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
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Parkside Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Divorce & Separation
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Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ReesLaw Pty Ltd provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CHOMLEY FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
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Milsons Point, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Dorter Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Milsons Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
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Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Conditsis Lawyers Newcastle provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Criminal Law+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Drug Offences · Divorce & Separation · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Magpie Family Law provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mullins Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
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Mandurah, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Surrogacy & Adoption
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Balgowlah Heights, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(57)Google rating from 57 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Shipton & Associates provides legal services in Balgowlah Heights, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(55)Google rating from 55 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(55)Google rating from 55 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Le Brun & Associates Law Firm provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Kalgoorlie, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Kalgoorlie, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Surrogacy & Adoption · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Perth, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Surrogacy & Adoption · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ormeau, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ormeau Legal Solicitors provides legal services in Ormeau, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Family Law Group provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Mediation & Dispute Resolution2 languages
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Richmond, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(52)Google rating from 52 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
JDL Personal Injury Lawyers Adelaide provides legal services in Richmond, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Medical Negligence · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Workers Compensation · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP
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Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Agar Singh Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery · Divorce & Separation
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.
