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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West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Baily Family Law provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas
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Mandurah, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Surrogacy & Adoption
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Sunshine North, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Sunshine North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Traffic Offences · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(55)Google rating from 55 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
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Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(55)Google rating from 55 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rep-Revive Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Employment Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
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East Perth, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Surrogacy & Adoption · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Kalgoorlie, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Kalgoorlie, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Surrogacy & Adoption · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Southbank, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tolhurst Druce & Emmerson provides legal services in Southbank, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
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Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Family Law Group provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. 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 · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Mediation & Dispute Resolution2 languages
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Mclaren Vale, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Southern Vales Legal provides legal services in Mclaren Vale, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property SettlementFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.1(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Broadmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Lakey Family Law and Mediation provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
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Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orbell Family Lawyers Central Coast provides legal services in Erina, 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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Mclaren Vale, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Fisher Lawyers provides legal services in Mclaren Vale, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Smith Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
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Hawthorn, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(47)Google rating from 47 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clancy & Triado provides legal services in Hawthorn, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · International Family Law & Hague Abduction
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Beverly Hills, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(47)Google rating from 47 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
First Choice Family Lawyers provides legal services in Beverly Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Property & Conveyancing · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(46)Google rating from 46 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & GuardianshipFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Mount Eliza, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(46)Google rating from 46 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Eliza Legal provides legal services in Mount Eliza, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+5 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Parenting & Child CustodyFree 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.
