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
Ardlethan, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Farrell Goode provides legal services in Ardlethan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Narrandera, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Farrell Goode provides legal services in Narrandera, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Ashgrove, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Martens Legal provides legal services in Ashgrove, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
South Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
The Family Law Professionals Toowoomba provides legal services in South Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Mclaren Vale, SA · Adelaide Metro
Thomson & Associates provides legal services in Mclaren Vale, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
White Berman Ryder - Barristers and Solicitors - Modbury Office provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Planning & Environment.
Modbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
White Berman Ryder - Barristers and Solicitors - Modbury Office provides legal services in Modbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Planning & Environment.
Perth Cbd, WA · Perth CBD
Anthony R Clarke & Associates provides legal services in Perth Cbd, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Kim's Conveyancing Works provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Norwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Vermont South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Vermont South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Atherton, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Atherton Family Lawyers provides legal services in Atherton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
JH Mobile Lawyer provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
Bayside Lawyers provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Bega, NSW · South Coast
David Griffiths Lawyers provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Lawyers Plus provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Malvern, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Lopes Family Law provides legal services in Malvern, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Paige Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
S P Lawyers Ballina provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
Schroder Cam Lawyers provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Subiaco, WA · Perth CBD
Brightside Family Law provides legal services in Subiaco, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Eden, NSW · South Coast
David Griffiths Lawyers provides legal services in Eden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Heidelberg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Thompson Norrie Solicitors provides legal services in Heidelberg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Wise Family Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
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.
