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
Albany, WA · Great Southern
Marshall Family Law provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Noosa Heads, QLD · Sunshine Coast
McCormick Lawyers provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Avondale Heights, VIC · Northern Melbourne
MMH Lawyers provides legal services in Avondale Heights, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wangaratta, VIC · Hume & North East
Morgan Couzens Legal provides legal services in Wangaratta, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Nathan Cox Lawyers provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Campbellfield, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Nevaeh Lawyers provides legal services in Campbellfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Myrtleford, VIC · Hume & North East
Nevin Lenne Gross provides legal services in Myrtleford, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Open House Conveyancing Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Family Law.
Newcastle West, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Orbell Family Lawyers Central Coast provides legal services in Newcastle West, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Mill Park, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Plato Legal provides legal services in Mill Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Quintessential Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Quirk Lawyers & Conveyancer provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Robb & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Binding Financial Agreements.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Senior Legal provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Albany, WA · Great Southern
Springdale Legal provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Powers of Attorney & Guardianship, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Seaford, VIC · South East Melbourne
YOUR FAMILY LAW CO provides legal services in Seaford, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Warradale, SA · Adelaide Metro
Ann Josephson Lawyers provides legal services in Warradale, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Annandale, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Annandale Lawyers provides legal services in Annandale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Belgrave, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Armstrong Ross provides legal services in Belgrave, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Colac, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Arundell Murray & Ryan provides legal services in Colac, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Attwaters provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Coolangatta, QLD · Gold Coast
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Coolangatta, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Drummoyne, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Beale Lawyers provides legal services in Drummoyne, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
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.
