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
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Mackay Regional Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
Malewska & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
Prior Law provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Stacks Law Firm provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Medical Negligence.
Devonport, TAS · North West & West Coast
Tasmania Legal Aid provides legal services in Devonport, TAS. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Family Law.
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
Vitt Legal provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Defamation.
Singleton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
22TEN Legal provides legal services in Singleton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Wingham, NSW · Mid North Coast
Adamson Lawrie provides legal services in Wingham, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Allars Mottee Hannaford provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
AMT Legal provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Ferntree Gully, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Anderson Partners provides legal services in Ferntree Gully, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Partner & Family Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Perth Cbd, WA · Perth CBD
Anne Payne provides legal services in Perth Cbd, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, De Facto Relationships and Divorce & Separation.
Morisset, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Dawson Solicitors provides legal services in Morisset, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Wyong, NSW · Central Coast
EFFECTIVE LEGAL SOLUTIONS provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Farrell Lusher provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
FitzGerald and Browne Lawyers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Fitzgerald Rayner Law provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Wynyard, TAS · North West & West Coast
Greg Smith & Co provides conveyancing services in Wynyard, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Franklin, ACT · Canberra
Infinity Legal provides legal services in Franklin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Cleveland, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
KC & Co Law provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Lynch Peter provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Criminal Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Oldham Family Law provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Moss Vale, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Palmer Legal provides legal services in Moss Vale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Leeming, WA · Perth South
Peter J Griffin & Co provides legal services in Leeming, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Workers Compensation and Family Law.
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.
