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.
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Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Priest Legal provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Notary Public & JP Services · Parenting & Child Custody
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Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Margaret River, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cape to Cape Lawyers Busselton office provides legal services in Margaret River, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consult
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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fleming & Rhoden Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Wills & Estates
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Grafton, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gallagher Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
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Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Le & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Citizenship and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreCitizenship · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Immigration & Visas · Commercial Property & LeasingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Cranbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Cranbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+1 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phoenix Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stidston Warren Lawyers provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Franchising · Family Law · Intellectual Property & Trade MarksFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Coolum Beach, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sunshine Coast Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Coolum Beach, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law
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Northcote, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★2.7(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
VM Family Lawyers provides legal services in Northcote, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+2 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ASW Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Agribusiness & Rural Law
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Atherton, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Atherton Tablelands Law provides legal services in Atherton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Native Title & Aboriginal Legal Services · Maritime & Admiralty Law
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Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Balfe & Webb provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bennett Carroll Solicitors provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Traffic Offences · Partner & Family Visas
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Jandakot, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Jandakot, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Pleasant, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Mount Pleasant, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
BJH LAW PTY LTD provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Criminal Law+5 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree 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.
