Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
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
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dot Legal Penrith provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Tax Law · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Bail Applications · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fairfax Lawyers provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Notary Public & JP Services · Commercial Property & LeasingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Glynn Williams Legal provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Jess Bourke Legal provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Lakes, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Journey Family Lawyers provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Family Property Settlement.
Family Law+4 moreDivorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kanoon Law Group - Solicitors provides legal services in Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Citizenship · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Personal InjuryFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Double Bay, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Karras Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Double Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+5 morePartner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kiama, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kells The Lawyers provides legal services in Kiama, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Coronial Inquests · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Laidley, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mark Stone Solicitors provides legal services in Laidley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Criminal Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Firearms & Licensing Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Clare, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mellor Olsson provides legal services in Clare, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Medical Negligence · Planning & Environment · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
North Queensland Women's Legal Service provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Berri, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
O'Briens Solicitors provides legal services in Berri, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roger O'Halloran & Company provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Spencer Alexander Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Binding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Buying or Selling a BusinessFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SR Family Law (formerly Spencer Ryan Family Law) provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sutton Family Law provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tiernan Lawyers provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, De Facto Relationships and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreDe Facto Relationships · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Singleton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Umbrella Legal provides legal services in Singleton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Workers Compensation · Family Law · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Walkom Lawyers provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Personal Injury · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Warner Legal provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+3 moreFamily Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
