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
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Redland Legal provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Sawtell, NSW · Mid North Coast
Robson & Oliver Solicitors provides legal services in Sawtell, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Small Myers Hughes provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Vanguard Lawyers provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
South Brisbane, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Cottage Conveyance provides conveyancing services in South Brisbane, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
KCH Lawyers provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Legal One Services provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Lalor, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers provides legal services in Lalor, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Maclean, NSW · Northern Rivers
Mark Vincent Glaser provides legal services in Maclean, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Contract Law.
Bundaberg East, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Median Law provides legal services in Bundaberg East, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Kenmore, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Melrose Keys Lawyers provides legal services in Kenmore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Binding Financial Agreements.
Matraville, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Peter Loh & Co provides legal services in Matraville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Hastings, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Probate Professionals The provides legal services in Hastings, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Gawler South, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Shorter Legal provides legal services in Gawler South, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Watson St Claire Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Orange, NSW · Central West & Orana
Campbell Paton & Taylor provides legal services in Orange, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
CQ Legal provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Umina Beach, NSW · Central Coast
Darley Legal provides legal services in Umina Beach, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Dettmann Phair Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
FRIEND & EDWARDS LAWYERS provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Hyde Park, SA · Adelaide Metro
Judith Jordan Family and Collaborative Lawyer provides legal services in Hyde Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
KWL Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Building & Construction.
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.
