Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
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
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(146)Google rating from 146 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cogent Legal Lawyers and Solicitors provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(143)Google rating from 143 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gramelis Attorneys provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(142)Google rating from 142 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
FJS Lawyers Adelaide provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(142)Google rating from 142 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Jurgensen Horne Lawyers provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Family Law+4 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(141)Google rating from 141 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Berry Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Property Settlement
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Broadbeach, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(141)Google rating from 141 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Gold Coast City Solicitors provides legal services in Broadbeach, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wynnum, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(139)Google rating from 139 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Wynnum, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Litigation and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Port Adelaide, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(139)Google rating from 139 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Port Adelaide Lawyers provides legal services in Port Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Criminal Law and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+4 moreCriminal Law · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Child Protection & Care MattersFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(138)Google rating from 138 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Goldman Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Class Actions.
Family Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Class Actions · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(138)Google rating from 138 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kohli & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Traffic Offences.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Traffic Offences · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Unite Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Littlejohn Legal provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Leederville, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(132)Google rating from 132 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
D'Angelo Legal provides legal services in West Leederville, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreMotor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Family Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(132)Google rating from 132 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
PRD Compensation provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Public Liability, Family Law and Employment Law.
Public Liability+7 moreFamily Law · Employment Law · Workers Compensation · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Partner & Family Visas · Unfair Dismissal
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(129)Google rating from 129 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
King & York Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Child Protection & Care Matters · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Beulah Park, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(128)Google rating from 128 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
McKay Business Services provides conveyancing services in Beulah Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing
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.
The firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction · Employment Law
Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
+7 more
Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Buying or Selling a Business · Family Law · Fraud & White Collar Crime
