Family & Relationships · South East Melbourne
105 family law firms in South East Melbourne, Victoria, including Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne, Moorabbin.
105 firms
Port Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
Six Days Legal provides legal services in Port Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
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.
Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne and Moorabbin span a broad search area. A firm’s suburb, meeting options and experience with your matter are more informative than the South East Melbourne label alone.
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 South East 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 South East 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.
Albert Park, VIC · South East Melbourne
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Albert Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Clayton, VIC · South East Melbourne
Portelli & Co provides legal services in Clayton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hall G H Barrister & Solicitor provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Property & Conveyancing.
Narre Warren, VIC · South East Melbourne
Silk Legal provides legal services in Narre Warren, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Amanpreet Kaur provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
JH Legal provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Ross Higgins provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hamilton Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Berwick, VIC · South East Melbourne
Neal Collin Lawyers provides legal services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Caulfield North, VIC · South East Melbourne
CKL Lawyers provides legal services in Caulfield North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
Gale Family Law provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Balaclava, VIC · South East Melbourne
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Balaclava, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Dandenong North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Smythe & Mallam provides legal services in Dandenong North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Caulfield North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Konstantin F. Tringas provides legal services in Caulfield North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Beaconsfield, VIC · South East Melbourne
Alcore Conveyancing provides legal services in Beaconsfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Pakenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Christine J Shanahan - Davine Shanahan Fitzpatrick provides legal services in Pakenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Narre Warren, VIC · South East Melbourne
Domain Conveyancing Lawyers provides legal services in Narre Warren, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Bentleigh, 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.
