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
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Women's Legal Service (SA) provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Clements Fitzgerald Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
GEA Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
JSLegal Law Practice provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Traffic Offences and Parenting & Child Custody.
North Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Resolve Divorce provides legal services in North Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Partner & Family Visas.
Morwell, VIC · Gippsland
Tyler Tipping and Woods provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Kirrawee, NSW · Southern Sydney
Watkins Tapsell provides legal services in Kirrawee, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Contract Law.
Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Windsor Craig Solicitors provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Strathpine, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Bradshaw Lawyers provides legal services in Strathpine, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Denise Dwyer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Family Law.
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Inca Lawyers provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
James Noble Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Jessie Icao Solicitors provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Montgomery Legal Practice Family Lawyer Liverpool provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Rafton Family Lawyers provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Daisy Hill, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Ryder Lawyers provides legal services in Daisy Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
Abdelshahied Lawyers provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Criminal Law.
Parkes, NSW · Central West & Orana
Allwright Bourke Lawyers & Conveyancing provides legal services in Parkes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Wills & Estates.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Canberra City, ACT · Canberra
Clifford Lois provides legal services in Canberra City, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Castle Hill, NSW · Hills District
Digital Age Lawyers provides legal services in Castle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Haymarket, NSW · Sydney CBD
Digital Age Lawyers provides legal services in Haymarket, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
Frigo James Legal provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mount Barker, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Matthews Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Barker, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
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.
