Parenting lawyers help separated parents agree on, or seek court orders for, where children live and how they spend time with each parent.
firms
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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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Mount Barker, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Von Doussas Lawyers, Charles Gillam provides legal services in Mount Barker, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hornsby, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Watts McCray Lawyers Hornsby provides legal services in Hornsby, 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 · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(290)Google rating from 290 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cusack Galvin & James provides legal services in Strathpine, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto RelationshipsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(187)Google rating from 187 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kate Austin Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Property Settlement · Partner & Family Visas · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(146)Google rating from 146 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Loukas Law provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(138)Google rating from 138 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Thompson Southern Law Practice provides legal services in Bli Bli, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Anuja Baker Legal Services provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(131)Google rating from 131 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Aspley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(125)Google rating from 125 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Farquhar Ian R & Co provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Employment Law · Personal Injury · Immigration & Visas · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOsNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(124)Google rating from 124 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(120)Google rating from 120 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wallace Davies Solicitors provides legal services in Redcliffe, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law · Traffic Offences · Business & Commercial Law · Drink & Drug Driving
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(114)Google rating from 114 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
John Stonham & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Fraud & White Collar Crime
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(114)Google rating from 114 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
John Stonham & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Fraud & White Collar Crime
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ABA Family Lawyers provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hartley Family Law Services provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(102)Google rating from 102 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
M.A. Kent & Associates provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCriminal Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Just Family Law - Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Property Settlement · De Facto RelationshipsFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(88)Google rating from 88 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Simonidis Steel provides legal services in Brisbane Cbd, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Wilsons - The Family Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Property Settlement
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(76)Google rating from 76 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Voumard Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Personal Injury · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Parenting & Child CustodyNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.2 languages
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(72)Google rating from 72 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Burleigh Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
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.
