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.
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(165)Google rating from 165 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Benefit Legal Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Public Liability, Medical Negligence and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Public Liability+7 moreMedical Negligence · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Personal Injury · Family Law · Workers Compensation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(164)Google rating from 164 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
MJ Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Skilled & Business Visas · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Binding Financial Agreements
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(164)Google rating from 164 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
T&S Law Firm provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law
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Paradise Point, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(161)Google rating from 161 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Empire Legal provides legal services in Paradise Point, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Strata & Body Corporate · Divorce & Separation · Building & Construction
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(161)Google rating from 161 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nikolovski Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Personal Injury.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Personal Injury · Employment Law · Immigration & Visas · Unfair Dismissal · Public Liability · Medical Negligence
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Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(158)Google rating from 158 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kingston Lawyers provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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Queanbeyan, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(157)Google rating from 157 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
BDN Lawyers provides legal services in Queanbeyan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+8 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · General Practice (regional generalist)
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Woy Woy, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(155)Google rating from 155 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Tonkin Drysdale Partners provides legal services in Woy Woy, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Planning & Environment and Family Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 morePlanning & Environment · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(154)Google rating from 154 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nolan Family Lawyers & Mediation provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks
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Dickson, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(153)Google rating from 153 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
NatLaw provides legal services in Dickson, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Skilled & Business Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(153)Google rating from 153 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Safety Bay Settlements provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Strata & Body Corporate
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Glenroy, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(152)Google rating from 152 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Glenroy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · De Facto Relationships · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Binding Financial Agreements7 languages
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(151)Google rating from 151 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
LEAD Conveyancing Sydney provides conveyancing services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law
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South Perth, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(150)Google rating from 150 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
LJR Legal provides legal services in South Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Partner & Family Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Notary Public & JP Services+6 morePartner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates
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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(150)Google rating from 150 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pentana Stanton Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Litigation · Family Property Settlement · Wills & Estates · Divorce & SeparationNo win, no fee
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(148)Google rating from 148 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Bell Miller Solicitors Maroochydore provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bella Vista, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(147)Google rating from 147 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Catron Simmons Lawyers provides legal services in Bella Vista, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Drink & Drug Driving · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Charlestown, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(147)Google rating from 147 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kilpatrick Hatton Solicitors provides legal services in Charlestown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law
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.
