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
Aitkenvale, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Ross Lawyers provides legal services in Aitkenvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Samaras Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Sibley Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Employment Law and Traffic Offences.
NSW · Western Sydney
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
West Ryde, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Webb Thom & Associates provides legal services in West Ryde, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Buckley Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
CFS LEGAL provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Dawson Family Law provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Friedlieb Fox McLeod provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Bairnsdale, VIC · Gippsland
Gippsland Community Legal Service provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Impetus Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
JHL Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
Keating Kate Lawyer provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Baulkham Hills, NSW · Hills District
Langenberg Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Deniliquin, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Mills Hebbard Moore provides legal services in Deniliquin, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Kempsey, NSW · Mid North Coast
Paul Stubbs Law Office provides legal services in Kempsey, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Pennicott Weir Lawyers provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Property & Conveyancing and Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations.
Burnie, TAS · North West & West Coast
Petersen Legal provides legal services in Burnie, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Berri, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
Riverland Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Berri, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
SU Legal provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
Sydun & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Wagga Family Lawyers provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
Boylan Lawyers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Black Rock, VIC · South East Melbourne
Burrell Family Law provides legal services in Black Rock, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
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.
