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
Cox Legal provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
DCH Legal Group provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Surrogacy & Adoption.
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hamilton Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Newstead, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Sambanis Family Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Newstead, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Nedlands, WA · Perth CBD
Davies & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Nedlands, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Mullumbimby, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Mullumbimby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Varsity Lakes, QLD · Gold Coast
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Cooroy, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Cooroy Legal Centre provides legal services in Cooroy, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Yarrawonga, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Yarrawonga, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
Gale Family Law provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Epping, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Waters & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Epping, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Debt Recovery and Family Law.
Balaclava, VIC · South East Melbourne
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Balaclava, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Lindfield, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Blackman Amanda provides legal services in Lindfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Kozarov Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Dural, NSW · Hills District
Peter Dawson & Associates provides legal services in Dural, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Smart Choice Law provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Kim's Conveyancing Works provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Geelong West, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Randall Bell Lawyer provides legal services in Geelong West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Dandenong North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Smythe & Mallam provides legal services in Dandenong North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Loganholme, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Advance Family Law provides legal services in Loganholme, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Catalyst Family Lawyers provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
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.
