Family & Relationships · Eastern Melbourne
81 family law firms in Eastern Melbourne, Victoria, including Box Hill, Ringwood, Glen Waverley, Doncaster.
81 firms
Camberwell, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Coote Family Lawyers provides legal services in Camberwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
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.
When comparing Box Hill, Ringwood, Glen Waverley and Doncaster firms, look for the practice area that matches the work required. Reviewing a sale contract and handling an existing property dispute are different engagements.
For family law, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Eastern Melbourne. 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 Victoria, the Magistrates' Court hears most criminal and minor civil matters, with the County Court and Supreme Court handling more serious cases. Residential tenancy, planning, building and discrimination disputes often go to VCAT. Lawyers are regulated by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner, which also handles complaints.
Family Law firms in Eastern Melbourne
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 Magistrates' Court. More serious cases go to the County Court or the Supreme Court of Victoria. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Camberwell, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Clancy & Triado provides legal services in Camberwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
HazeLegal provides legal services in Kew, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Oak Fair Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations.
Doncaster East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Laino Michael Solicitor provides legal services in Doncaster East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Doncaster, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Luna & Xia Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Doncaster, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Toorak, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Adrian Abrahams Family Lawyers provides legal services in Toorak, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Gordon Ainger Legal provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Croydon, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Remington Wright & Co provides legal services in Croydon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Debt Recovery and Family Law.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Lewenberg & Lewenberg Solicitors provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Vermont South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Vermont South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wheelers Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Sapling Lawyers Wheelers Hill provides legal services in Wheelers Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Mitcham, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Wainwright Ryan Eid provides legal services in Mitcham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Building & Construction and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Malvern, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Lopes Family Law provides legal services in Malvern, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Brendan H Hardiman & Associates provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Advocat provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Hawthorn East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Alter Marcel provides legal services in Hawthorn East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Apel I provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Astute Conveyancing provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Armadale, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Burke & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Armadale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Balwyn North, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Cole (Natalie) Lawyers provides legal services in Balwyn North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. 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 Victoria are managed by the Victorian Legal Services Board. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.