Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
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
Epping, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coelho & Coelho Solicitors provides legal services in Epping, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Balgowlah, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
De Saxe O'Neill Family Lawyers provides legal services in Balgowlah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coburg North, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Le Kal Lawyers provides legal services in Coburg North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Proficient Legal provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreImmigration & Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Citizenship · Bail Applications · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rice More & Gibson provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gawler South, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Steven M Clark Lawyers provides legal services in Gawler South, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Planning & Environment · Debt Recovery · General Practice (regional generalist)Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Watts McCray Lawyers Hornsby provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bruce Legal provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Epping, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cameron Legal provides legal services in Epping, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Logan Central, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legal Aid Queensland - Mount Isa provides legal services in Logan Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+8 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Technology, Privacy & Data · Divorce & Separation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Property Settlement · General Practice (regional generalist)Free first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phillips Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Family Property Settlement
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
QS LAWYERS IMMIGRATION ADELAIDE provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Citizenship and Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer).
Immigration & Visas+5 moreCitizenship · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bracken Ridge, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rod Holloway & Co provides conveyancing services in Bracken Ridge, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Steele & Co provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Commercial Property & Leasing · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Trapski Family Law provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newtown, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Trapski Family Law provides legal services in Newtown, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brookwater, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
VM Family Law provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mango Hill, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law provides legal services in Mango Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Camatta Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Commercial Litigation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lane Cove, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fuentes Legal provides legal services in Lane Cove, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+2 moreDivorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
