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
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robert Halliday & Associates provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+2 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roberts Family Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Walkerville, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Scammell & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Walkerville, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Criminal Law
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Stanmore, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sharah Joanne provides legal services in Stanmore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreCriminal Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation3 languages
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Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Simons George Legal provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Contract Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProbate & Estate Administration · Contract Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial LawNo win, no fee
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Cessnock, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Smyth Turner Wall provides legal services in Cessnock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 morePowers of Attorney & Guardianship · Wills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Forde, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Terry Johnson Legal provides legal services in Forde, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Corporate Law & M&A · General Practice (regional generalist)Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Warwick McCarthy & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Bail Applications · Probate & Estate Administration
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Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adams United Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Binding Financial Agreements, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Binding Financial Agreements+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury · Divorce & SeparationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Kalamunda, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Alto Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Kalamunda, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kalgoorlie, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brookman Legal provides legal services in Kalgoorlie, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Planning & Environment and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kalgoorlie, WA · Goldfields-Esperance
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brookman Legal provides legal services in Kalgoorlie, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Planning & Environment and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cash and Stavroulakis Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wyong, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Edge Legal Group provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
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Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gigliotti Lawyers Moorabbin provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Insolvency & Restructuring and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing
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Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Havilah Legal provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Employment Law and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreEmployment Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Sports & Entertainment Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Burleigh Heads, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hunter Family Law provides legal services in Burleigh Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+4 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
L&M Law provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legalment provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Wills & Estates · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Banking & Finance · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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.
