Family & Relationships · Northern Rivers
57 family law firms in Northern Rivers, New South Wales, including Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay, Tweed Heads.
57 firms
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Soutar Lynetta provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
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.
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.
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.
Understand the next step
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.
For matters involving Tweed Heads and Queensland, ask about cross-border experience. A nearby office is not enough to establish whether a lawyer can advise on property, proceedings or a business on the other side of the border.
For family law, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant NSW experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Northern Rivers. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
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.
In New South Wales, most criminal and minor civil matters start in the Local Court, with more serious matters in the District Court and Supreme Court. Tenancy, strata, consumer and guardianship disputes usually go to NCAT. Solicitors are licensed by the Law Society of New South Wales, and complaints about lawyers go to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.
Family Law firms in Northern Rivers
Good to know
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.
Most family matters are resolved without a trial. Court becomes necessary when negotiation fails, when there is urgency, or when safety is at risk.
Most matters start in the Local Court. More serious cases go to the District Court or the Supreme Court of NSW. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Ballina, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Ballina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Nimbin Law provides legal services in Casino, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
Henry Family Lawyers provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Mullumbimby, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Mullumbimby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
ONeills Law provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
Thompson Norrie Solicitors provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
Turner Freeman Lawyers provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Nimbin Law provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Vickers Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Kyogle, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Kyogle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
JH Mobile Lawyer provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
S P Lawyers Ballina provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Federal, NSW · Northern Rivers
Capital Lawyers provides legal services in Federal, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Ballina, NSW · Northern Rivers
Claire Newton Family Lawyer provides legal services in Ballina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law and General Practice (regional generalist).
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.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Tweed Heads South, NSW · Northern Rivers
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Tweed Heads South, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Ballina, NSW · Northern Rivers
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Ballina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
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.
Practising certificates in New South Wales are managed by the Law Society of New South Wales. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.
