Family & Relationships · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
88 family law firms in Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches, New South Wales, including Chatswood, North Sydney, Hornsby, Manly.
88 firms
Lane Cove, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Perin Legal provides legal services in Lane Cove, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
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.
This search area brings together North Shore and Northern Beaches centres. For a property purchase, family matter or estate, compare the actual office location rather than assuming every firm is close to your suburb.
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 Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches. 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 Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
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.
St Leonards, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Sunsolis Legal provides legal services in St Leonards, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Family Law.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
IT Lawyers Australia provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Technology, Privacy & Data, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Yorkins Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Milsons Point, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Dorter Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Milsons Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Balgowlah Heights, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Shipton & Associates provides legal services in Balgowlah Heights, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
RJ Thomas Solicitor provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
MCB Lawyers provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
St Leonards, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
O'Loan Family Law provides legal services in St Leonards, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
GEA Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Asquith, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Castle Lawyers provides legal services in Asquith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Epping, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Coelho & Coelho Solicitors provides legal services in Epping, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Balgowlah, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
De Saxe O'Neill Family Lawyers provides legal services in Balgowlah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Epping, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Cameron Legal provides legal services in Epping, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Business & Commercial Law.
Lane Cove, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Fuentes Legal provides legal services in Lane Cove, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Buckley Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
North Sydney Conveyancing Company provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Eastwood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Pain David & Co provides legal services in Eastwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Wood Marshall Williams provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Wallen Family Law provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Blaxland Law provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Family Law.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Blackshield Lawyers Manly provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Criminal Law.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Dettmann Phair Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
KWL Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Building & Construction.
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.
