Parenting lawyers help separated parents agree on, or seek court orders for, where children live and how they spend time with each parent.
firms
561
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(45)Google rating from 45 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Meillon & Bright Family Lawyers Fremantle provides legal services in North Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Eliza, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(45)Google rating from 45 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Village Family Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Eliza, VIC. 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 · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial LawFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(43)Google rating from 43 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wallace & Wallace Lawyers provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Family Property Settlement · Public LiabilityNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
JSLegal Law Practice provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Traffic Offences and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Parenting & Child Custody · Drug Offences · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Drink & Drug Driving
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Resolve Divorce provides legal services in North Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Partner & Family Visas.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · Surrogacy & Adoption · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Noble Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Montgomery Legal Practice Family Lawyer Liverpool provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Frigo James Legal provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mitchell Family Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Baldwins Lawyers provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marr Family Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+2 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tang Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Drug Offences.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Drug Offences · Professional Negligence · Divorce & Separation · Assault & Violent Offences · Skilled & Business Visas · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Heidelberg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rush Family Law provides legal services in Heidelberg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Foster Johnson Family and Collaborative Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. 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
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family Law Matters provides legal services in Cronulla, 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
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hikma Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, De Facto Relationships and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Intervention Order Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Parenting & Child Custody and Family Law.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+4 moreParenting & Child Custody · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(35)Google rating from 35 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kalpaxis Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Barram Family Law provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Military & Veterans Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree 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.
