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
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Carter and Co Family Law provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Child Protection & Care Matters · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Chatswood Family Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Connolly Suthers Lawyers Townsville provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Countryside Legal Services provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Planning & Environment and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 morePlanning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · NDIS & Disability Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Human Rights & Discrimination
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
David Griffiths Lawyers provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Property Settlement · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Dlegal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreImmigration & Visas · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Elizabeth Wiese & Associates provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and De Facto Relationships.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · De Facto Relationships · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Parenting & Child Custody
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Forest Lake, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Forest Lake Law Practice provides legal services in Forest Lake, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kilcoy, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Hawthorn Cuppaidge & Badgery Lawyers provides legal services in Kilcoy, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Castle Hill, NSW · Hills District
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Hills Family Lawyers provides legal services in Castle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
i provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreImmigration & Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Debt Recovery · Building & Construction · Family Law · Personal Injury · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Ipswich Family Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Irvine Lawyers Warrnambool provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation4 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: german, polish, spanish
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cabramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
K R Hewlett & Co provides legal services in Cabramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Strata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Lakey Family Law and Mediation provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Linda Emery & Associates Pty Ltd provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · De Facto Relationships · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Franchising
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
MAGDA & CO LAWYERS provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Immigration & Visas and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+2 moreImmigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Queanbeyan, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Marjason & Marjason Solicitors provides legal services in Queanbeyan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Criminal Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & EnvironmentNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
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.
