Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
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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
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nelson Keane & Hemingway Solicitors provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Elder Law & Aged Care · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Norwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
NSA Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Buying or Selling a Business.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Buying or Selling a Business · Family Law
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Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Phelan Family Law provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roseville Legal Services provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Probate & Estate Administration · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consult
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Shoalhaven Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Employment Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stone Group Lawyers Gold Coast provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
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Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Summit Legal Services provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Immigration & Visas and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+4 moreImmigration & Visas · Wills & Estates · Corporate Law & M&A · Family LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Tasdemir Lawyers, Port Macquarie provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Criminal Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Tax Law · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations · Contested Wills & Family Provision
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Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The People's Solicitors provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Defamation.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Defamation · Administrative & Government Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Personal Injury
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Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top End Women's Legal Service provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Employment Law and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Family Law+4 moreEmployment Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Wheelers Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Verge Legal 维智律师事务所 (Melbourne CBD) provides legal services in Wheelers Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosa Heads, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Virgil Power Lawyers provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Watts McCray Lawyers Hornsby provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing
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Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Western Legal provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBuilding & Construction · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wollongong Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Elder Law & Aged Care · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ammanah Legal provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, NDIS & Disability Law and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreNDIS & Disability Law · Family Law · Employment Law · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kew East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ASARI & VASLI LAWYERS provides legal services in Kew East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bancroft Lawyers provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Tax Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
BML Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCommercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial Law · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Personal InjuryFree 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.
