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
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
C&R Settlements Mandurah provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
MacDonald Law provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Wills & Estates.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Aughtersons Solicitors provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Farrar Gesini Dunn provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Matthies Lawyers provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Honest Grace Legal provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Ashkan Tai Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
El Baba Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Hillcrest Family Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
Marcou & Associates Family Lawyers provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Rayner Song Family Lawyers provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and De Facto Relationships.
Morley, WA · Perth North
4 Settlements provides legal services in Morley, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Hebblewhite Family Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Courtesy Legal provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
DSA Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Kogarah, NSW · Southern Sydney
Lawpoint provides legal services in Kogarah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Corestone Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Millswood, SA · Adelaide Metro
D'Angelo Lawyers provides legal services in Millswood, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Taree, NSW · Mid North Coast
Alan McNeill Solicitors provides legal services in Taree, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Townsville, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Lee, Turnbull & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Townsville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Lee, Turnbull & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Omnia Legal provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Emera Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
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.
