Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
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16
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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
Ormeau, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ormeau Legal Solicitors provides legal services in Ormeau, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southbank, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tolhurst Druce & Emmerson provides legal services in Southbank, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Family Law Group provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Mediation & Dispute Resolution2 languages
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Mclaren Vale, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Southern Vales Legal provides legal services in Mclaren Vale, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property SettlementFree first consult
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Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.1(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Broadmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Richmond, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(52)Google rating from 52 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
JDL Personal Injury Lawyers Adelaide provides legal services in Richmond, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Medical Negligence · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Workers Compensation · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP
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Maroubra, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Benchmark Lawyers provides legal services in Maroubra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment · Citizenship
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Buckley Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Criminal Law · Residential Tenancy · Partner & Family Visas
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Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Trio Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Family Law · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Waterfront Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Administrative & Government Law · Building & Construction
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Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams Lawyers - Mount Waverley provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment
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Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Lakey Family Law and Mediation provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Melbourne Law Studio provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Purcell Taylor Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · TPD & Superannuation Claims · Criminal Law · Family Law · Personal Injury
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Browns Plains, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Steindl Bradley & Associates provides legal services in Browns Plains, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Taperell Rutledge Lawyers provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 more
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.
Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
No win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Employment Law · Partner & Family Visas
