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
Twin Waters, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Lever Law provides legal services in Twin Waters, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Paradise Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Sunshine North, VIC · Western Melbourne
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Sunshine North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Arrow Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Edge Hill, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Collier Lawyers provides legal services in Edge Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Transitional Legal provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
Willocks Lawyers provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Preston Law Cairns provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Balgowlah Heights, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Shipton & Associates provides legal services in Balgowlah Heights, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Carina, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Carina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Litigation and Business & Commercial Law.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Baird & McGregor provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Mudgee, NSW · Central West & Orana
DLH Solicitors provides legal services in Mudgee, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Ressan Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Springwood, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Springwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
TASC Legal and Social Justice Service provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Gamble Law & Estate Planning provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Le Brun & Associates Law Firm provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Business & Commercial Law.
Kalgoorlie, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
Ds Family Law provides legal services in Kalgoorlie, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
East Perth, WA · Perth North
Ds Family Law provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Maddington, WA · Perth East
HFM Legal provides legal services in Maddington, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Maddington, WA · Perth East
HFM Legal provides legal services in Maddington, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Armadale, WA · Perth South
JK Legal provides legal services in Armadale, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
LEAD Conveyancing Gold Coast provides conveyancing services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Building & Construction.
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.
