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
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Victoria Point, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hooper & Mill Family Lawyers provides legal services in Victoria Point, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Millyard Family Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Movement Legal provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robinson McGuinness Family Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Unified Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Business & Commercial Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rouse Hill, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arcadian Legal provides legal services in Rouse Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dalby, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Edgar & Wood Solicitors provides legal services in Dalby, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Parenting & Child Custody
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Allars Mottee Hannaford provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Morisset, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dawson Solicitors provides legal services in Morisset, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Franklin, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★2.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Infinity Legal provides legal services in Franklin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Aitkenvale, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★2.8(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ross Lawyers provides legal services in Aitkenvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dawson Family Law provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Friedlieb Fox McLeod provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Keating Kate Lawyer provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Burnie, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Petersen Legal provides legal services in Burnie, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wagga Family Lawyers provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Boylan Lawyers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+8 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Black Rock, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Burrell Family Law provides legal services in Black Rock, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+6 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · De Facto Relationships · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree 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.
