Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
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
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kenny Spring Solicitors provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Traffic Offences · Buying or Selling a Business · Debt Recovery · Wills & Estates · Employment Law
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Khalil Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+2 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law
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Nowra, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marriott Oliver provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas
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Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Miller Sockhill Lawyers provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Business & Commercial Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Commercial Property & Leasing
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sydney Family & Criminal Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
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Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Workers Compensation Advice & Solutions provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction
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Midland, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Avon Legal provides legal services in Midland, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law
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Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Grant Allan provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Partner & Family Visas and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Building & Construction+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
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Moonee Ponds, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kelly & McHale Family Lawyers provides legal services in Moonee Ponds, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
KMB Legal provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Personal Injury · Building & Construction · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Purcell and Purcell Pty Ltd provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Planning & Environment · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Divorce & SeparationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★2.9(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rhonda Sheehy & Associates provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Buckley Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in North Sydney, 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
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Budden Law provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+3 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Griffith, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cater & Blumer And Riverina Compensation Lawyers Service provides legal services in Griffith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+2 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Central Coast Solicitors provides legal services in East Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Family LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warwick, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maxwell & Lancaster Solicitors provides legal services in Warwick, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O'Sullivan Davies Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family Visas
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.
