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
Mildura, VIC · Mallee
Connect Family Law provides legal services in Mildura, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Kempsey, NSW · Mid North Coast
Cooney Harvey Doney Lawyers provides legal services in Kempsey, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Crosby Brosnan & Creen provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Crosby Brosnan & Creen provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Darwin Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Partner & Family Visas.
Murray Bridge, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
Devine Murdoch Lawyers [Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation] provides legal services in Murray Bridge, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
DJ Hinton Lawyers provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Commercial Litigation and Property & Conveyancing.
Moruya, NSW · South Coast
Fleming Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Moruya, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wyoming, NSW · Central Coast
Goldrick Farrell Mullan Lawyers incorporating Michael Daly Solicitors provides legal services in Wyoming, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Hargreaves Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Ingpen & Bent provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
Ison Law provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Varsity Lakes, QLD · Gold Coast
J R Burns Law provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Wyong, NSW · Central Coast
LegalWise Solutions provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
Mahony's Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
Mahony's Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
McCarthy Durie Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Capalaba, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
McCarthy Durie Lawyers provides legal services in Capalaba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Middlemis & Associates provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
North Shore Lawyers & Associates provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Moil, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Northern Legal Services provides legal services in Moil, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Chermside, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Northside Family Law Centre provides legal services in Chermside, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Mackay, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Reynolds Family Law provides legal services in Mackay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Ulladulla, NSW · South Coast
Shoalhaven Lawyers provides legal services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
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.
