Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
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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
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CHOMLEY FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
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Milsons Point, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Dorter Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Milsons Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Skinner & Associates provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Corporate Law & M&A · Employment Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Conditsis Lawyers Newcastle provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Criminal Law+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Drug Offences · Divorce & Separation · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+1 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law
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Nowra, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Shoalhaven Family Law provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Darwin Cbd, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ward Keller Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin Cbd, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Medical Negligence · Franchising · Wills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services
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Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Access Legal provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Elder Law & Aged Care
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Burwood, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
BC Lawyers provides legal services in Burwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Notary Public & JP Services+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Commercial Litigation · Strata & Body Corporate
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Blackwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Douglas Hoskins Legal provides legal services in Blackwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+6 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Administrative & Government Law · Binding Financial Agreements
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Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Griffiths Parry Lawyers & Notary provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
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Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Magpie Family Law provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mullins Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Rose Jensen Kent Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Westmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Tohme Lawyers provides legal services in Westmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hahndorf, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Your Estate Lawyer provides legal services in Hahndorf, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+7 morePlanning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Corporate Law & M&A
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West Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Baily Family Law provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Banditt & Blaine Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Surrogacy & Adoption
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Miami, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gold Coast Leasing & Mortgage provides legal services in Miami, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Commercial Property & Leasing · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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.
