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
Fairfield, NSW · Western Sydney
Marando Solicitors provides legal services in Fairfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Moloney P N provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Personal Injury.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Roberts Beckwith Partners provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Goulburn, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
STC Legal provides legal services in Goulburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Forest Lake, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Steadfast Solicitors Pty Ltd provides legal services in Forest Lake, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
Bay Vista Settlements provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
Cameron Scott provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Traffic Offences and Family Law.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Chapter Lawyers provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Clyde Lawyers provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
EV Law provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Fimmano Lawyers provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Maryborough, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Herring & McMillan Solicitors & Accountants provides legal services in Maryborough, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
JB Solicitors provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Employment Law and Wills & Estates.
Engadine, NSW · Southern Sydney
JNT Legal provides legal services in Engadine, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Debt Recovery and Family Law.
Brookwater, QLD · Ipswich
KEANE LEGAL provides legal services in Brookwater, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Employment Law.
Parkes, NSW · Central West & Orana
Matthews Williams provides legal services in Parkes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Forbes, NSW · Central West & Orana
Matthews Williams provides legal services in Forbes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Taylors Lakes, VIC · Northern Melbourne
MS Justice Legal provides legal services in Taylors Lakes, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
NGUYEN DO LAWYERS provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Gungahlin, ACT · Canberra
Pennicott Weir Lawyers provides legal services in Gungahlin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Property & Conveyancing and Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations.
Griffith, NSW · Riverina & Murray
PJ Keane Legal provides legal services in Griffith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Property & Conveyancing.
South Bunbury, WA · South West
Rosemary Giles Family Lawyer provides legal services in South Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Seacliff Family Law provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Sharon Moss Legal provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
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.
