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
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Brendan H Hardiman & Associates provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Buderim, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Buderim, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Chapman & Smyth Family Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Frenchs Forest, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Frenchs Forest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Michael Rawack & Co provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Torquay, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Randall Bell Lawyer provides legal services in Torquay, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
Reader Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Wallace Perkins Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
ADL SOLICITORS provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Advocat provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Bardon, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Alternative Dispute Resolution Services Pty Ltd provides legal services in Bardon, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Andrew Douglas Solicitors provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Applecross, WA · Perth South
Anthony R Clarke & Associates provides legal services in Applecross, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Astute Conveyancing provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Narellan, NSW · Western Sydney
Australian Family Lawyers provides legal services in Narellan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Barry Nilsson provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Wills & Estates.
Toowoomba City, NSW · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law provides legal services in Toowoomba City, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Belconnen, ACT · Canberra
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Belconnen, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Bruce Jay Solicitor 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.
