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
Midland, WA · Perth East
Corinne Griffin & Co provides legal services in Midland, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Geelong Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Legacy Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
McGuinness Legal provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Maryborough, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Noonan & Sutherland provides legal services in Maryborough, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Orman Solicitors provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Wills & Estates.
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Caddens, NSW · Western Sydney
Sorella Law provides legal services in Caddens, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Ashfield, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Stichter Otto & Associates provides legal services in Ashfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Wills & Estates.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers provides conveyancing services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Belconnen, ACT · Canberra
Yellow Legal provides legal services in Belconnen, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Camerons Lawyers provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Elbatti Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Balnarring, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
ELLISON-WHYTE LAW provides legal services in Balnarring, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Fishburn Watson O'Brien Solicitors provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Harper Davison Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
Hennessy Dowd Lawyers provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Debt Recovery and Criminal Law.
Goulburn, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Johnson & Sendall provides legal services in Goulburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Mantello Lawyers provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
Mastronardi Legal provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Medowie, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
MEDCALF LEGAL PTY LTD provides legal services in Medowie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
Neville & Hourn Legal provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Northern Community Legal Centre Broadmeadows provides legal services in Broadmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas and Family Law.
Redcliffe, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Parker Family Law provides legal services in Redcliffe, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
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.
