+5 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mannion Lawyers provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+5 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Moreheads Lawyers provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
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Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phelan Family Law provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
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Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roseville Legal Services provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Probate & Estate Administration · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consult
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Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stone Group Lawyers Gold Coast provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Watts McCray Lawyers Hornsby provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wollongong Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Elder Law & Aged Care · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Morayfield, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Future Family Law provides legal services in Morayfield, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marano Family Lawyers Hurstville provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
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Newcastle West, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orbell Family Lawyers Central Coast provides legal services in Newcastle West, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Seaford, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
YOUR FAMILY LAW CO provides legal services in Seaford, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+3 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Coburg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bridge & Bloom Legal provides legal services in Coburg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Debt Recovery · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cadelmath Legal provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Building & Construction.
Family Law+3 moreParenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Property & Conveyancing
Understand the next step
A practical guide to parenting & child custody
What to discuss at the first meeting
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.
