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
Ashfield, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Monardo Legal provides legal services in Ashfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Family Law.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Nevin Lenne Gross provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Nevin Lenne Gross provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Newport, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Newport Law provides legal services in Newport, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
Open Book Lawyers provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Maroubra, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Patrick Hargraves & Co provides legal services in Maroubra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
R & J LAWYERS provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Reaston Drummond Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Mudgeeraba, QLD · Gold Coast
RobertsLaw provides legal services in Mudgeeraba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Doncaster, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Rodda Legal provides legal services in Doncaster, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Single Law provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Smith Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
The Family Law Co. provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Planning & Environment and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
VANTON LEGAL provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Broadmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Victoria Law Firm and Associates provides legal services in Broadmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Drouin, VIC · Gippsland
Wakefield Lawyers provides legal services in Drouin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
ADN LAWYERS provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Bega, NSW · South Coast
Andrew Warren Associates provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Annerley, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Annerley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Azlan Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Citizenship and Family Law.
Logan Central, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Bamyan Law Group provides legal services in Logan Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Kent Town, SA · Adelaide Metro
BARDO LAWYERS provides legal services in Kent Town, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Notary Public & JP Services.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
CKW & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Dean Lawyers provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
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.
