Family & Relationships
Child protection lawyers act for parents and family members when a child protection department is involved.
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.
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.
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.
Child Protection & Care Matters firms in the directory
68 firms
Geraldton, WA · Mid West & Gascoyne
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in Geraldton, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
South Townsville, NSW · Townsville & North Queensland
Kalo Children's Law provides legal services in South Townsville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Co provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Human Rights & Discrimination, Child Protection & Care Matters and Coronial Inquests.
Katherine South, NT · Alice Springs & Central
Aboriginal Legal Aid, Darwin provides legal services in Katherine South, NT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Child Protection & Care Matters.
East Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in East Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
South Townsville, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Anderson Fredericks Turner provides legal services in South Townsville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Human Rights & Discrimination, Partner & Family Visas and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Murray Bridge East, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
Anglican Community Care Inc provides legal services in Murray Bridge East, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
NSW · Gold Coast
Aspire Family Law provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Elder Law & Aged Care and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
CatholicCare Tasmania provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Burnie, TAS · North West & West Coast
CatholicCare Tasmania provides legal services in Burnie, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Child & Family Services Ballarat Inc. provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Wendouree, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Child & Family Services Ballarat Inc. provides legal services in Wendouree, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Howden Saggers Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Coronial Inquests and Child Protection & Care Matters.
NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
L D Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Orbost, VIC · Gippsland
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Orbost, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Lakes Entrance, VIC · Gippsland
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Lakes Entrance, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Mallacoota, VIC · Gippsland
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Mallacoota, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Randall Bell Lawyer provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Tamborine Mountain, QLD · Gold Coast
Tamborine Mountain Law provides legal services in Tamborine Mountain, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Beaudesert, QLD · Gold Coast
Tamborine Mountain Law provides legal services in Beaudesert, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Understand the next step
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.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
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.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning 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.
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.
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
The department must usually bring the matter to court quickly. You're entitled to legal representation, and Legal Aid can often help.
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.
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.
