Divorce lawyers help you separate properly, apply for divorce and deal with the issues that follow.
firms
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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
Charlestown, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(147)Google rating from 147 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kilpatrick Hatton Solicitors provides legal services in Charlestown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(143)Google rating from 143 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
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Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(142)Google rating from 142 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
FJS Lawyers Adelaide provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(141)Google rating from 141 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Berry Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Property Settlement
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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.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Unite Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Criminal Law
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Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(129)Google rating from 129 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
King & York Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Child Protection & Care Matters · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(128)Google rating from 128 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sage Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(120)Google rating from 120 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Belperio Connell Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(119)Google rating from 119 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Clark Panagakos Family Law provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(119)Google rating from 119 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
NSW Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+6 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law
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Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Parker Coles Curtis provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Sunnybank, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Denovo Lawyers provides legal services in Sunnybank, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing
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Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(109)Google rating from 109 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rebus Legal provides legal services in Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Probate & Estate Administration, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Probate & Estate Administration+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Traffic Offences · Building & ConstructionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Resolve Conflict provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(102)Google rating from 102 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stone Group Lawyers Gold Coast provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Franchising · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Employment LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
