Family & Relationships
Divorce lawyers help you separate properly, apply for divorce and deal with the issues that follow.
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.
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.
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.
Divorce & Separation firms in the directory
738 firms
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hestia Law provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
JB Solicitors provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Employment Law and Divorce & Separation.
Bega, NSW · South Coast
Jennifer Chalker Lawyer provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Brookwater, QLD · Ipswich
Justin Legal provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Kelly & McHale Family Lawyers provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Kozarov Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
KPW Lawyers provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Albany Creek, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Lockett McCullough Lawyers Noosa provides legal services in Albany Creek, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Newtown, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Millar Trost Legal provides legal services in Newtown, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Neilson Law provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Neilson Law provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Northcote, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Northcote Conveyancing provides legal services in Northcote, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Pigdon Norgate Family Lawyers Albury provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and De Facto Relationships.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
SCB Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Nuriootpa, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Shorter Legal provides legal services in Nuriootpa, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
Smoke Family Law provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Helensvale, QLD · Gold Coast
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Helensvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Taegan Irving Lawyer provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
VM Family Law provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Mount Barker, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Von Doussas Lawyers, Charles Gillam provides legal services in Mount Barker, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Hornsby, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Watts McCray Lawyers Hornsby provides legal services in Hornsby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Understand the next step
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
