Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
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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
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lionheart Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Public Liability · Building & Construction · Professional Negligence · Wills & EstatesNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Canberra City, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mazengarb Family Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra City, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Powers of Attorney & GuardianshipFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sandgate, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Northside Family Law Centre provides legal services in Sandgate, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter G Williams & Associates Solicitors & Notary provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prime Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sage Solicitors provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Commercial Litigation · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing5 languages
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Baulkham Hills, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The Property Conveyancers provides legal services in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision
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Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Walsh Day Mihal Bassett Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Administrative & Government Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
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Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Baldwins Lawyers provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Benchmark Law Services provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Child Protection & Care Matters · Youth Justice & Children's CourtFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Divorce Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cowra, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clark McNamara Lawyers provides legal services in Cowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Insolvency & Restructuring and Employment Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cowra, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clark McNamara Lawyers provides legal services in Cowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Planning & Environment · Insolvency & Restructuring · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CLEON Legal (Family Lawyers and Domestic Violence Lawyers) provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coolabah Law Chambers provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Wills & Estates+8 moreFamily Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Notary Public & JP Services · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · General Practice (regional generalist)2 languages
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.
