Family & Relationships
Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
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.
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.
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.
Family Law firms in the directory
2,444 firms
Forde, ACT · Canberra
Boland Legal provides legal services in Forde, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Yarraville, VIC · Western Melbourne
Boon Legal provides legal services in Yarraville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Thomastown, VIC · Northern Melbourne
BQ Legal provides legal services in Thomastown, VIC. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Brogan & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
BTT LAWYERS PTY LTD provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Kotara, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Burgan Lawyers provides legal services in Kotara, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Workers Compensation.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Clearys Commercial Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Banking & Finance and Wills & Estates.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Coleman Greig Lawyers provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Springwood, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Collaborative Legal Solutions provides legal services in Springwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Skilled & Business Visas and Wills & Estates.
Bundaberg West, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
De Papi & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bundaberg West, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Donlan Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Family Law.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Errard Legal Ballarat and Sorrento provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Narrogin, WA · Perth East
Everett W L & K J provides legal services in Narrogin, WA. Listed practice areas include Probate & Estate Administration, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Morayfield, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Future Family Law provides legal services in Morayfield, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Ipswich Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
Jacobs Family Law provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Kent Town, SA · Adelaide Metro
Jacqui Ion Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Kent Town, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Shailer Park, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
JMW Legal provides legal services in Shailer Park, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Scarness, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Justice Law & Mediation, Hervey Bay provides legal services in Scarness, QLD. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Kununurra, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Kimberley Community Legal Services Inc. provides legal services in Kununurra, WA. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Emerald, VIC · Hume & North East
KLR Legal Services Pty Ltd provides legal services in Emerald, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Maryborough, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Law Essentials provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Ellenbrook, WA · Perth North
Lynn & Brown Lawyers provides legal services in Ellenbrook, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Marano Family Lawyers Hurstville provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Understand the next step
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.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
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.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning 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.
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.
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
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.
Most family matters are resolved without a trial. Court becomes necessary when negotiation fails, when there is urgency, or when safety is at risk.
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.
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.
