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
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Apollo Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Litigation and Business & Commercial Law.
Rosanna, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Bowlen Dunstan and Associates Pty provides legal services in Rosanna, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Wills & Estates.
Tahmoor, NSW · Western Sydney
Coutts Conveyancing & Legal Services provides conveyancing services in Tahmoor, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
Family Law Matters provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Farah Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Hopper Mott Bunting Lawyers (Previously Mott & Associates, Solicitors) provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Orman Solicitors provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Wills & Estates.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Professional Edge Lawyers provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Bundaberg Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Baker O'Brien Toll Lawyers provides legal services in Bundaberg Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Ayr, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Connolly Suthers Lawyers Townsville provides legal services in Ayr, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
DAVIS FORD LAWYERS provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Wills & Estates.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Hikma Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, De Facto Relationships and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Intervention Order Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Parenting & Child Custody and Family Law.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
James Papas Solicitors provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Kalpaxis Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Bexley, NSW · Southern Sydney
Mihalatos & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Bexley, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
My Legal Crunch Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
North Lakes, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Preston and Associates provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law and Family Law.
Gladstone Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Ramos & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Gladstone Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Barram Family Law provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Carswell and Company Maryborough provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Geraldton, WA · Mid West & Gascoyne
Champion Bay Settlements provides legal services in Geraldton, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law 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.
