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
Moruya, NSW · South Coast
Dillon-Smith Lawyers provides legal services in Moruya, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Goulburn, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Dougall John R provides legal services in Goulburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Duggan Family Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Eleanor Murphy & Co provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
Emera Family Law Sunshine provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Cronulla, NSW · Southern Sydney
George Gourlas Lawyer provides legal services in Cronulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
GLC Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Guymer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Litigation.
Roma, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Hede Byrne & Hall Lawyers provides legal services in Roma, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Springwood, NSW · Western Sydney
Hinde Ginges Boyd Lawyers provides legal services in Springwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Summer Hill, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Hogg & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Summer Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
South Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Ipswich Family Lawyers provides legal services in South Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Nundah, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
J A O'Hare and Co. provides legal services in Nundah, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Sanctuary Point, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Sanctuary Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Broome, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Kimberley & Pilbara Lawyers provides legal services in Broome, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Gawler South, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Kin Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Gawler South, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
L.T. Legal provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Legal Guru Pty Ltd provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Immigration & Visas.
Randwick, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Macalester Lawyers provides legal services in Randwick, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Manly Criminal Lawyer-Bronwyn Pullinger provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law and Family Law.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Martin Robinson Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
McQiu Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Contract Law and Commercial Litigation.
Kellyville, NSW · Hills District
Michael Vassili Lawyers (Accredited Specialist provides legal services in Kellyville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Orbell Family Lawyers Central Coast provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
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.
