Divorce lawyers help you separate properly, apply for divorce and deal with the issues that follow.
firms
738
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Divorce formally ends a marriage. Parenting arrangements, property and financial support are separate issues, so ask which applications or agreements your circumstances require. Check eligibility, documents and dates before applying.
Why divorce & separation matters
Ending the marriage does not itself divide property or settle parenting arrangements. Property applications generally need to be made within 12 months after a divorce becomes final; obtain advice about the deadline and any exception that may apply.
The Australian context
Divorce is based on the breakdown of the marriage, rather than fault. The FCFCOA removed the counselling-certificate requirement for applicants married less than two years from 10 June 2025. Check the current application process with the relevant court; Western Australia has its own Family Court.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Spring Hill, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(1,943)Google rating from 1,943 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Empire Legal provides legal services in Spring Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Building & Construction · NDIS & Disability Law
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(457)Google rating from 457 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Genuine Legal Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(351)Google rating from 351 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Aston Legal Group provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(324)Google rating from 324 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Blackwood Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas
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Thebarton, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(246)Google rating from 246 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Williams Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Thebarton, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreCriminal Law · Family Law · Traffic Offences · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Divorce & Separation · Administrative & Government Law
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(230)Google rating from 230 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Southport, 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 Resolution
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(226)Google rating from 226 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Saundh, Singh & Smith Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Corporate Law & M&A.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Insolvency & Restructuring · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Administrative & Government Law
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(222)Google rating from 222 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
James & Jaramillo Lawyers Wollongong provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Divorce & Separation · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Traffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Newcastle West, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(221)Google rating from 221 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Next Legal and Conveyancing Pty Ltd provides legal services in Newcastle West, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(194)Google rating from 194 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hickman Family Lawyers Perth provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law
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Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(170)Google rating from 170 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sharma Solicitors and Conveyancers Cranbourne provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Paradise Point, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(161)Google rating from 161 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Empire Legal provides legal services in Paradise Point, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Strata & Body Corporate · Divorce & Separation · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
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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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(150)Google rating from 150 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pentana Stanton Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Litigation · Family Property Settlement · Wills & Estates · Divorce & SeparationNo win, no fee
Understand the next step
A practical guide to divorce & separation
What to discuss at the first meeting
Ending a marriage and resolving parenting or financial arrangements are different tasks. Ask the lawyer to explain which applications or agreements you actually need and the sequence in which to address them.
Make sure a fixed divorce fee is not being mistaken for advice about dividing assets or arrangements for children.
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 divorce & separation adviser
Does this quote cover only the divorce application?
What related issues should be addressed separately?
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
Can we be separated under one roof?
Yes. You can be separated while still living in the same home, but you'll need extra evidence, usually affidavits, to show the relationship had ended.
How long does a divorce take?
Once filed, a divorce order usually becomes final one month and one day after it's granted. The overall time depends on court scheduling and whether there are children under 18.
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.
