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
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Millyard Family Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Movement Legal provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rapid Legal Solutions provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, 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
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Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Reign Legal provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+2 morePartner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements
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Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robinson McGuinness Family Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Unified Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Business & Commercial Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
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Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Alpha Success Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Building & Construction
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Rouse Hill, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arcadian Legal provides legal services in Rouse Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction
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Aspley, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bennett Carroll Solicitors provides legal services in Aspley, 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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Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CBD Law provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Building & Construction · Probate & Estate AdministrationNo win, no fee
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Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Delfino & Delfino Solicitors provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
E.Law International provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing · Employment Law4 languages
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Dalby, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Edgar & Wood Solicitors provides legal services in Dalby, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Parenting & Child Custody
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Mudgee, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Emily Peoples, Solicitor provides legal services in Mudgee, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Felicio Law Firm provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Debt Recovery and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreDebt Recovery · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hofstee Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Drummoyne, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hughes & Taylor provides legal services in Drummoyne, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Building & Construction · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Glenelg South, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kin Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Glenelg South, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LF Legal Services provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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.
