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
St Leonards, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
O'Loan Family Law provides legal services in St Leonards, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Richlands, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Pham Solicitors provides legal services in Richlands, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
Tasmania Legal Aid provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Family Law.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Acorn Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
BARDO LAWYERS provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Notary Public & JP Services.
Rhodes, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Eden King Lawyers provides legal services in Rhodes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
FRANCIS LIM Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Marsdens Law Group provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
North Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Meillon & Bright Family Lawyers Fremantle provides legal services in North Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Olympus Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Skene Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Mount Eliza, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Village Family Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Eliza, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Berwick, VIC · South East Melbourne
Leyton-Palma Lawyers provides legal services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Redline Legal Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Shailer Park, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
W & G Lawyers provides legal services in Shailer Park, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
South Perth, WA · Perth South
ABMS Lawyers provides legal services in South Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Artisan Legal provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
KF Lawyers Australia provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Michael Vassili Lawyers (Accredited Specialist provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Criminal Law.
Nowra, NSW · South Coast
Nadine Stevens Legal provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Auburn, NSW · Western Sydney
Peerzada & Associates provides legal services in Auburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Keilor, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Rodriguez Family Lawyers provides legal services in Keilor, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
West Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
Singh & Co Lawyers provides legal services in West Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Wallace & Wallace Lawyers provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
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.
