Divorce lawyers help you separate properly, apply for divorce and deal with the issues that follow.
firms
738
regions
16
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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.
Why divorce & separation matters
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.
The Australian context
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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(77)Google rating from 77 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hebblewhite Family Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(76)Google rating from 76 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Emera Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in West Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Newport, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Newport, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ian W Bartels & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Contract Law · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Traffic Offences
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Mittagong, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(70)Google rating from 70 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Our Lawyers provides legal services in Mittagong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Michael Lynch Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brite Legal Family Law, Wills and Estate Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
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Mandurah, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coastal Family Law provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law
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Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(68)Google rating from 68 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Opal Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction
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Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(67)Google rating from 67 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Your Lawyers Turner Riddell Hervey Bay - Family law & Wills and estates provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Embleton, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Allsett Property Settlements provides legal services in Embleton, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation · Administrative & Government Law
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(66)Google rating from 66 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hey Family Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(65)Google rating from 65 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahony's Lawyers provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Medical Negligence · Personal Injury · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Divorce & SeparationFree first consult
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Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(64)Google rating from 64 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Yorkins Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Bainbridge Legal provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Busselton, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Conveyancing South West provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+8 moreAgribusiness & Rural Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Family Property Settlement · Divorce & Separation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · General Practice (regional generalist)
Understand the next step
A practical guide to divorce & separation
What to discuss at the first meeting
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.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
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.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of 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.
Dates to raise at first contact
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.
Questions to ask a divorce & separation adviser
Does this quote cover only the divorce application?
What related issues should be addressed separately?
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
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
Frequently asked questions
Can we be separated under one roof?
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.
How long does a divorce take?
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.
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
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.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
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.
