Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
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A family lawyer's early advice shapes everything that follows: what a fair property split looks like for your circumstances, how parenting time is likely to be arranged, and which steps must happen before court. Most matters resolve through negotiation or mediation, with consent orders making the agreement binding.
Why family law matters
Separation affects where children live, the home, super and future finances. Decisions made in the first months, often informally, can shape the final outcome, so early advice avoids costly mistakes.
The Australian context
Family law is federal. The Family Law Act 1975 governs parenting and property for married and most de facto couples, heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, except in Western Australia, where the Family Court of WA hears these matters. Parenting disputes usually require family dispute resolution before court.
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Spring Hill, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(1,943)Google rating from 1,943 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Empire Legal provides legal services in Spring Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Building & Construction · NDIS & Disability Law
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(712)Google rating from 712 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Abbas & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Criminal Law+3 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Assault & Violent OffencesFree first consult
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Burswood, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(628)Google rating from 628 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rezzi Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Burswood, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(604)Google rating from 604 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ghothane Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Citizenship.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Wills & Estates · Contract Law · Property & Conveyancing · Skilled & Business Visas · Family Law
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Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(598)Google rating from 598 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Tang Law provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Immigration & Visas · Employment Law · Visa Cancellation & Character (s501)
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(586)Google rating from 586 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LEAD Conveyancing Brisbane provides conveyancing services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(459)Google rating from 459 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LEAD Conveyancing Melbourne provides conveyancing services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBuilding & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Immigration & Visas
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Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(457)Google rating from 457 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Genuine Legal Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Paddington, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(432)Google rating from 432 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Legali provides legal services in Paddington, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Commercial Property & LeasingFree first consult
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Brunswick, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(428)Google rating from 428 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
FJR Lawyers provides legal services in Brunswick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Building & Construction · Debt Recovery · Franchising · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(414)Google rating from 414 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Executive Law Group provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Defamation
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(400)Google rating from 400 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bayside Solicitors Mornington provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(400)Google rating from 400 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bayside Solicitors Mornington provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Yagoona, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(373)Google rating from 373 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Karnib Law Group provides legal services in Yagoona, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Criminal Law · Employment Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(351)Google rating from 351 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Aston Legal Group provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(349)Google rating from 349 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Geldard Sherrington Lawyers provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Loganholme, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(346)Google rating from 346 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LEAD Conveyancing Logan provides conveyancing services in Loganholme, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment
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Hallam, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(334)Google rating from 334 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Jay & Co Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Hallam, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+4 moreCriminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Child Protection & Care Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(326)Google rating from 326 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robinson Gill Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & ConstructionNo win, no fee
Understand the next step
A practical guide to family law
What to discuss at the first meeting
Start by separating immediate arrangements from longer-term decisions. A family-law consultation can identify whether parenting, finances, divorce or personal safety requires a separate step, and who should advise on each.
A general family-law engagement should specify which issues it covers rather than promising to resolve every consequence of separation.
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 family law adviser
Which issue should be addressed first?
Will you coordinate related property and estate work?
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
What are consent orders?
Consent orders are an agreement about parenting or property that the court makes into formal, enforceable orders without a hearing. Both parties must agree and sign.
Do I have to go to court?
Most family matters are resolved without a trial. Court becomes necessary when negotiation fails, when there is urgency, or when safety is at risk.
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.
