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
Armadale, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Burke & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Armadale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Terrigal, NSW · Central Coast
Catalyst Family Lawyers provides legal services in Terrigal, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Certus Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Punchbowl, NSW · Southern Sydney
Chidiac Legal provides legal services in Punchbowl, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Maylands, SA · Adelaide Metro
Clementina Maione Solicitor provides legal services in Maylands, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Carina, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Connor Hunter Law Firm provides legal services in Carina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Como, WA · Perth South
Consent Order Lawyers provides legal services in Como, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
CRH Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Culshaw Miller Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Wagaman, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Wagaman, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Wagaman, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Wagaman, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Milton, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Divorce Hub Brisbane provides legal services in Milton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Canberra City, ACT · Canberra
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Canberra City, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
E-LAW Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Bywong, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Bywong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Gatton, QLD · Ipswich
Emmerson Legal & Accounting provides legal services in Gatton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
NSW · Townsville & North Queensland
Everything Legal provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Camden, NSW · Western Sydney
Family Focus Legal provides legal services in Camden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
East Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Family Law Assist provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Binding Financial Agreements.
Varsity Lakes, QLD · Gold Coast
Family Law Gold Coast provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Family Property Settlement and Property & Conveyancing.
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.
