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
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brightstone Legal provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Notary Public & JP Services and Immigration & Visas.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Immigration & Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Tax Law
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Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ferrall & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Criminal Law · Medical Negligence · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gibson Howlin Lawyers provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Insolvency & Restructuring, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Insolvency & Restructuring+8 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Bankruptcy · Business & Commercial Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · General Practice (regional generalist)
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Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
JZ Legal provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Woolloomooloo, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Livingstone & Company Lawyers provides legal services in Woolloomooloo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Debt Recovery · Employment Law · Unfair Dismissal
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Moloney P N provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Workers Compensation · Personal Injury · Employment Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTPFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Quinn Family Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Surrogacy & Adoption · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ruhl Family Law Centre provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sautelle White Lawyers provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Senferd Lawyers provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Debt Recovery+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law
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Beenleigh, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Compass Legal Solutions provides legal services in Beenleigh, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Criminal Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Nowra, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family First Lawyers provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family Law Partners provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Family Lawyers Mackay provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Geelong Family Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+3 moreDivorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LEAD Conveyancing Geelong provides conveyancing services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBuilding & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law
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Dandenong North, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legoll Legal Practitioners provides legal services in Dandenong North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rapid Legal Solutions provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Traffic Offences.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Traffic Offences · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Agribusiness & Rural Law
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.
