Child protection lawyers act for parents and family members when a child protection department is involved.
firms
68
regions
16
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When a state child protection agency investigates or seeks orders, the stakes are very high and the timeframes are short. Lawyers help parents understand the process, respond to caseworkers and represent them in the Children's Court. Legal Aid often funds these matters.
Why child protection & care matters matters
Care proceedings can decide whether children stay with their parents. Parents who engage early and get representation have a much better chance of keeping or regaining care.
The Australian context
Child protection is run by state and territory departments, such as DCJ in NSW and Child Safety in Queensland, with cases heard in state children's courts. Legal Aid commissions fund most parent representation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Scarness, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Justice Law & Mediation, Hervey Bay provides legal services in Scarness, QLD. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Mediation & Dispute Resolution+3 moreFamily Law · Child Protection & Care Matters · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kununurra, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kimberley Community Legal Services Inc. provides legal services in Kununurra, WA. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+5 moreChild Protection & Care Matters · Family Law · Banking & Finance · Partner & Family Visas · Commercial LitigationFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★2.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cate & Co Lawyers and Associates provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Child Protection & Care Matters · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Hancock Family Law provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Family Law+4 moreCriminal Law · Child Protection & Care Matters · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Mark Stocks Lawyers provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Family Property Settlement · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Child Protection & Care Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mildura, VIC · Mallee
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Co provides legal services in Mildura, VIC. Listed practice areas include Human Rights & Discrimination, Child Protection & Care Matters and Coronial Inquests.
Human Rights & Discrimination+4 moreChild Protection & Care Matters · Coronial Inquests · Criminal Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Victorian Land Transfers (Bendigo & Castlemaine) provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Carter and Co Family Law provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Child Protection & Care Matters · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Rights In Action Inc provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, NDIS & Disability Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+5 moreNDIS & Disability Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Building & Construction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Djugun, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in Djugun, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Partner & Family Visas+5 moreChild Protection & Care Matters · Family Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Youth Justice & Children's Court.
Partner & Family Visas+6 moreChild Protection & Care Matters · Youth Justice & Children's Court · Family Law · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Victor Harbor, SA · Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island
Tri provides conveyancing services in Victor Harbor, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Partner & Family Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(106)Google rating from 106 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Savannah Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Immigration & Visas.
Family Law+6 moreCriminal Law · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care Matters · Building & Construction
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McVeity Dean Lawyers provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Family Law+2 moreWills & Estates · Child Protection & Care Matters
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Thomson Family Lawyers provides legal services in Stirling, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Child Protection & Care Matters · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
WS Lawyers provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Child Protection & Care Matters+3 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Michel + White Lawyers provides legal services in Gunnedah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Child Protection & Care Matters · Criminal Law · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Employment Law · Personal Injury · Child Protection & Care MattersNo win, no fee
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Aboriginal Legal Aid, Darwin provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Child Protection & Care Matters.
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Randall Bell Lawyer provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Child Protection & Care Matters+2 moreCriminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★3.2(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Sale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Employment Law · Personal Injury · Child Protection & Care MattersNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consult
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Savannah Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Immigration & Visas.
Family Law+6 moreCriminal Law · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care Matters · Building & Construction
Understand the next step
A practical guide to child protection & care matters
What to discuss at the first meeting
Give the lawyer the agency’s name, current involvement and any hearing date. Identify whether you are a parent, carer, relative or young person, because the advice and representation required may differ.
Ask about the exact state process and available assistance. General parenting advice may not cover child-protection proceedings.
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 child protection & care matters adviser
Can you act before the next hearing or meeting?
What information should I provide and through which channel?
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
What happens if a child is removed?
The department must usually bring the matter to court quickly. You're entitled to legal representation, and Legal Aid can often help.
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.
