Divorce lawyers help you separate properly, apply for divorce and deal with the issues that follow.
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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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Just Family Law - Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Property Settlement · De Facto RelationshipsFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(88)Google rating from 88 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Simonidis Steel provides legal services in Brisbane Cbd, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Wilsons - The Family Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Property Settlement
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Indian Law Expert provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Debt Recovery · Probate & Estate Administration · Employment Law · Divorce & Separation
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(74)Google rating from 74 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bickell & Mackenzie provides legal services in Redland Bay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Commercial Property & Leasing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: french
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(72)Google rating from 72 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Burleigh Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(67)Google rating from 67 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Fairlove & Goodman provides legal services in Berrinba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary TrustsFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(67)Google rating from 67 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
GLG Legal Springfield provides legal services in Springfield, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Divorce & Separation · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Building & Construction2 languages
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bruce Dulley Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Alex Mandry Family Lawyers Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gale Family Law provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Impero Conveyancing provides legal services in Cardiff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Divorce & Separation
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
KLM Solicitors Brisbane City provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
KLM Solicitors Brisbane City provides legal services in Aspley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Andrew Douglas Solicitors provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial LawFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pippa Colman Family Law provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Doug Parker & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Heidelberg, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(56)Google rating from 56 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Shamac Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clayhills Solicitors provides legal services in Cabramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Immigration & Visas · Maritime & Admiralty LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Thomas David provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Building & Construction+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bannerman Solicitors Pty Ltd provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+2 moreWills & Estates · Divorce & Separation
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.
