Family & Relationships
Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
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.
Family Law firms in the directory
2,444 firms
Beaudesert, QLD · Gold Coast
Tamborine Mountain Law provides legal services in Beaudesert, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Soldiers Hill, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
TAO JIANG LAWYERS provides legal services in Soldiers Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Litigation and Immigration & Visas.
Ascot Vale, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Tartaglia Lawyers provides legal services in Ascot Vale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Henty, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Taylor & Whitty provides legal services in Henty, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Holbrook, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Taylor & Whitty provides legal services in Holbrook, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Griffith, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Taylor & Whitty provides legal services in Griffith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Heatherbrae, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Terrace Care provides legal services in Heatherbrae, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Castle Hill, NSW · Hills District
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in Castle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
NSW · Western Sydney
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Belrose, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in Belrose, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Point Vernon, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
The Will Factory provides legal services in Point Vernon, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Bega, NSW · South Coast
Thomson, Carmen provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Tenterfield, NSW · New England & North West
Tim Rice Lawyer provides legal services in Tenterfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Mile End, SA · Adelaide Metro
Tolis & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Mile End, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Toowong, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Toowong Village Doctors provides legal services in Toowong, QLD. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
NSW · Brisbane South & Logan
Top Gun Conveyancing provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Family Law.
Helensburgh, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Transitus Legal provides legal services in Helensburgh, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wollongbar, NSW · Northern Rivers
Trustee For The Scobie Family Trust The provides legal services in Wollongbar, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
NSW · Northern Rivers
Trustee For The Scobie Family Trust The provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
Tully & Chiper Lawyers provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Corporate Law & M&A.
Moe, VIC · Gippsland
Tyler Tipping and Woods provides legal services in Moe, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Traralgon, VIC · Gippsland
Tyler Tipping and Woods provides legal services in Traralgon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Bulimba, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Bulimba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
