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
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Hiways Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Oak Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Your Lawyers Turner Riddell Hervey Bay - Family law & Wills and estates provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Embleton, WA · Perth North
Allsett Property Settlements provides legal services in Embleton, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Clarity Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
Hey Family Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
McKays Solicitors provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Barwick Boitano Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Traffic Offences.
Gladstone Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Byrne Lawyers provides legal services in Gladstone Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
HQ Law provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Mahony's Lawyers provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Byron Lawyers Group provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Jindalee, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Jindalee Lawyers provides legal services in Jindalee, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Yorkins Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Bainbridge Legal provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Baldock Stacy & Niven provides conveyancing services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Busselton, WA · South West
Conveyancing South West provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Carrum Downs, VIC · South East Melbourne
Fountain Law provides legal services in Carrum Downs, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Morrison Specter Attorneys provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
Parkside Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
ReesLaw Pty Ltd provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Skaf Lawyers & Notary Public provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Property & Conveyancing.
Toongabbie, NSW · Western Sydney
Toongabbie Legal Centre Inc. provides legal services in Toongabbie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and NDIS & Disability Law.
Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Bennett Carroll Solicitors provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
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.
