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
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
Family Law Gold Coast provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Family Property Settlement and Property & Conveyancing.
West Wyalong, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Farrell Goode provides legal services in West Wyalong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Cootamundra, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Farrell Goode provides legal services in Cootamundra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Franklin Legal Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Freeman Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brookwater, QLD · Ipswich
GLG Legal Springfield provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Gloria Family Law provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hayes & Associates provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Hearty & Tam Family Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Hercules Constan provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Holden Barlow provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Farrar, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Holtham & Associates provides conveyancing services in Farrar, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) and Business & Commercial Law.
Kew, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Hugh Bowers Barrister & Solicitor provides legal services in Kew, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Infinity Legal provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Brookvale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Jacqueline Townsend Solicitor provides legal services in Brookvale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Camberwell, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
JH Legal provides legal services in Camberwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Endeavour Hills, VIC · South East Melbourne
Just Family Law - Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Endeavour Hills, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Justice Family Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Bowen, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Kahler Lawyers provides legal services in Bowen, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Kate Austin Family Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Wantirna South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Knox Family Law Specialist provides legal services in Wantirna South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Lampe Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Craigieburn, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Lampe Family Lawyers provides legal services in Craigieburn, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
Lampe Family Lawyers provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates 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.
