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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Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Foster Johnson Family and Collaborative Lawyers provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+4 morePartner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Garrison Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Scarborough, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lawrence Sinclair Lawyers provides legal services in Scarborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Employer Advisory & Industrial RelationsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mead Family Law provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
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Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Reaston Drummond Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Family Law Co. provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
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Bega, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★2.3(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Andrew Warren Associates provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Skilled & Business Visas
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Logan Central, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bamyan Law Group provides legal services in Logan Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation · Traffic Offences · Bail Applications · Citizenship · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Emera Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Summer Hill, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hogg & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Summer Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Randwick, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macalester Lawyers provides legal services in Randwick, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody
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Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orbell Family Lawyers Central Coast provides legal services in Chatswood, 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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Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rowan Pack provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Smith Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Oran Park, NSW · Western Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Anastasia Robinson Family Law provides legal services in Oran Park, NSW. 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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Riverstone, NSW · Hills District
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Cathers Mulley Kamiya Lawyers provides legal services in Riverstone, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Probate & Estate Administration · General Practice (regional generalist)
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Nedlands, WA · Perth CBD
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Crossing Family Lawyers provides legal services in Nedlands, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement · De Facto Relationships
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Family Law Gold Coast provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Modern Family Law Solutions provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+5 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & GuardianshipFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
