Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
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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
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Turnbull & Company Solicitors provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Administrative & Government Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Turnbull & Company Solicitors provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Insolvency & Restructuring · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Administrative & Government Law
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Newport, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Viclaw Lawyers provides legal services in Newport, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer).
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Family Law2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: arabic
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Horsham, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Horsham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Traffic Offences
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Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Watson McNamara & Watt provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas
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Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wylde Family Law provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Skilled & Business Visas.
Family Law+2 moreParenting & Child Custody · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Balcatta, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Appius Lawyers provides legal services in Balcatta, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Probate & Estate Administration
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Bella Vista, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Branston Neville Lawyers provides legal services in Bella Vista, 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 · Criminal Law · Employment Law
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Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Collective Family Law Group provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Rozelle, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Colquhoun & Colquhoun provides legal services in Rozelle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Como, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DFG Legal WA provides legal services in Como, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Building & Construction · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Workers Compensation
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Meridan Plains, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DJ Hinton Lawyers provides legal services in Meridan Plains, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Commercial Litigation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+4 moreCommercial Litigation · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Evolution Legal provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toronto, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Halyburton Legal provides legal services in Toronto, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · General Practice (regional generalist)
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Victoria Point, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hooper & Mill Family Lawyers provides legal services in Victoria Point, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hosking Lawyers provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Murray Bridge, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Joseph Ramsay Sanders Lawyers provides legal services in Murray Bridge, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Traffic Offences and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreTraffic Offences · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kovacevic Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Castle Hill, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LegalPro Lawyers provides legal services in Castle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Traffic Offences.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Traffic Offences · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Drink & Drug Driving · Business & Commercial Law
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lough & Wells Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Medical Negligence · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Public LiabilityNo win, no fee
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.
