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
Batemans Bay, NSW · South Coast
WMD Law provides legal services in Batemans Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
WMD Law provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
WMD Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Smythe & Mallam provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Forest Lake, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Dam Lawyers provides legal services in Forest Lake, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Commodore Conveyancing provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
West Perth Property Settlements provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Property Settlement and Family Law.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
SS Business Investments provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Kate Austin Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Strongmark Legal provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Loukas Law provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Anuja Baker Legal Services provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Picton, NSW · Western Sydney
Caldwell Martin Cox provides legal services in Picton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Aspley, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Aspley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Richmond, NSW · Western Sydney
Cathy Stevenson & Associates provides legal services in Richmond, NSW. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Farquhar Ian R & Co provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
North Lakes, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
ABA Family Lawyers provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Connor Hunter Law Firm provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Hartley Family Law Services provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Mercurio & Co. Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Whyalla, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Swan Family Lawyers provides legal services in Whyalla, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Petherick Cottrell provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family 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.
