Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
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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
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
GOODLAW provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Personal Injury and Property & Conveyancing.
General Practice (regional generalist)+8 morePersonal Injury · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law
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Mandurah, WA · Perth South
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreEstate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
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Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Hancock Family Law provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Family Law+4 moreCriminal Law · Child Protection & Care Matters · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates
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Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
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Kemp And Co Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Personal Injury.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury · Workers Compensation · Dust Diseases & Asbestos · Maritime & Admiralty Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates
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Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Kohinoor Legal provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals
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Southside, QLD · Sunshine Coast
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
L & S Lawyers provides legal services in Southside, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law
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Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Law Empire provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Debt Recovery · Banking & Finance
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Leichhardt, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Law Flow provides legal services in Leichhardt, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Strata & Body Corporate · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Personal InjuryFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Mandurah, WA · Perth South
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
LLB Legal provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
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Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Mark Stocks Lawyers provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Family Property Settlement · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Child Protection & Care Matters
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North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Modern Family Law Solutions provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+5 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & GuardianshipFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Mulvany T J & Co provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Surrogacy & Adoption · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Nimbin, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Nimbin Law Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Nimbin, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Corporate Law & M&A
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Path Legal provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Glenelg, SA · Adelaide Metro
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Phoenix Family Law provides legal services in Glenelg, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+2 moreDivorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Richardson Murray provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sarah Stewart Family Law provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Administrative & Government Law · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Strathfield, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Shanahans Butlers Solicitors provides legal services in Strathfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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.
