De facto lawyers advise unmarried couples on property, parenting and financial agreements.
firms
97
regions
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De facto couples have similar rights to married couples under the Family Law Act, subject to meeting the definition of a de facto relationship. In most states that means two years together, a child together, or significant contributions. Property claims must generally be made within two years of separation.
Why de facto relationships matters
De facto couples can have the same property and parenting rights as married couples, but only if the relationship meets the legal definition. Many don't realise their rights, or their exposure, until they separate.
The Australian context
The Family Law Act covers de facto couples in all states except Western Australia, where state law applies to property. Couples generally need two years together, a child, a registered relationship or substantial contributions to qualify.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(164)Google rating from 164 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
MJ Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Skilled & Business Visas · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Binding Financial Agreements
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(154)Google rating from 154 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nolan Family Lawyers & Mediation provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Glenroy, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(152)Google rating from 152 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Glenroy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements7 languages
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rayner Song Family Lawyers provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Opal Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction
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Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(65)Google rating from 65 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahony's Lawyers provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Medical Negligence · Personal Injury · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Divorce & SeparationFree first consult
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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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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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Boronia, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Boronia, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
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Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
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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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Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robertson Hayles Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Employment Law · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law
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Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orman Solicitors provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Property & Conveyancing
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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.
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phillips Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Family Property Settlement
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Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O'Sullivan Davies Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family Visas
Understand the next step
A practical guide to de facto relationships
What to discuss at the first meeting
Explain the relationship history, living arrangements and financial connections. The lawyer can assess which issues require advice without assuming the same pathway applies to every unmarried couple.
Ask about the relevant jurisdiction and requirements before relying on assumptions based only on the length of the relationship.
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 de facto relationships adviser
Which facts determine the available process?
What evidence should I gather about our arrangements?
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
Are de facto couples treated like married couples?
Largely, yes, for property and parenting under federal law, if you meet the de facto definition. Different rules apply for some matters under state law.
What is the time limit for de facto property claims?
Generally two years from the date of separation.
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.
