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
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(27)Google rating from 27 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hulse Family Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · International Family Law & Hague Abduction
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(27)Google rating from 27 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Indigo Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, De Facto Relationships and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+4 moreDe Facto Relationships · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Alexander Botten & Associates provides conveyancing services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Property & Conveyancing+2 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation
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Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★3.2(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ballarat & Grampians Community Legal Service provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+1 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law
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Petrie, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Barton Family lawyers provides legal services in Petrie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
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Singleton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CDG Law provides legal services in Singleton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Traffic Offences
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cottier Stenning Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · General Practice (regional generalist) · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOsNo win, no fee
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Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Griffith Legal provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas
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Cessnock, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Howells & Co Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Cessnock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Personal Injury.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Personal Injury · Immigration & Visas · Criminal Law · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & LeasingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Keogh & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment
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Kadina, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mildwaters Byrth Lawyers & Conveyancers provides legal services in Kadina, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreAgribusiness & Rural Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Family Law
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Carrara, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Muir Lawyers provides legal services in Carrara, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Corporate Law & M&A · Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate
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North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
North Sydney Conveyancing Company provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Strata & Body Corporate2 languages
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
South Coast Family Law Group provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Benn Hill provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mediation & Dispute Resolution+6 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Binding Financial Agreements
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Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cherry Family Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Surrogacy & Adoption and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newstead, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Colwell Wright Solicitors provides legal services in Newstead, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Binding Financial Agreements.
Business & Commercial Law+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing
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.
