Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
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2,444
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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
Coburg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bridge & Bloom Legal provides legal services in Coburg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Debt Recovery · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cadelmath Legal provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Building & Construction.
Family Law+3 moreParenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Haymarket, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Chen Shan Lawyers provides legal services in Haymarket, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Family Law
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Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Diana Perla & Associates provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Elder Law & Aged Care · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
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Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Edgeworth, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Edgeworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Foster Johnson Family and Collaborative Lawyers provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+4 morePartner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Garrison Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Greenwich Legal provides legal services in Mount Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Unfair Dismissal, Employment Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Unfair Dismissal+7 moreEmployment Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Warwick, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hede Byrne & Hall Lawyers provides legal services in Warwick, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Education Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Education Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Employment Law
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Kellyville, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Helliars Solicitors provides legal services in Kellyville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial LawFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Insight Lawyers (김형길 변호사) provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Immigration & Visas.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreFamily Law · Immigration & Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment
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Murgon, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
J.A. Carroll Solicitors Murgon provides legal services in Murgon, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Family LawFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mogo, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Mogo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Scarborough, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lawrence Sinclair Lawyers provides legal services in Scarborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate Administration · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Employer Advisory & Industrial RelationsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sale, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Littleton Hackford provides legal services in Sale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Campbelltown, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahony's Lawyers provides legal services in Campbelltown, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Medical Negligence.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Medical Negligence · Personal Injury · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Divorce & SeparationFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mark Stone Solicitors provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Criminal Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Traffic Offences
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mead Family Law provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mendis & Gibson Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include NDIS & Disability Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
NDIS & Disability Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Insolvency & RestructuringFree 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.
