Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
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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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bella Vista, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(88)Google rating from 88 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hills Family Lawyers provides legal services in Bella Vista, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(88)Google rating from 88 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lamrocks Solicitors & Attorneys provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing · Probate & Estate Administration
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Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(88)Google rating from 88 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lamrocks Solicitors & Attorneys provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(88)Google rating from 88 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Law Essentials provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(87)Google rating from 87 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Adam & Dean Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCriminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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Cardiff, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Dawson Solicitors provides legal services in Cardiff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
IT Lawyers Australia provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Technology, Privacy & Data, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Technology, Privacy & Data+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Employment Law
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Burwood, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(85)Google rating from 85 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Karnib Saddik Law Firm provides legal services in Burwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+6 moreCriminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas
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Maribyrnong, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(85)Google rating from 85 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
McManus & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Maribyrnong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law
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Rockdale, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(85)Google rating from 85 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
T&T Lawyers provides legal services in Rockdale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Immigration & Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Divorce & Separation
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(85)Google rating from 85 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Than & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Fumens Lawyers 富文律师行 (Melbourne CBD) provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Insolvency & Restructuring · Wills & Estates · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
John Willett Lawyers provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+3 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
TNS Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Franchising · Commercial Litigation · Family Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Insolvency & Restructuring
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Lyons Law Group provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreTraffic Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Family Law · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Divorce & Separation · Centrelink & Social Security
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Open House Conveyancing Lawyers provides conveyancing services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+2 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Family Law
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Carlton North, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
RRR Lawyers provides legal services in Carlton North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Building & Construction2 languages
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Gold Coast Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal and Family Law.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+3 moreMental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Family Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
TM Collins Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Debt Recovery+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Banking & Finance · Business & Commercial Law
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.
